Aberrant Adventures
It was another beautiful day in Albany, New York as Daniel Arcos walked up to an inn with his pack over his shoulder and his weapons cache next to him. "Well, I guess everything is only temporary. I hope the others are okay." he said quietly to himself as he walked in and ordered a room for the week.
Cat the Timelord was in her TARDIS that was spinning out of control. She was trying to hold on, but was unsuccessful, and was tossed around like a rag doll. She turned the chameleon circuit dial to make her TARDIS into diamond. The TARDIS crashed near the inn with a huge noise and Cat was thrown against the side, cutting her head on a random object. She put her hand against the cut and looked at the blood, grimacing from pain. “Every time. This happens every time.” She leaned head back against wall and closed her eyes as tears began to form. "Where did they run off to? I thought that they would care."
Daniel heard the crash and looked outside in time to see the dust cloud. "I might not have an official airship but I can be of some use." He ran out through the front door and toward the crash site. When he arrived, he saw what caused it. He began trying to shoo away the few people that were poking around.
Outside, Cat heard commotion and figured it best to just hang out until the commotion was gone. She chuckled to herself. “Humans get distracted so easily.”
Once all of the locals dispersed, he opened his bracer and began scanning for the TARDIS. "Come on Cat. I know a TARDIS crash when I see one."
There was beeping coming from the control board that detected unusual happenings. Cat looked up and clamored toward the system to see what the source was. “That level of technology shouldn't be here yet...” She thought for a moment. “The only reason for this would be, “ she stopped and grinned as it hit her, “what a crazy, random happenstance.” She climbed toward the door.
Daniel stopped scanning as another local walked by, eyeing him. "It was a ruptured steam pipe. I am here keeping civilians away in case there is more pressure." The man shook his head as he proceeded down the road. Daniel turned back to the crash site and smiled as he saw a door open. Cat poked her head out and looked up at him. “Fancy meeting you here.” She said as she climbed out. He smiled as he walked up to her. "I was wondering if I was ever going to see you guys again. What brings you here to this little ol' town?" She shrugged as she dusted herself off. “Oh, you know, just crashing into stuff.”
He smiled a small smile. "I’m sorry I was unable to say goodbye and I’m sorry I left the Neo after I said I wasn’t going anywhere." She shrugged again. “No big deal. Everything kind of imploded in on itself anyway. People started fighting and wouldn't stop, so I just left.”
"It is still good to see you again though. Do you want to come inside and have something to drink?" He pointed over to the inn at which he was staying. She looked over at the inn then back at the TARDIS. “I really should see what made it malfunction like that.”
"Would you like some help?" Daniel asked as he looked at the TARDIS.
“Sure, I guess.” Cat looked at the old machine. “None of the wires or pipes were loose or coming apart, so I’m not sure what's up.”
"Well, let’s have a look." He walked over and flipped open his bracer, scanning the machine. "Glad I have plenty of scans to compare to." Cat pulled out her sonic screwdriver and shoots it at the TARDIS, waiving it around. “I’m sure I can scan better.” She looked at the reading from the sonic. “Hmm. Seems like there is some living organism causing trouble in there. Species and origin unknown.”
Daniel smiled after a moment. "Got it! I am detecting an unknown life sign inside the TARDIS." He looked up at her completely oblivious to the fact that she had already stated that. She glared at him and then rolled her eyes. “Ok, let's check it out.” She jumped inside the TARDIS and looked around. “It'd probably be in the main engine room since it only screwed with my flying.” She made her way toward the engine room.
Daniel watched her for a moment then climbed in after her. "What was that look for?" He followed her to the engine room. Cat stepped into the engine room which has dim lighting and warm air. She began looking around for the creature wreaking havoc on her ship.
"So, this is the engine room of a TARDIS." Daniel started to look around for anything that looked out of place. "My readings showed it to not be very big.”
Cat glanced around with him. “Yeah, that's what the sonic says as well.” She kept walking, checking around everything. “It's got to be here somewhere.”
Daniel lifted up an access panel then dropped it quickly. "Cat? I think I have found it."
Cat looked at him curiously. “Hmm?” She walked over and looked into the panel. Inside was a black creature, almost insect like in structure and about the size of a small dog. Cat's mouth hardened into a line. “I would really suggest you step away from it.” She moved closer to the panel to get a better look.
