Title Open the box Who Ushas, Pavel Chekov, Gaila, some NPCs What Opening the TARDIS Rating G Notes Carried over from you know where. Hopefully it's not too confusing to see who's who. If it let me know and I'll try and do some extra coding.
Ushas had been unable to contact the Council of Gallifrey, despite having spent just a little too long attempting the task. She refused to believe Gallifrey could be gone and would not accept it was the case until she had solid proof. The Doctor had to be lying, he just had to be. They were over 250 million light years away from her home planet. That was why she had been unable to reach them. That was why they weren’t here fixing the mess she firmly believed to have been caused by Nero and the giant explosion caused by the red matter. Getting into the TARDIS suddenly felt so much more important, not that it wasn’t important before, of course but now she had to get inside. It was the only way she would know the fate of Gallifrey for sure.
It was lucky that she did not need to sleep, because she knew there was no way she would have with the weight of things on her mind and it was imperative she be clear headed for today. She had spent most of the previous night going over her notes from the Time Academy trying to form the best plan in order to get the Doctor’s TARDIS open. It was vital that she not fail here on a number of levels. She was determined to prove herself, to prove that her loyalties lay here with Starfleet and not with the person currently locked up in the cells whom she had been to school with. She had finally decided the best and least violent way of getting into the TARDIS was via remote control, a half formed idea she had already had whilst back on Gallifrey. It had not been easy of course, working out specifications and frequencies for a remote control when they did not have access to the machine they were attempting to control, but Ushas was satisfied that with her memories and knowledge of the last TARDIS she had been in, and Pavel’s unparalleled knowledge of maths and physics it was their best bet, or at least their best bet before weaponry had to be considered, but that was truly a least resort. She had spent most of the early hours of the morning on the engineering deck with the specifications for the remote control, overseeing the construction of the device, before she had finally returned back to Pavel’s room to attempt to relax and clear her head. It was rather important she stay professional, that she not fall apart or become too emotionally involved since she was the one more or less in change. She was sure she could do that of course, she just needed to ignore the importance of all this and the implications of opening the TARDIS.
In the turbo lift to the deck where the Doctor’s TARDIS was being kept Ushas tried desperately to relax, without actually wanting to let on to the Pavel just how nervous she was. For about the hundredth time she glanced at her PADD, a few complex notes written out despite the fact just about everything had already been planned out for once they got to the TARDIS. Finally she let out a long breath and thrust the PADD at her boyfriend, aware that looking at the thing was only making her feel more nervous. “Don’t let me look at it again until we’re actually in the presence of the ship,” she asked, frowning at herself. “Even if I threaten violence against you?”
"Got it," he said, taking the PADD from her. Pavel glanced at Ushas and wanted to say something to calm her, to assure her that this was going to work, but the young Russian wasn't sure himself. This was her territory, and while he knew they were both the best at what they did there was still the chance it would fail. And something else seemed to be bothering her, but he didn't ask. Now wasn't the time to make her more nervous.
She stared at the doors in front of them for a few moments after he spoke, glad he wasn't questioning her, glad that he knew her well enough to know now wasn't the time. Anyway he'd know soon enough, wouldn't he? She'd know soon enough.
"Thank you," she said quietly, leaning in to kiss him on the cheek. "You know for everything."
Pavel wasn't willing to let her go that easily, arms wrapping around Ushas to pull her in for a hug. He wanted to reassure her that whatever she was worried about she wouldn't have to go through alone, and he wanted to do it without saying a word.
He was entirely too perceptive for a 17 year old boy, because that was exactly what she needed. She knew already of course, the fact she had Pavel was probably the one thing keeping her so together, so focused. Wrapping her arms around him she closed her eyes for just a fraction of a second, afraid that if she lost focus for much longer than that everything might come falling down on top of her, and she was not going to let that happen. Still nothing else really mattered did it? Not while she had him at her side.
