cape_kore | 013 ✳ day 149 ✳ audio

[She isn't showing her face over the network, but still, Fortescue's voice sounds almost as bad as her numerous injuries. It wobbles every so often, from the abuse it's taken, and she can't even drum up the emotion to be angry about her lack of control over it. It is what is is.]

Hello, Science Center. Miss me? [Fortescue holds the phone away from her face, for a moment, to cough. She might sound dry, but she really is grateful to be back. Very grateful.] Had this place let me remember, I would have been able to return the favor.

...I don't want to inconvenience anyone, but I'm not... especially mobile, and the canteen is quite a distance from my room. If anyone feels like being generous, I wouldn't mind a snack. [Or maybe more than a snack, but she doesn't feel worthy enough, anymore, to ask for more than that. What is she, aside from a person who failed in her most basic duties as a sister?

She almost asks for alcohol, too, just for the hell of it, but she doesn't. She cuts the feed after a quick,]

Thank you.

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[They all pretty much look alike. The box is a nice marker, though. She wonders how long she'll have it.]

Whatever looks... like it won't kill a human being, I suppose. [Use your judgment on some of the creepier stuff in the cafeteria, Clara.] I appreciate it. [Especially from a stranger.]

Nothing alien then, got it.

[ Although Clara certainly hadn't died in her taste test on Akhatan so... maybe they'd be safe ]

I'll be- I'd say twenty minutes but this place is kind of like a labyrinth. Hopefully that's not just me.

[ Although if it is then she could learn it quickly. She blames the similar looking hallways ]

Don't worry, love, it's that rude to everyone. [At least it doesn't change every second and limits itself to when you're not looking. It could be worse.] Makes for a real adventure out of every trip.

[Hence why she's not limping anywhere on her own, yet.]

Shame, was hoping I'd be special there.

[ No she wasn't. Wrong kind of thing to be special for ]

Is there any trick to this?

None that I've heard of, so far. When I was here, I remember getting to rooms was always a bit of an adventure. That's why I'm trying not to... head anywhere, just yet.

[Wouldn't do to get stuck somewhere, in this condition.]

Guess it's just a solo adventure then.

[ But that's okay. An adventure is always nice ]

But- [ Wait ] Think I see a box.

[ If she quints. It's still quite a way down the hall ]

[Fortescue opens the door and peers out. Not one to let his guard down, Jazz trots past her and out into the hallway, too. The black cat surveys both ends of the corridor, though he's probably looking for mice.]

Do you see us?

If you've got a cat.

[ Because then definitely yes, and Clara gives that face a small wave. And a cat. That's cute. Clara goes quiet over the device until she's closer to the woman and her cat ]

What's his name?

[She clicks off her phone as Clara draws near, smiling.]

His name is Jazz. [The somewhat tattered-looking ex-alley cat stares up at Clara, green eyes sweeping over her.] He's made the jump with me twice, too, though I don't know if he remembers anything.

[Fortescue doesn't like the idea of this place modifying her cat's memory, too, but there's nothing she can do about it, apparently.]

Didn't realise they were into kidnapping animals too. Guess if they've got aliens they've got everything.

[ She's meaning the Doctor for that one, silly skinny alien. But what if there were others? That wouldn't actually be that surprising for her ]

So I guess you've gone home then if you're saying twice.

It's not common, but it's happened at least once.

[Fortescue nods, almost reluctantly.]

And yes, I did go home. I was here for a while before that. Almost thought I was never going to leave, actually.

[What a happy thing that would have been, in hindsight.]

I guess when you were home there wasn't really an option for rescuing everyone else? Unless that's why you came back.

[ Can she have the tiniest bit of hope? If not she at least would still hope in the Doctor to fix it all, even if he didn't have the TARDIS ]

[She smiles wryly.]

Sorry, darling, no such luck. I didn't remember this place at all. Probably pushed it off as a strange dream one morning.

[Not a bad dream, but definitely a strange one. And those being what they are, it had evaporated without her giving it a single thought again. Either that, or the scientists had deliberately made sure it would melt away.]

Well it was worth trying. Guess we'll have to work on that now, then. Don't suppose you've got any ideas?

Escaping, you mean?

[Fortescue almost winces.]

It was tried twice, that I remember. I was around for the second time. It ended with failure and punishment to everyone here, and the leader of the second attempt vanished for a while.

[And the Doctor had come back mildly catatonic, to boot.]

What did they do? Maybe it was in how they did it that went wrong.

The first time, I don't know. But the second time, a device was constructed to breach the bubble that was around where we were. Our resident Time Lord... or I suppose ex-resident... made it out of tools and rubbish.

[It had been clever, but it had resulted in some nasty punishments.]

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