Daniel stepped back, his hand resting on his sword. "What is it? Cat, my database doesn’t have anything like that in it."
“I actually don't know.” She grinned mischievously. “Could be dangerous.” Cat put her face closer to get a better look, and then licked it, paused for a moment, then spat. “Seems to be from one of Jupiter’s moons. It lives underground, in a colony. Seems to be bottom of the food chain kind of creature. And you know what that means.”
"The predator might be on board as well?" Daniel began scanning for other life forms.
“Hmm?” She looked at him quizzically. “No, no. If the predator was on board it would've killed and eaten it already.” She looked closer at it again. “What I meant to say was that it could have some kind of defense mechanism, such as poison or a stinger or something. I’m kind of curious on what it is...” Cat grinned as she inched her leg closer to it slightly.
"Yeah. That too but I wanted to make sure." Daniel returned his sword and stepped closer. "Easy."
Cat moved her leg closer, her curiosity getting the best of her. She nudged the creature with her leg and a hidden stinger came out and poked Cat before becoming hidden again. Cat moved her leg away. “Owe.” She paused waiting for a reaction. “No swelling, I don't feel any poison... well, that was boring.”
Daniel smiled. "At least we don’t have to detox you again."
“Yeah, that's never fun.” She started to stand up, but ended up falling on her face.
"Cat!" Daniel exclaimed as he ran to her side. He looked to the creature then back at her. "What just happened?"
Cat laughed as she looked at the creature. “So THAT's what it does.” She turned herself around to face Daniel. “It paralyzes predators. I’m starting to not feel my other leg too, so it probably spreads through the body. Doesn't feel permanent though, so that's always good.”
"What are we going to do with it?" Daniel asked as he looked at the creature.
“Well, we can't just set it free for obvious reasons and we can't keep it as a pet.” Cat stated sadly as she laid down. “Might as well kill it.”
Hearing all of the commotion from his room at the inn, Otto Walter looked out the window only to see the former members of the Neo Genesis and walked outside. “Hello Daniel, Hello Cat.” He shouted from outside of the TARDIS.
Cat shot up as much as she could upon hearing the voice. “Crap! Did I lock the door?!” She tried to get up only to fall again.
Otto let out a chuckle. “It's okay, I’m a friend of Captain Romanov.” He shouted from outside the TARDIS.
Cat looked at Daniel from floor. “How can he hear us? Does he have super hearing? I bet he has super hearing. I don't like people with super hearing.”
Otto laughed loudly. “No, the doors are open,” he stated as he popped his head in.
Cat’s head hit the floor. “So much for secrecy.” She tried to move her arm and was barely able to. “Ugh! How do snakes do it?!” She eventually just flipped over on her back and glared at the ceiling, unable to move her arms.
“Would you like me to come in and help you?” Otto inquired.
“NO!” Cat yelled, visibly irate. “THAT DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF DOORS AND NOT TRUSTING PEOPLE WITH CREEPY HEARING ABILITIES!”
Otto laughed again. “The doors are open, silly, that is the only reason I can hear you. I am just an ordinary human, unlike yourself,” he said with a smirk.
“Yes, but we are very deep into the TARDIS. Normal sound waves would die out before they reached normal ears.” Cat paused as she realized what he said. “Wait... How much do you know?”
“Hmm. Interesting, It sounds as if your standing not too far... anyways I am Captain Romanov's friend. May I come in and explain myself?”
Cat shot a glance at Daniel who shook his head. “I don't think that'd be a good idea.”
Otto smiled as he gestured out beside him, as if they were standing in front of him, “or you guys can come out here if you'd like.”
“I’d rather come out there, but that doesn't really work right now.”
Otto laughed at her response. “Alright. I’ll just sit and wait until the two of you are available.” With that, Otto moved to a bench near the inn and took a seat, watching the entrance to the TARDIS.
Cat tried to move her arms, but seeing that the ability was momentarily lost, growled in frustration. “What is this crap?! This is so weird!”
Daniel bent down, scooping up the timelady in his arms, and walked out of the TARDIS. He looked at the stranger as he sat Cat down, who was glaring at the newcomer as well. "Explain yourself and how you know us."
