FIC: An Unearthly Moppet (Assorted classic characters + OFC, PG, 3/10)

[lizbee]

An Unearthly Moppet
Chapter 3: Military Intelligence

In which we catch a glimpse of Livia's knickers.  And some stuff happens.

Prologue | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 |
Chapter Three: Military Intelligence

"This," said Livia, watching the Doctor work, "is not precisely what I was expecting."

Sure, she knew her father had worked for (Romana's word) or with (the Doctor's) the Earth military for a few years, back when the Time Lords were around to censure him.  And she'd seen the velvet coats and frilly shirts with her very own eyes, although usually it was her mother who was wearing them.

But she'd just had this idea that her father's military phase would be ... cool.  Long black coats and slow motion action scenes, not ... men in unflattering uniforms bringing tea.

"Tea?" Sergeant Benton asked, appearing at her elbow.

"No thanks," said Livia.  "Just had some.  Have you found Bobby yet?"

"No," Benton admitted.  "But we've got a whole squad out looking for him, and Jo's quite sure she saw him heading towards the weapons locker – not that he could get in," he added quickly, "but it's a place to look.  He moves fast, for someone so..."

"Diminutive?" the Doctor suggested, looking up from his workbench.  "I told Jo not to underestimate a Gallifreyan child." 

"But he was just so cute," said Jo, entering the laboratory.  "I did find the batteries you wanted, though.  Oh, hello," she added to Livia, "you must be Bobby's big sister.  I'm so glad you've finally arrived.  The Doctor was terribly worried."

The Doctor snorted as he took the batteries.

"Now," he said, "since your brother arrived, I've been trying to miniaturise the particle generator.  You'll be able to carry it and use it yourself, save me from going through my cupboards every time you turn up."

He pressed a button, and a small distortion field began to form in the corner.  It dissipated as soon as he hit the button again.

"There," he said, presenting it to her.  "It's yours."

"Wow," said Livia, hefting it.  "That's ... some miniaturisation."

"I am restricted to the materials I have at hand," said the Doctor.  He sounded faintly put out.

"It's brilliant," said Livia.  "Like a prehistoric iPod that can rip the fabric of the universe apart."

"A what?" Benton asked, at the same time as Jo said, "It's rather clever, isn't it?"  She and the Doctor exchanged a smile.

Livia put the portable generator in her pocket.  At once, the weight began to pull her pants down.  She pulled it out, hoping that no one had caught a glimpse of her Rainbrow Brite knickers, and wondered if Jo might lend her a spare handbag.  She was about to ask, when the telephone rang.

"This is – oh, Brigadier!  Yes? Oh.  Well, yes.  No, no, I'm sure the Doctor was going to tell you about it.  In fact, he was just about to come and tell you personally.  Oh, no, Brigadier, I'd never make fun of you.  We'll be there right away."

Jo hung up the phone and bit her lip.  It looked like she was trying not to laugh.

"They've found Bobby," she said.

"In the weapons locker?" Livia asked.  She was harbouring a mental image of her baby brother happily clutching a handful of grenades and maybe a rocket launcher, and announcing his plans for universal domination.

"Worse," said Jo.  "In the Brigadier's office."

*

"I've seen a few strange things since I first met you, Doctor.  But this, I have to say, is the most unexpected."

The Brigadier was a handsome man with sharp, dark eyes and a rather brilliant moustache, but his crisp military bearing was somewhat marred by the blond toddler sitting in his lap, sucking happily on a rank insignia.

"Bobby!" Livia cried.  She pulled him out of the Brigadier's lap and danced him around the small office.  "I'm so glad to see you!  I'm going to murder you!  I'm so glad you're okay!"

"Took you long enough," said Bobby, when she'd stopped.  "The Brigadier was telling me stories!"  He was tired enough that enunciation was becoming optional, so it sounded like, "The Bwigadier was telling me stowies!"  There were still a few traces of tears on his cheeks.

"So tell me, Doctor," the Brigadier said, "why are there civilian children on my secure base?"

"I'm not a child!" Livia snapped.  Everyone looked at her.  "Sorry," she muttered, "just reflex."

"Bit of temporal displacement," said the Doctor.  "Quite simple, really, and they'll be leaving us shortly."

"I'm not running a creche here, you know."

"There was the incident with the infant ... tentacle..."  Benton trailed off.  "I'll just go back to my duties, then."

Jo leaned towards the Brigadier.  In an audible whisper she said, "There's a lollipop stuck to your shoulder.  Sir."

"That's mine," said Bobby.

"That's disgusting," said Livia.