"I'll be alright," he told her quietly. "Vatever it is that's vorrying you, ve'll work it out."
Pulling away slightly, but keeping her arms around him Ushas nodded. "I know," she told him quietly. "And I wish I could explain everything now but..." she trailed off and took a deep breath. "If I let myself think about it I'm not sure I'm going to be able to do this because I really need a clear head," pausing she smiled faintly, "and I struggle enough with that when you're around."
Slowly she pulled away to straighten her uniform and attempt to pull herself together as the lift came to a stand still. It was important she remain professional right now, because if she didn't there was no way this was going to work.
"Of course," he said, taking a step back though it was the last thing he wanted to. Pavel recognized the need to be professional and knew he'd probably fail if she were on the bridge. She was stronger than him.
“We seem to be having a hard time to get an interior reading. A field is around the box. I am afraid we can’t get any readings at all. We even got communications trying different frequencies. We will keep an eye on the sensors from up here. Sulu out.”
Pavel looked towards the computer at the announcement. "Is zat something we can work around?" Pavel asked Ushas.
"I couldn't do this without you," she reminded him. "And I'm not just talking about your intellect."
She paused as she heard Sulu's voice over the computer. It certainly wasn't good news, but it was to be expected. "It's probably just the TARDIS's defenses, trying to protect itself," she replied. "I didn't expect any of this to be easy, but yes I think it's something we can cope with. We'll get inside, somehow. We have to."
"No, zere is also my good looks," Pavel agreed teasingly, offering her a smile. He nodded in response to the TARDIS defending itself. It made sense, especially if half of it was an actual living organism. This was all new territory for the young navigator, so he was glad to find that some things still made sense.
"Something like that," she agreed, smiling faintly back at him.
As the doors opened she took a deep breath and stood up a little straighter, determined to seem as professional as possible. "You are ready?" she asked, glancing over her shoulder at him. It was easier to ask him rather consider her own answer, because she wasn't allowed to not be. This was something she had to do.
"Yes," he answered, reaching out to take her hand even if it wasn't the most professional thing to do in that moment. Pavel couldn't help it. She was struggling and he wanted to make the hurt go away. It was like instinct to him now
She squeezed his hand tightly the moment it was in hers. No it wasn't especially professional and while it was wrong to say she didn't care she cared more about the comfort the gestured offered at the moment. Anyway it wasn't as if people didn't know they were together, so really what did it matter?
Stepping out of the turbolift with him by her side she led the way down the corridor to where the TARDIS was, trying to think positively. It was all going to be okay and if it wasn't well she'd cope, with the help of Pavel.
"Ensigns Ushas and Chekov," she said, addressing the security officers guarding the area. Taking control if only to take her mind off everything else. "I believe we're expected."
The guard checked over his readout quickly and checked their identification before nodding curtly, stepping aside to let them enter and there it was the TARDIS. It was nothing to look at really. A large blue wooden police box, you couldn't even feel the power the thing contained, not from the outside at least.
Chief of Engineer, Scotty had asked Keenser to help out on the blue box. Scotty told little fellow he was more alien than an Earthling Scottish man. Well, Scotty could work on it but he had more situations to work on. He had the engines to look over. He was worried the engines would be affected by the rifts. So he was not making any chances. It would be good to see Keenser go off do something. Well, climb the blue box.
Keenser came along with a tool box and nodded to the other Engineers and scientist that was working on the blue box. He pulled out the little device that Scotty and Keenser had been working on. Keenser was reading the air around to see if there is any readings of technoblalala stuff that writer can’t think of. He started to hum to himself and it was a cute little tune too. He had to walk around the blue box because the techno thingy Keenser was using would not just work right.
Engineers are all working with the other scientist working speculations. Spock was about helping but he had to be at the station. It was nice for this crew. The commanding team allowed them to work on it with full trust. That’s the pride of the Enterprise
Ushas stood a little way off from the TARDIS, watching the other's working on it, hopefully attempting to get readings of frequency's so that the remote she and Pavel had worked on would actually work with the craft in question.