Otto stood up at the sight of the pair. “Ah ha. Where is Rose?”
There was a loud bang and crash from inside the TARDIS followed by loud cursing in a blend of German, Russian and Italian accompanied by yowling of a cat and the sound of breaking bottles.
Cat's glare was broken with the noise as she looked in the direction it came from. “Uhh... I kind of hope that isn't that bug thing...” Daniel looked at the TARDIS. "I recognize that voice." He smiled and then looked back at the man.
"If I am correct, she is inside the TARDIS with another friend." Daniel narrowed his eyes. "Explain yourself and how you know us."
Otto offered his hand out to Cat and Daniel to shake. “I am Captain Otto Walter of the Airship Aberrant and I do believe your Captain Romanov has sent you here to meet me.” He handed Daniel two letters from Captain Romanov when neither one of them took his hand. “He was a dear friend of mine, and brother, I had nurtured him when he was here in New York.”
Rose fell out through the door of the TARDIS, tripping over Cat, dropping Stormagedon, rolling onto her back, her skirts stained with ink and dust. She glared at Cat from the ground. “You, woman, or whatever, need to learn to drive your own ship! And, um, you may need to find something that removes ink from furniture...”
Cat glared at her with the fire of many suns. “It wasn't my fault a weird insect thing killed the flight capacitor! And what in the hell do you mean removes ink from furniture?! And how the hell did you get on my ship in the first place?!” She turned to the stranger, “and you. The cap didn't send us here. Unless you are blind, I crashed because of an unknown creature that the captain wouldn't even know about or comprehend, let alone have access to. So, until you make a case that doesn't make me want to kick your ass, I’m not believing you.”
Rose rolled her eyes, sighing in exasperation. “Maybe if you scanned the TARDIS every once in a while, you'll see I sleep there. Often. And Stormagedon broke an ink bottle.” She glared at the cat, watching it lick its paws. She glanced up at Daniel, grinning. “Hello again.”
Otto noticed Cat's paralyzed state and showed the letters to her and Rose to look over. “He may be wiser than you think...”
Cat looked over letter. “Nope, still a dumbass.” She read the last part about his death. Her eyes widened then her glare intensified. “What is this? What the hell did you do?!”
“I did nothing, your deceased captain planned this...” Otto looked over to Daniel. “Aren't I right as to why you are here?”
Cat gritted her teeth as she continued her glare. “And what part, may I ask, did you play in this?” She started to feel her arms again but made no sign that she was starting to be able to move again.
Daniel smiled at Rose. "Yes, hello again." He then looked to Cat now with a straight face. "Cat, let me explain. Captain Romanov asked me to land the ship a month ago. He had set a plan in motion. I was asked to call you here some way," he motioned to his bracer, "so we could assist Captain Walter."
Cat turned her glare to Daniel now. “So you defiled my trust, feigning innocence and ignorance, and wrecked my ship?!” She glared back at Otto, “and how do we even know we can even trust him? The note said he's dead. How do we know he didn't kill him and force him to write the note?”
"I was there when Alex shot himself, Cat. I will never be able to forget hearing that shot ring out through the ship. I packed my things up and, when I left the ship, I saw Otto walking up toward it." Daniel looked down at his feet. "I didn't mean to crash the TARDIS. That was the bug in the engine room. I wasn't feigning ignorance either. I did not have a clue as to what the Captain told me until," he looked up at Rose and Captain Walter, "until I felt myself drawn back here and some hidden memory surfaced."
Otto stood motionless, staring at Cat. “He was a brother to me... the last thing I wanted him to do was die.” Tears could be seen building up but none fell as he controlled himself.
Cat’s mouth hardened into a line as she looked to Daniel. “I thought you said you left a bit before I did? Why'd you go back?”
Daniel smiled softly. "I had to get my other things. I didn't have a place for them at the time." He leaned close to Cat's ear and whispered, "You should also be careful, I know you’re faking the paralysis now." He stood back up and watched Captain Walter.
Otto motioned to the three of them. “How about we go inside and have a cup of tea while we talk this through?”
Rose sat up and faced everyone, sitting on the ground. “Depends... Do you have hibiscus tea and sweet cakes?” She asked as she squinted up at him.
