Chapter Text
Things were just not what they used to be, or shall we say, it’s not been the same since the passing of Sam’s grandfather. He was the only one he had. The closest thing that was considered was him as an actual father. Now. It’s gone. He’s gone.
Sam visits his grandfather’s grave. No matter what, the surreal sensation overcomes him. Staring at the gravestone. Jameson Dametrius Grimshaw, engraved on the stone. He slowly bends both knees, lowering himself. “Hi, grandad.” He said softly. “I missed ya. I know, I know. You’re gonna tell me what I am sad about.” He chuckles softly, then looks further down for a moment, then quickly lifts his head back up. “Looking up at the stars, cheering me on as I am out there, seeing the wonders and fighting monsters. Things like that. Of course, when I come home, I will tell you all the things that have happened.” A moment of silence fills the surroundings. Sam swallowed, and it was difficult. It felt like the biggest lump, hurting and choking him for that moment. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
Sam visits the grave from time to time—one day. The sky weeps. Sam walks through the light rain, his dirty blond hair damp and his clothes spotted with small drops that land on him.
Sam quickly halts. He spots a figure standing where his grandfather’s grave is. Sam carefully moves ahead to get a better look. The man has shocking, silvery, fluffy hair. Sam sees only the back side of this person. Seeing that they are wearing a red velvet coat with black trousers.
“Hello?” Sam spoke softly. It caught their attention. The man swiftly turned toward Sam. As they met eyes, the man just gave a gentle smile.
“Hello, Sam.” The man said.
Sam made a face. “You know who I am?”
The man looked down for a brief moment, still had a gentle grin, then looked back at Sam. “You can say that. I was a good friend of your granddad.”
Sam walked closer to the person and the Grave. “Have you? He never mentions you.”
“Ah, yes, about that.” The Man paused for a moment. “I’m not usually a person who likes to be well known, but he has told me a lot of things about you and…”
Sam watched the man reach into his coat pocket, then pull his hand back, gripping a certain device. The Man looks for a moment.
“You know, you and your grandfather are not the only ones who know everything about aliens and space traveling, and a friend of yours left me this to give you.” The man placed the device on top of the gravestone.
“What is that?” Sam asked.
The man just continued looking at Sam. “A gateway to what you had before. You can say that you stole it from him.”
Sam looked at him. “What do you mean?”
The Man shrugged his shoulders. “There were wrong choices made. Just making sure they’re dealt with.”
Sam narrowed his eyes at the Man. He turned his attention to the device on the Gravestone. He walked closer to it, reached out his arm, and grabbed the device. Sam stared at it. It slowly came to him what it was. “Hang on a minute, this is…”
Once Sam turned back to where the man was, his eyes met only the surroundings. Sam looked back at the device, still sitting on the stone. Sam reached for it and grabbed it. “Wonder where he gets a Vortex Manipulator?”
I
Long ago, quite long ago. Sam was just an ordinary person. Goes through life as the vast majority of people do. But all it took was just one day and one peculiar person to turn things around. He just finished school and is going to work to see the universe. The things that an ordinary person wouldn’t even consider. He thought it would go on as he lived. But then it just stops. The friend who always takes him to see the stars just decided no more.
It was all thought to be the end of the travels. Life would just return to normal. It’s been proving difficult for Sam. At times, he couldn’t help but feel that the Universe was starting to turn around him, and he faced things on his own.
The time Samuel faced the Universe. And look for the Doctor. His Doctor.
***
Intense. Is the single word that comes to Samuel’s mind through the current experience, floating, but he also feels like he is flying through the tunnel of swirling, chaotic storms. A Kaleidoscope of light and dark shades of blue surrounds Sam. Scary at first, but I know it’s just beautiful. Sam always wondered what the Time Vortex looked like while traveling with the Doctor, confined within the TARDIS. But to finally see it with one's own eyes. It’s a lot.
It all came to an end within a flash of light that lasted for a second, and now ended in a different place. He stumbled a bit but still managed to get his bearings, just the tingling sensation that goes around his entire body. It doesn’t bother him as much, but he notices that it happens when he hops around time and space.
Sam takes a gander at his surroundings. All he can see are tall pine trees and the undergrowth. He looks down at his left wrist, where a device is attached, and at the device's small screen. It reads the time of year. 1563. The Middle Ages. Sam gives a slight nod, looks ahead, and thinks it would be a good resting point.
Sam starts to walk down a path into the woods, with no idea where it leads. In some passing time, Sam continued on his aimless journey through the woods. He messes around with some button controls on the device on his rest. Then, at first, it’s quiet, but he is sure the slowly growing noise is trotting hooves. He looks towards the source of the sound. He starts to see a large horse with what he assumes is a Knight riding it. Sam stands firm as they approach.
The Knight yielded, causing the horse to leap and make a loud whine. The Horse lands on all four legs. The Knight turns to Sam. “Identify and state your business.”
“My name’s Samuel Grimshaw, and I’m just a traveller. I don’t want any trouble.” Samuel said with both of his hands up.
The Knight hops off their horse. Sam watches them reach out and grab the helmet. They gently pull it off. Revealing something that has completely caught Sam off guard.
“You’re a Dalmatian.” Sam just stands in astonishment at the unexpected revelation.
The Knight just nodded, seemingly completely unfazed by the reaction. “Indeed, I am. And I have been told of your arrival.
Sam’s shock turned into confusion. “I’m expected?” He looked back at his wrist again. “Are you sure this is 1563?”
“I was informed by the great wizard Attorie.” The Knight added.
Sam quickly turned back to the anthro Dalmatian. “Attorie? I happen to know an Attorie. Alright then, take me to this Great Wizard.”