Eyeing the creature climbing all over the Doctor's ship Ushas raised an eyebrow, true it was probably doing something of worth or somebody would have already removed him from the area wouldn't they? Still she was not entirely sure how she felt about the situation.
"Excuse me," she said, addressing Keenser. "Could you possibly get down from there? Only I'm fairly certain she doesn't like being climbed on and I was hoping to catch her in as good a mood as possible."
He recognized the creature vaguely as the alien who hung around Scotty, but other than that Pavel didn't know much about him. "I agree," the Russian told the tiny alien. "Ve should try to remind ze TARDIS zat ve are here to help."
"Precisely," Gaila chimed in as she popped out from behind the TARDIS where she was taking some readings from the vessel "It's a living creature and all your hip-hopping about, you could be molesting it for all we know." She shook her head and smiled at Ushas "How do you wish to proceed Ensign?"
Ushas was rather glad for the support she was getting from both Pavel and Gaila. It was yet more proof that being here, part of Starfleet really was the right choice.
She bit back a smile at the molesting comment, glad she was able to find things humorous even in this situation. "Of course that may put it in the good mood I was hoping for," she admitted. "But yes probably better if I attempt this without any outside...stimulation." Moving closer to the TARDIS she looked it over for a moment before addressing the engineer. "Have you been able to get any reading of the ships defences?" she inquired. "My first plan was to see how...strong it was. The TARDIS is old, damaged and a long way from the planet it originated from. I'm hoping we can use these things to our advantage."
Keenser was always told to come off things. He wasn’t breaking anything.
“KEENSERRR!” Scotty walked in yelling at the alien. “How many times I told you no climbing on things.” He was very thick Scottish brogue thicker than the Doctor’s.
Keenser was pulling up a “P” off the Police Box and had found a key. He shrugged when he showed it to everyone. “Boss, see I found a key!” He climbed down. The key of course wasn’t going to work but would slide in the key hole.
"Thank you, sir," Ushas said politely when Scotty appeared to deal with his...whatever exactly the creature was to him.
Ushas stared at Keenser and the key for a moment, completely stunned. "A key?" she repeated. "Are you kidding me? He has a key hidden outside his TARDIS?" she shook her head. "The man's an idiot! May I have it please?" she added, holding out a hand for it.
Keenser looked at Scotty and Scotty nodded his head. Than Keenser handed it to Ushas.
“Is that a Police box?” Scotty said walking over to it. “Is this the item? How can it be?” he walked around it. “I saw one of these in my family photo album. Long time ago, we have two of them. One with my great relatives with a police officer and some man walking in, my great relative said it vanished. Is that it? Is that possible the same damn thing?” he was dazed when he was looking at it
"It's a TARDIS, sir," she explained, gratefully taking the key. "Time And Relative Dimensions In Space. It's a time and space craft from my home planet of Gallifrey. This is not how they usually look. Normally it would have changed its shape to fit in with its surroundings. It's possible this is the same craft," she admitted. "As I said it travels through both time and space."
Scotty was total blown away. “Sounds something from fairy tales,” he added, rubbing his ear. “Though I read on matters,” raising both eyebrows and clapping his hands together, “It will be delighted. The technology is like….what is it supposed to look like? Silvered slick?” he rubbed his head. He was trying to recall the book he read a long time ago from ancient books about a man who was a Time Traveller. That was before the time man landed on the moon.
“Keenser?” Scotty saw the alien on another platform, “No, that’s not the way to do a reading. Get off that NOW! Sorry, he’s has a creative way to do things. I would have left him behind,” Scotty said so Keenser would hear it. Deep down Scotty liked the little guy. He liked Keenser acted like a thorn at times. “A pain you are at times! You’re not invited to night. Oh don’t you give me that look.”
