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Quiet Remembrance: Part 1

Never before had Jack seen so many books.

They stretched all the way up to a black void beyond the capabilities of human sight, where surely they continued on. The long hallways—some twisted, some wide and yawning, some thin as a needle—were lined with them, hardly a fingernail’s breadth between one spine and another. Ladders lined the walls to help scholars reach great heights on their quest for knowledge that was otherwise unreachable. Staircases wound from floor to floor, ranging from small wooden things to vast grand marble ones worthy of royalty. The bookshelves were new but old at the same time…much like the Doctor, Jack thought to his amusement. Also like the Doctor, Jack was sure that no matter how long someone spent in this place, you would never uncover all of its secrets.

Though far from being empty, the only sounds in the Library were the Doctor’s sneakers tip-tapping on the cool marble floors, his long brown trenchcoat gently swishing around his legs with each step. Jack padded noiselessly beside him as they searched for what they came for.

The Man in the Moon told them all that he could. After all, he had once flown through space with his family and an old friend, and seen and learned many things. But when the Doctor inquired as to specifics for the origins of the silver box that he had stolen from the Cybermen’s weapon, MiM simply shook his head. He said that maybe a little research would help more than he ever could. He suggested that the duo go to the library.

Jack had seriously doubted that any library would have what they were looking for.

That was when the Doctor informed him that, no, not just any Earthling library. The Library. The Man in the Moon meant the best and biggest library of the universe.

And boy, was that an understatement.

Jack had still been in a state of disbelief (which was quite ironic given how he had spent 300 years), dejection and slight anger towards the Doctor for not informing him of his suspicions sooner. But curiosity and longing got the better part of him, so he had agreed to go with the Doctor to the Library.

And so the two found themselves perusing the hallways of the grand structure.

The Doctor had guesses on the precise function of the silver box, which he gripped in his coat pocket. It made the weapon…well, it made the weapon. It was its heart. Made it tick. Inside—which he had been able to look at all thanks to scans gifted by the TARDIS—were wires and cables, motherboards and switches and such as the like. But there was also a rune on one of the boards. A rune that neither he, MiM, nor Jack could identify.

He deduced it was some sort of signature. And that, no doubt, the general wiring and way the box was constructed was a signature in and of itself. Much like how the TARDIS’ interior structure reflected his own personality.

He was sure that there was more to the markings on the outside of the box, too.
He figured it wouldn’t hurt to bring the boy along. It was, after all, his right to know about his people. He could be useful in helping to decipher what the box said, even if he didn’t remember much of the language. And if there were a chance that there was another of his kind out there in the universe…

He only hoped that, should that be true, the other wouldn’t be hostile. Not only for the sake of the universe, but for Jack too. He didn’t want the boy to have to endure the same as he did with the Master, now so long ago.

Besides, it wouldn’t hurt to have a travelling companion.

They began the descent down a long, seemingly endless staircase. The temperature dropped a degree with each step.

The Doctor shivered.

“Do you know where you’re going?” asked a voice to his right.

He nodded. “There’s bound to be books on the Isfolkais down here. Here’s where they keep the best stuff. There maybe we’ll be able to match a face—or in this case, a symbol—to a name. And you can read up on your history.”

Jack shrugged his consent. The Doctor had been pretty quiet about the Isfolkais’ history. Whether it was because he didn’t know much or was ashamed, Jack couldn’t tell. Nevertheless, Jack looked forward to helping, hoping that he could assist in deciphering the Isfolkaian lettering on the box. Fun as it was to squint at the markings and try to turn them into something meaningful, it was like seeing shapes of things in the clouds. Entertaining, but not too informational.

The duo reached the end of the staircase and rounded a corner. It was significantly darker down here than on the upper floors.

They exchanged blank looks.

Why were they here, again?

Description
Quiet Remembrance: Part 1

Never before had Jack seen so many books.

They stretched all the way up to a black void beyond the capabilities of human sight, where surely they continued on. The long hallways—some twisted, some wide and yawning, some thin as a needle—were lined with them, hardly a fingernail’s breadth between one spine and another. Ladders lined the walls to help scholars reach great heights on their quest for knowledge that was otherwise unreachable. Staircases wound from floor to floor, ranging from small wooden things to vast grand marble ones worthy of royalty. The bookshelves were new but old at the same time…much like the Doctor, Jack thought to his amusement. Also like the Doctor, Jack was sure that no matter how long someone spent in this place, you would never uncover all of its secrets.

Though far from being empty, the only sounds in the Library were the Doctor’s sneakers tip-tapping on the cool marble floors, his long brown trenchcoat gently swishing around his legs with each step. Jack padded noiselessly beside him as they searched for what they came for.

The Man in the Moon told them all that he could. After all, he had once flown through space with his family and an old friend, and seen and learned many things. But when the Doctor inquired as to specifics for the origins of the silver box that he had stolen from the Cybermen’s weapon, MiM simply shook his head. He said that maybe a little research would help more than he ever could. He suggested that the duo go to the library.

Jack had seriously doubted that any library would have what they were looking for.

That was when the Doctor informed him that, no, not just any Earthling library. The Library. The Man in the Moon meant the best and biggest library of the universe.

And boy, was that an understatement.

Jack had still been in a state of disbelief (which was quite ironic given how he had spent 300 years), dejection and slight anger towards the Doctor for not informing him of his suspicions sooner. But curiosity and longing got the better part of him, so he had agreed to go with the Doctor to the Library.

And so the two found themselves perusing the hallways of the grand structure.

The Doctor had guesses on the precise function of the silver box, which he gripped in his coat pocket. It made the weapon…well, it made the weapon. It was its heart. Made it tick. Inside—which he had been able to look at all thanks to scans gifted by the TARDIS—were wires and cables, motherboards and switches and such as the like. But there was also a rune on one of the boards. A rune that neither he, MiM, nor Jack could identify.

He deduced it was some sort of signature. And that, no doubt, the general wiring and way the box was constructed was a signature in and of itself. Much like how the TARDIS’ interior structure reflected his own personality.

He was sure that there was more to the markings on the outside of the box, too.
He figured it wouldn’t hurt to bring the boy along. It was, after all, his right to know about his people. He could be useful in helping to decipher what the box said, even if he didn’t remember much of the language. And if there were a chance that there was another of his kind out there in the universe…

He only hoped that, should that be true, the other wouldn’t be hostile. Not only for the sake of the universe, but for Jack too. He didn’t want the boy to have to endure the same as he did with the Master, now so long ago.

Besides, it wouldn’t hurt to have a travelling companion.

They began the descent down a long, seemingly endless staircase. The temperature dropped a degree with each step.

The Doctor shivered.

“Do you know where you’re going?” asked a voice to his right.

He nodded. “There’s bound to be books on the Isfolkais down here. Here’s where they keep the best stuff. There maybe we’ll be able to match a face—or in this case, a symbol—to a name. And you can read up on your history.”

Jack shrugged his consent. The Doctor had been pretty quiet about the Isfolkais’ history. Whether it was because he didn’t know much or was ashamed, Jack couldn’t tell. Nevertheless, Jack looked forward to helping, hoping that he could assist in deciphering the Isfolkaian lettering on the box. Fun as it was to squint at the markings and try to turn them into something meaningful, it was like seeing shapes of things in the clouds. Entertaining, but not too informational.

The duo reached the end of the staircase and rounded a corner. It was significantly darker down here than on the upper floors.

They exchanged blank looks.

Why were they here, again?