II
Wolsey wanders about in the kingdom of Suwusite. Taking in the sights on the street filled with busy inhabitants, both human and anthros alike. Sounds of stomping hooves approach behind. Wolsey turns around and sees the Knight on the horse, along with another person.
“Great Wizard, I have acquired and brought the individual you requested.” The Knight said with a gentle bow of his head. Sam peers by the side.
“Wolsey?”
The Wizard smiles. “Hello, Sammy.”
Sam hops off the horse and moves closer to the Samaritan for an embrace. “What are you doing here?”
Wolsey takes the moment of the hug, softly rubbing Sam’s back before they answer. “I should ask you the same thing though...” They broke the hug. Their eyes locked onto the Vortex Manipulator that is attached to Sam’s wrist. “Though I might already have the answer.”
Sam turned his head to where the Samaritan is looking. “Oh yeah, this. It was just handed to me.”
Wolsey raised one eyebrow. “Just handed to you?” They echoed Sam’s words.
Sam shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know what else to put in it.
“Right then…” Wolsey trailed off. Eyes still locked to Sam. Silence slowly fell between them, leaving only the villagers.
“Well then.” Sam finally broke the silence.
The Samaritan blinked and shook their head lightly. “Sorry, I was just checking on something.”
“Like what?”
Wolsey didn’t say anything further. Sam watched them arch their head to one side like a curious puppy. They were moving around Sam in a circular motion, and Sam tried to follow them, but to no avail. “You’ve been busy.”
Sam looked around himself. Trying to find out the signs that led Wolsey to say that. Wolsey shook his head. “It’s not the physiology that gave it away.”
“Oh,” Sam said with a little embarrassment.
Wolsey straightened them out. “You are flooded with artron energy.” They paused. “I assume that you know what that is.”
Sam nodded in reply.
“Good. Your whole background radiation is timing it. Surprised that you still seem to have your mind.” Wolsey poked Sam’s forehead. Sam flinched slightly from that.
Sam rubbed his forehead with his hand. “Why? What will happen?”
Wolsey clicked with his tongue. “It’s a very nasty thing. So in the meantime.” They reached for Sam’s arm and mess with the Vortex Manipulator.
“You know I can just hand it to you,” Sam added.
Wolsey didn’t say anything. They shrugged one shoulder, still fiddling with the device. Once again, silence wedged between them. Sam looked around, seeing both the humans and anthros busy with their lives. He couldn’t help but be fascinated by the Anthros in real life, right before his eyes. Then a thought sprang to mind, making him turn back to the Samaritan.
“So why are you here?” He asked.
Wolsey shifted their eyes to Sam for a moment, then right back to the Vortex Manipulator. “I’ve told you.”
“Yeah, but is that really the reason why?”
Wolsey paused, then, just a split moment, a soft grin formed on their face. “You’re very quick.” The Samaritan straightened themselves out. “It’s best that I show you.
III
Sam and Wolsey walk through the deep woods. The sound of the village that they were in is quiet. The only sounds are the sounds of nature and the crunch of leaves beneath their feet. “I will admit, I was keeping watch of you hopping all around time and space, and have decided to meet halfway.”
“To whatever this place is in…” Sam darts to the Screen on the Vortex Manipulator. “1563.”
Wolsey smiles a little. “The Universe is funny like that. Hey, at least you’re still in the good ‘ol 2019. You’re gonna hate the years that have to come. Especially around 2026.” They shudder.
Samuel turns away a bit. The inner mind didn’t much agree with the comment, with 2019 being a good thing for him from what has happened. A sudden realization snaps Sam back to the present. He was only hearing his footsteps. Sam stopped, turned left, and saw that Wolsey was no longer there. He completely turned to see the Samaritan a few feet behind. Standing still, staring ahead. “Wolsey?”
No response. Sam walked back towards the Samaritan. Wolsey had never taken their eyes off whatever Wolsey was staring at. Sam traced Wolsey’s glance, following what they might be staring at, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary, and there were no otherworldly hostilities that could break out at any moment.
“Can you feel it?” Wolsey softly spoke.
Sam quickly turned back to them. “Feel what?
Wolsey made a face, subtly shaking their head.
“What is there I am supposed to feel?” Sam asked. Again, no response. Sam caught the movement of Wolsey’s arm going towards Sam. Their hands made light contact with Sam’s arm.
“What do you see?” Sam asked.
“A creature,” Wolsey responded this time, but quietly.
Sam turned back in the same direction, but still the same thing. Before Sam could even look back. Wolsey was suddenly lifted off the ground and thrown backward. Sam went stiff right there as he watched the Samaritan fall to the ground after hearing a groan from them.
“Wolsey!” Sam broke free of his paralysis of fear and ran toward them.
The Samaritan, in a bit of a struggle, raised their head, seeing their friend approaching and the creature approaching as well. A shadowy mass with multi-jointed limbs, glowing eyes, and a zigzag mouth hanging open. Wolsey raised their arm about a foot off the ground, hand outstretched.
Sam stumbled at the sudden feeling, as if he had just hit a wall. Sam still managed to stand on two feet, but he shifted around and noticed he seemed locked in place. Sam kept looking at Wolsey, and their hand still held up.
Just by the shift of the hand. A force shoved Sam to the side. He fell to the ground beside him. A large, shadowy mass passed by, out of Sam’s line of sight, in the corner of his eye.
Everything was happening so fast for Sam. Just at that time, Sam got a glance. Wolsey was tense but still held their defense as the creature lunged at the Samaritan.
“Oi!” Out of nowhere, a loud, energetic voice intervened. A figure emerged through the plantations. The man was wearing a brown suit with white horizontal stripes and a lighter brown trench coat. Sam stared at the man in utter confusion.
“Who are you?” Sam asked.
The man turned to Sam with an energetic teethy grin. “I am the Doctor.”