Cat cleared her throat. “Um, I think you're forgetting something.”
“I’m sure I can have the inn keepers treat you to whatever you'd like.” Otto said with a smile to Rose then looked to Cat. “How about I carry you into the inn and set ya down in a chair?”
“How about no, jerk.” Cat turned to Stormagedon. “Stormagedon! yip, yip!” Stormagedon walked off, twitching his tail. “Jerk...” Cat muttered before Daniel bent down and picked her up. "How about I carry you?"
Cat squirmed in Daniel’s arms, “ahh! No, no, no! Screw this!” She fell, rolled away, then stood up. “Done with that nonsense.” She brushed off her hands, then pulled out her small knife that had made some past appearances and played with it.
Otto headed toward the inn, pausing at the door to see if they follow.
Daniel walked over to Cat. "I couldn't remember anything, Cat, until he showed up. Surely you know of mental blocking. I honestly did not mean to break our trust."
Cat glanced at him. “I know of it, but I also know that most of it is bullshit made up by criminals trying to claim innocence.” They followed after Otto. “Not to say you’re a criminal, of course, but I’m sure you can understand the basis of what I’m saying.” Daniel sighed as they neared the inn. "Cat, I understand but you of all people know what I used to do before signing on with the Neo."
“Of course I do, but that's of no consequence here.” Cat said, looking at him, as they entered the inn.
"You know, then, how hard it is for me to start trusting people and how hard I work to keep their trust." Daniel stated as the group sat down at a table in the corner, motioning to the innkeeper to bring their drinks. “And you know the same of me, considering every other person is trying to kill or experiment on me looking for ‘Timelord secrets’ or something like that.”
Otto sat down with Daniel and the crew. “It’s on the house for you guys.”
The inn keeper brought a few drinks and a plate of sweet cakes, placing them in the middle of the table. Captain Otto slowly took a sip of his tea as he watched Cat and Daniel in their predicament.
"Then you know why I would have told you if I had known," Daniel stopped mid-sentence and looked to Captain Walter. "Maybe we should focus on the task at hand." A small growl was heard in Cat’s throat, “Fine. Whatever.”
“As bad of a time as this is, with a dear friend dead and the Neo Genesis split, I would find it nice if you were all to make home upon my airship.” Otto took another sip of tea, straightening up in the seat. “Okay, so our friend Daniel here has come to start an airship with myself as a favor of Captain Romanov.”
Daniel looked at Captain Walter with a sour look. "I agreed that I would help you start a ship because my friend and comrade asked me to. That doesn’t make us friends." Daniel looked back at his rum while Cat continued playing with her knife, choosing to remain silent. Otto sipped his tea in silence, not knowing what to say.
Daniel sighed after a few moments had passed. "Do you have a ship yet? Do you have any plans? I have the alliances and I have recalled the crew. I have fulfilled my end of the deal."
Otto looked to Daniel with a smile. “Yes. I have the newly built ship called Aberrant. It is in one of the docks at Albany Ship Yard, just north of here. As far as my plans go though, I do not have any in mind.” A slight look of disappointment appeared on his face as he took another sip of his tea.
Daniel took a drink and cleared his throat. "Well, we need to get all of our documents in order. Then, we go where we wish. We need to introduce you to the alliance members as well." Daniel took another sip of his rum then looked to Cat. "You, my dear friend, need to loosen up just a tad bit. Yeah, I don't completely trust Captain Walter yet, but if Alex could, then we should be a little more open to what he has to say."
Cat glanced at Daniel and spoke in a straight voice. “So, you are saying that I should follow a man, a complete stranger no less, who got my friend to crash my TARDIS by putting an unknown species, that for all I know would kill me, comes up to me when I’m unable to move and at my most vulnerable, tells me just out of the blue that Alex is dead and that he has another ship, knowing that I’m constantly being chased and that I have multiple people who would love to kill or torture me and you want me to, as you say, ‘loosen up’?”
“People are chasing you? What unknown species?” Otto shockingly looked to Cat and Daniel.
Cat glanced at Otto. “Obviously you don't know me too well...”