"So, will the key fit?" Scotty asked the Ushas.
"As I said it depends on where it is. I don't think I've ever seen one in it's natural state as it were. It's unlikely it looks like any of the technology you're used to. While we're technological advanced on Gallifrey we tend to favour more traditional organic designs," she told him moving closer to the TARDIS.
"Might I suggest you allow Gaila to take the readings?" she suggested calmly, confident the Orion was significantly more capable of the task.
"Only one way to find out," she replied, slipping the key in the lock and attempting to turn it as few times before giving up. "It would appear not. Perhaps he changed to locks when he changed the interior," she suggested. "It may be an old key." She sighed slightly. "I didn't imagine it would that simple."
Closing her hand around the key she moved her hand over the wood of the door, closing her eyes for a moment, trying to get inside the TARDIS itself. There was something wrong. It had only been months since she'd been inside a TARDIS other than this one, since she'd been connected to one herself and it felt completely different to this. More powerful and she didn't want to think about what that meant. She knew the ships took a lot of their power from Gallifrey itself though, which meant this was just another piece of evidence to suggest what Spock had told her was correct. Her planet was gone. "It's weak," she said quietly opening her eyes, but keeping her hand on the TARDIS. "Which means it shouldn't be too difficult to open."
“Don’t judge something that easy,” Scotty said. “I had whiskey once and I thought it was weak. But oh no it wasn’t weak, first sip had me waking with a hangover. Remember that Keenser?” Keenser nodded.
Keenser spoked in his translator, “Organic? Organic key?” he eyed her hand with the key.
Scotty was looking down at Keenser, “What are you on about?”
Keenser face expression changed a bit, “How was the key made?”
Scotty smiled, “Ah, you know that’s something. You think we can work on the key. That key could be a part of that ship or where it’s from. I still don’t believe it’s a box,” he touched it. “It feels wood,” he knocked on it. “Sounds like wood.”
"This is different," she replied, not wanting to argue with him but she knew how a TARDIS was supposed to feel and it was not like this. "It's...disconnected," she swallowed and looked across at Pavel, because his mere presence tended to make her feel better.
"It's worth a try," she said handing the key back to Scotty forcing herself to stop thinking about whether Gallifrey was still there or not. "It's not doing much good at the moment."
“Good,” Scotty said taking the key and going to another group of Engineers and they are start working on it. “Oh, you,” he asked a scientist. “We need your point of view as well.” they started to work on it.
“Keenser stay off that! I am telling you once. I am not your mother,” he said. Mumbled I sound like me mother. “I need to go to the Bridge. Contact me if there are any changes,” he was smiling. He can’t wait to get his team inside the ship and really start to get to work. He had wondered what it would be like. This whole TARDIS was weird for Scotty. Figure other people could add in their help while Scotty goes does his Chief work
"I've not encountered any outside defences ma'am," If it's current appearance was the result of a cloaking device, it was a damn good one; for all purposes it just looked and felt like a wooden box. "There are energy readings coming from inside but it cannot be accurately read with our equipment." This was something new, something Starfleet hadn't seen before.
She faltered for a moment when Gaila referred to her as 'ma'am' since it was rather unexpected even if she were in change of this particular situation she was sure the two of them were the same rank. Still she wasn't about to complain. "Thank you," she replied politely. Making a mental note that should she need to work with engineering again she would make sure to request the Orion by name. "You couldn't make it easy? Could you?" she said, seemingly addressing the TARDIS, though it was more accurately aimed at the Doctor. "The inside isn't exactly in the here and now," she explained. It was all horribly complicated to explain. "The interior occupies a different an entirely different time and space, or rather...doesn't. It's outside all of that. Anyway it will be easier to get readings once we get the thing open. Once we do get it open you should be able to get a much better picture." Which was an invitation to enter the TARDIS once it was open.
"The remote is it here?" she asked looking around at the assembled group.