Convergence on Lawndale - Part 17

 

Stacy saw the column in the middle of the console go up and down, but it was the sound of the engines and the shaking of the floor that nearly overwhelmed her. But there was something else she felt, as if someone was trying to reassure her.

 

The Doctor turned to Stacy. “Relax. We’ll be there shortly.”

 

“There’s something, nice,” Stacy said.

 

“That would be the TARDIS herself. She doesn’t want you to think she’s overwhelming in a bad way. I mean it’s always overwhelming when people see that she’s bigger inside than out and that she exists…”

 

Stacy interrupted. “She’s alive?”

 

“Yes,” Quinn answered. “In a way.”

 

 

The TARDIS landed in Middleton not far from the portal, a minute after departure from the Morgendorffers from the perspective of Lawndale on the other side of the poral. The Doctor ran the scan immediately.

 

The results were similar to those in Lawndale. “It’s also a flower,” Jane said.

 

“I’ll also zoom out to Upperton and Lowerton,” the Doctor said.

 

The scanner then showed that both Upperton and Lowerton had similar coverage to Oakwood.

 

“No real difference,” Quinn commented.

 

“True, and I think the reverse scan will be similar, the Doctor responded. He ran that scan and saw that the progression was the same as in Lawndale.

 

 

The Doctor, Quinn, Daria and Kaelyn stepped out of the TARDIS into the early morning Middleton.

 

“Kim and Ron should still be asleep,” Kaelyn commented. “But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t find out what’s happening here.”

 

“But maybe what we need to deal with is back in Lawndale,” Quinn suggested.

 

“Or maybe those who Kim fights against are aware of the portal in Middelton and will try to take advantage of the fact Lawndale wouldn’t know about them yet,” Daria added.

 

“But we can’t really guard the portal,” Kaelyn pointed out.

 

“No,” the Doctor mused. “But the TARDIS can monitor it for me.”

 

“Or UNIT?” Peter asked from the door.

 

“UNiT is already involved in Lawndale’s time. It would increase the possibility of temporal complications if we involve them in this time. Besides, they would be aware of that.”

 

“So, we’re on our own. No pressure,” Daria added.

 

“We will get to the bottom of this,” the Doctor said.

 

“I have no doubt of that,” Quinn said as she looked out at Middleton.

 

 

Stacy watched as Jane sketched the map of the Middleton that the scanner was showing. She then looked to where Brittany was pacing near the door. “All this is overwhelming,” she said to Jane.

 

“But you’re not alone in this,” Jane said.

 

“I know, but Quinn is used to this. Brittany too. You seem to be taking this in stride.”

 

“Well, Daria actually told me about the Doctor. That, and there are many things my older siblings have got involved in.”

 

“The ones who wander?” Stacy said.

 

“Yes. Although my brother’s band has also seen things.”

 

“Is Mystik Spiral as bad as they say?”

 

“That depends on what you’ve heard,” Jane responded. She looked at the Scanner again. “I wonder if I can compare Middleton and Lawndale side by side.”

 

The TARDIS beeped and the screen changed to show the scan results of the two towns as Jane suggested.

 

“Oh, thanks, TARDIS.”

 

“I feel that reassurance again,” Stacy commented.

 

“She’s trying to help, in her way.”

 

“You understand what the Doctor said?”

 

“In a way,” Jane answered. “All this Time Lord stuff is beyond all of us.”

 

Stacy glanced at the two maps on the screen. Lawndale and Middleton had different layouts. ‘It’s the different landscapes,’ she thought. But the layout of the energy readings looked the same. The same flower pattern. “They look the same.”

 

“They are identical.”

 

 

Jane emerged from the TARDIS.

 

“Something up?” Daria asked.

 

“I compared the maps of Lawndale and Middleton,” Jane answered.

 

“And?” the Doctor asked.

 

“They’re identical.”

 

“Oh.”

 

 

The Doctor re-entered the TARDIS. He quickly saw that Jane was right.

 

“But what does it mean?” Stacy asked.

 

“We’re going to have to looking at each of those places, in both towns,” the Doctor said. “And we may not be able to wait for Kim and Ron.”

 

“It will take long enough for them to wake,” Daria said.

 

“Quite likely,” the Doctor said. “But we can’t just focus on Middleton or Lawndale.”

 

“Obviously,” Jane responded.

 

“But we’ll go to the closest energy source here in Middleton,” the Doctor said.

 

“Isn’t that the portal?” Stacy asked.

 

“No, it’s the one corresponding to the Coulthards,” the Doctor answered.

 

“Let’s do it,” Quinn decided.

 

 

“So where is it?” Kaelyn asked.

 

“In a neighbourhood to the south of here,” the Doctor answered.

 

“Then let’s get going,” Daria said.

 

 

While they were travelling to the location, Kim awoke to Wade’s call on the Kimmunicator. “Wade, it’s only been an hour and a half.”

 

“I know, but you have to see this,” Wade said. “The TARDIS has materialised here in Middleton.”

 

“So, what did happen in Lawndale is also happening in Middleton?”

 

“That seems likely. I tried contacting UNIT but they’re not saying anything.”

 

“We’re on our own then,” Kim said. “Call Ron, have him meet me in the park.”