“All that Captain Romanov has told me is that you and Daniel are close friends, and that you are a timelord. I do not know much about timelords except that they travel through time, because it kind of states the obvious. Then Daniel, a navigator, and Rose, a freelancer. That is all I know of...”
Daniel sighed as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Cat, I know what you’re talking about but if Alex can trust him, shouldn’t we be able to as well?"
Cat looked at Daniel with a smirk. “So you're naive enough to follow a person you just met with all your heart?”
"I never said that. I said we should give him a little more credit. I knew more about you than you about me when we first met." Daniel finished his rum off.
Cat pointed at him. “Exactly. And if you'd notice, I didn't exactly interact with you much at first and I also don't sleep much, so I was watching the ship while everyone was asleep. Everything hidden comes out with darkness.”
Rose looked around the table, and mumbled to a server softly, “Another hibiscus... And another bit of sweet cake.” She looked back at Daniel and Cat, sighing softly. “I have no reason not to trust him so far.”
Cat talked to her gravely. “If you trust until something happens, you may be dead.”
“Then I'll die.” Rose shrugged, picking up her tea and taking a sip.
Cat looked at her. “You don't understand. You're not as resilient as I am.”
“Why fear something almost everything will experience one day? I'd rather not live my life in fear of everyone, just because they haven't gained my trust.” Rose stated, looking back with a light smile.
“Yes, but being afraid is what keeps you from doing something stupid. Besides, how would you like it if I got shot to where I wouldn't regenerate and was gone forever? Death is not something to take lightly.”
“No, I suppose not. But you can't live life constantly thinking of it.”
“But you can die if you don't constantly think of those that would miss you.”
“Grief lessens over time. I may be missed, but the world will spin, the trees will grow, and the sun will shine. I'm alright with people being sad for a while, but I'd rather they would remember me in life, not of my death.”
“I’d rather not subject anyone to what I felt after the time war and then with John.” Cat shook her head and sighed. “If you guys really want to go with him, I’ll go, but only to protect you guys.” She looked at Otto. “Nothing else.” She stood up. “Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a TARDIS to fix.” She started to walk toward the door.
Rose quickly chugged her tea, and stood to follow Cat. “Ill... Help?
Cat stopped and looked at her. “I doubt you'd be able to do much. We have to kill the bug thing first, then reroute the system, etc.”
“Err... Alright...” Rose sat back down. Cat nodded at her and began, once again to walk off. Otto stood up and followed. “How about Rose and I kill it as you start your repairs?”
Cat just looked at him. “I’m not sure Rose would be able to kill anything point blank and there's no way in hell you're getting in the most powerful machine in the universe.”
Daniel sighed as he stood up and walked to his room, looking at his bracer, while Cat walked out to her TARDIS. Otto just stood there next to the table. “Just trying to help.” He muttered to himself, he then started heading to his own room. Daniel walked back down the stairs a few moments later, wielding his rifle, and out to the TARDIS and knocked on the door. Inside there's yelling and laughing along with clattering and banging. After the knock, Cat poked her head out, face covered in blue blood. “Yes?”
Rose played with a spoon, eventually following Daniel outside, seeing Cat covered in blue blood. “Could I have some of that if it’s not deadly?” Cat stared at her blankly. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
Daniel looked at Cat then to Sam. "I am sorry about dragging you here Cat. It was my idea to have you two join me with helping him. I just wanted to keep the team together as much as I could."
Cat sighed as she leaned against the doorframe. “It’s fine. Whatever.” Daniel smiled a little. "Need some help fixing her up?"
Cat looked at him. “No. I doubt you'd understand the workings, even with you past job achievements.”
Daniel’s smile grew a little. "Okay. I understand." He poked Cat teasingly. "I am glad to see you both again though." Cat smiled slightly. “I’m glad to see everyone as well.”
"You can't tell me you haven’t missed being in an airship either, Cat. All of the comradery." Daniel shouldered his rifle, scaring a passerby. He looked around and a small group had gathered to see what was going on and why this lady is covered in blue goo. Cat snickered as she noticed the group as well. “Knowing humans, they probably expect the worst.”
Daniel looked at her with a playful smile. "Hey, I'm human." He turned around and began to shoo people away.
“Still.” Cat stated, still leaning against doorway with her arms folded.