"I agree," said the Brigadier, disposing of it – Bobby looked appalled – and rising to his feet.  "Now, Doctor, if you could be so good as to—"

He kept speaking, but Livia couldn't hear him over the wind that had suddenly gusted through the office.  At first she thought a window had blown open, but the entire room was closed, and everyone else had fallen silent.

"Doctor?" Jo cried.

Bobby buried his head in Livia's shoulder.  It was a struggle to hold onto him, the wind was so strong.

A vortex was opening up.

"Hold on," she heard the Doctor cry, and he held Livia's shoulder.  The vortex was widening, becoming a gash in the face of reality, and the wind was growing stronger.  She took an involuntary step towards the vortex.

"What's happening?" she cried, but the wind whipped her words away, pulling Bobbie out of her arms.  The Doctor's hands tightened on her shoulders, holding her steady, but he was too late, Bobby was being pulled in.  He was screaming, and Livia was screaming, and she couldn't hold on--

He was gone in the space of a moment, and the vortex closed behind him.

"What was that?" Jo demanded.

"I – don't know," said the Doctor, sounding shocked and hollow.

"I don't care," said Livia, wiping her face.  "I'm going after him."

"Livia," the Doctor began.

She held up the portable generator.  "He and I are the end points for a temporal distortion field.  So I'm betting that I can still follow him with this."  Her voice cracked.  "Where ever he is."

"Livia," said Jo, at the same time as the Doctor said, "Livia!"  He sounded exactly like her father.  She hoped he wouldn't worry too much.

"I'm sorry," she said.  Raising the generator, she hit the button and watched the displacement field form.

"Don't let her go," the Doctor cried, but she was already running.  She threw herself into the distortion mere seconds ahead of the Brigadier, and closed her eyes.

I'm coming, Bobby.

 

To be continued




I'm sorry to report that "An Unearthly Moppet" is taking a brief hiatus over Christmas, as I've been too stressed and busy to write more than a few paragraphs of the next chapter.  We shall resume transmission some time in January.

Comments

[evil_plotbunny]

This was a lovely present. :)

Take your time with the rest, we'll still be here after the holidays.

[kerravonsen]

Whee!

For a moment there I thought, "Hey, she can't find Bobby yet!" but of course you, er, "solved" that. 8-)

But she'd just had this idea that her father's military phase would be ... cool. Long black coats and slow motion action scenes, not ... men in unflattering uniforms bringing tea.

(grin)

[nostalgia-lj.livejournal.com]

This is still the greatest story ever told.

[skipthedemon.livejournal.com]

Oh, their little family is having a rough time. Somehow I think there are more to these little temporal disturbances then random phenomena.

Livia, it seems, does not have proper appreciation for the sexy, sexy time that was her father's time at UNIT. Is she implying Three did not look strangely awesome in velvet? Or that Benton in not in fact, teh hotness? ;-)

I'll be impatiently awaiting more of Livia's adventures.

[skipthedemon.livejournal.com]

I was in a mood for *good* fic with babies in them. (No, I don't know either.) And remembered the Time Moppet and Bobby, and came to reread. Any chance you'll finish this?

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

I really should. I got caught up in an ongoing project with deadlines and stuff (still ongoing, still with deadlines, one day it may even be ready to post). But it's not abandoned, merely on the backburner.

[skipthedemon.livejournal.com]

Cool!

[purple-smurf.livejournal.com]

I still love you! Because this was still brilliant. ::hugs:: for the stress... am about to beat a retreat myself to escape some at this end!

[infiniteviking]

I must say... the visual of Bobby sitting on the Brigadier's lap has killed me DED. That is cuter than cute, nearly surpassing Squid Baby in sheer adorability. And wow, the Doctor's reaction when the Vortex snatches Bobby away -- aagh, I feel sorry for him when Livia disappears too. Great UNIT chapter; heee for Livia's meditations on barracks life.

One thing, it's spelled 'Bobbie' in one of those sentences.

..*is wondering if the Brig got pulled in after her....* XDDDDDD

[biichan.livejournal.com]

OMG BOBBY AND THE BRIG. OMG OMG OMG OMG. *DED FROM TEH CUTEZ*

Seriously, though, I love this. Get your Christmas stuff done and we'll be right here to read part four when January comes.

[prof-pangaea.livejournal.com]

She was harbouring a mental image of her baby brother happily clutching a handful of grenades and maybe a rocket launcher, and announcing his plans for universal domination.

this sounds suspiciously like the progeny of a certain OTHER time lord. not romana!

*remembers the gallifrey audios*

oh yeah...


i really loved this chapter. it was wonderful, and funny, and touching. *hearts*

[beatrice_otter]

I really enjoy this. Has it been continued anywhere, and if so, where? if not, is there any possibility that it will be?