Daniel walked back after everyone had been shooed off. "We need to do something about the TARDIS. It is like a sore thumb."
“Well, if the TARDIS was WORKING I could. The bug thing that YOU brought in, chewed through a power cell.”
"I didn't bring the bug in. I had my bracer draw the TARDIS here." Daniel walked over to her and showed her that his bracer had drawn the TARDIS there.
“You said earlier that you put the thing in there.” Daniel wagged a finger. "Ah. No I did not. I said I was asked to call you here. I never said I put that thing in there or I would have known what we were looking for."
“Whatever.” Cat said flatly as she walked inside.
Daniel followed her. "If I didn't put it there, who did?"
Cat turned to face him. “I don't know!”
Daniel held up his hand. "Cat, I'm just trying to help."
Cat sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. “I know.” She said flatly as she started walking to the engine room. “I just hate this whole situation; you know?”
"I know. Alex and I didn't mean for it to turn out like this." Daniel said softly as he followed her.
Cat took a towel from a closet on the way and wiped off her face and hands.
Daniel looked around as they walked. "This will never cease to amaze me."
Rose sat by the door on the ground, talking to Stormagedon quietly as she weaved clover into a chain, keeping an eye on the passersby-
Cat glanced at Daniel. “The silence it carries gets tiring after a thousand years.”
Daniel nodded. "I bet. That is why you stayed on the Neo, isn't it?"
Cat nodded back to him. “I figured I’d see the end of it, but I didn't think it would be this soon.”
"I don't think any of us did." Daniel fiddled with his sword in its scabbard.
Cat noticed his fiddling. “You anxious or something?”
“Just upset at how everything is going. I didn't mean for it to be this way. I hoped for us to at least get along with him long enough for us to get a home again. I hate not having a place to call home, like the Neo." Daniel said with a sigh.
Cat sighed and crossed her arms, shoulders up. “I just don't trust him for some reason. He makes me feel uneasy. I don't know what it is.”
Daniel nodded as he continued to follow her. "You didn't really trust me when we first met either."
“I don't trust anybody when I first meet them. Can't afford to. Hell, I keep tabs on most of the airships here to make sure they're cool.”
Daniel held his hands out. "All it is going to take is time. I'm only doing it because Alex asked to help his friend."
They get to the engine room and cat knelt, moving upside down into the panel in the ground, hanging by her legs. She used her sonic screwdriver to start fixing things. Rose started to sing loudly in an unknown language, the occasional yowl of Stormagedon joining in with her. She already had several necklaces of clover on her and the cat beside her.
Cat laughed at the little duet outside while she's working. She accidently pointed her sonic at the wrong thing, which cracks it a bit, spewing black oil on her face, arms and hands. she let out a small yelp and rushed to fix it. It is resolved quickly. Daniel leaned against the wall, lisening to Rose and Stormagedon outside, remembering his time on the Neo Genesis. The power is finally fixed. There are beeping noises as the lights turn on from their dim emergency setting. Cat sat up, still messy from fixing the power, then headed over to the chameleon circuit board, turning the TARDIS into a garbage can. Daniel headed bac outside as the lights returned to normal and smiled. "There, now there will be less staring."
Rose fell over, surprised by the can, and cursed loudly. “What? Bloody can!”
Cat heard Rose and yelled out. “Chameleon circuit!” She then got to work fixing the part that makes it fly.
“I don't give a damn about your lizard!” She sat down across from the can, Stormagedon on her lap.
Cat yelled at her from inside again. “I don't have a lizard!”
Daniel laughed at the two then looks to the sky.
“No idea why the sky's so funny, not even a cloud today.” Rose said as she looked at Daniel, raising an eyebrow at him while Cat kept banging away at the engine.
Daniel looked down at Rose. "I can't believe we will be back up there on a ship again. I also can't believe that is has been four months since I have served on an airship."
Cat finished fixing the ship and walked out to the others, soot and oil all over her.
“Four months... That was a long nap...” Rose scratched her head as she looked to Cat.
“Well, I don't know how long we were gone. Could be longer, could be shorter.” Cat said with a shrug.
Daniel shrugged as well. "I don't know. I don't how long it has been here." He looked to Cat. "Well, I hope all works out"