Fishing the Multiverse

Jonas and Patch continued their conversation after exiting the library. Jonas stood before the nightmare room and placed his hand on Patch's T-800 arm, stopping him.

"Patch, I feel like maybe we need to address this room now."

Patch looked at it. "Ah. This is the Nightmare Room. Could you explain to me, sir, why you called it this? I have been curious about it."

"Well, it's because the items in here… they all give me nightmares. The idea of what would happen if they broke loose. They're so mysterious. I had nothing but fear at the idea of touching them."

"I see," Patch responded.

"I've been putting this off for a long time. You've been so busy, and there are lots of items in here. Not as many as throughout the rest of the TARDIS, but still, lots. I suppose we should address those as well. All the rooms throughout the TARDIS seem to be filled with items.

"I don't know where all these items came from," he said. "There were some I found in the hallways. Then there were things I fished out that were pretty harmless or useless. Hermione grew the TARDIS, and the TARDIS didn't make these things. Where did these come from?"

"I had always had the impression that maybe the rod disappeared not long after she appeared in this world… or in the world she ended up on."

Patch thought about it. "According to the records in her logs, the planet they were on was a junkyard. It is my theory that the junk you are pulling out of your pond is probably from that very planet."

"So… if you're right," Jonas said slowly, "then the portal leads to only one world? Am I fishing a multiverse—or just one world?"

Patch shook his head gently. "I am unsure. It would seem the most likely answer to your question, regarding everything in the TARDIS, is that it came from that world. Whether or not the fishing rod is pulling directly from only that world—I have no idea. However, as a point of evidence for my theory: the suitcase itself must have come from that world."

Jonas startled. "Yes. You're right. But everything else… I don't know."

Patch shook his head. "I cannot say for certain, sir. There, frankly, isn't enough information. However, working with what we have, my leading hypothesis is that all this came from that planet."

"Interesting."

Jonas stood silently for a moment, then said, "At any rate, we need to organize and catalog it all. Now that the Pages are set, maybe we can shift production. Create some other robots. For example, I was thinking about creating a little army of appraisers. Something that could go through, collect this stuff, and appraise it. Worthless junk should be recycled. Nightmare stuff, flagged. Unknowns too."

"I believe," Patch began, "that to undertake such a venture, it would be recommended that these robots have access to the INDEX and the TARDIS itself, which holds even more information on everything. Remember, the INDEX is only a small portion of the TARDIS's overall knowledge."

"Do you think you can do that?"

"I believe so. We'll need to start gathering more things, but we can begin with creating the appraisers. Perhaps smaller helper units as well. Little janitorial robots and other robot types."

"We'll also need maintenance robots," Jonas added. "This would be a good time to begin diversifying the type of technology we're using."

"Yes," Patch said. "Depending on the job, it could be a wide variety, droids, robots, or potentially androids. The Page design is perfect for gathering and analyzing various objects. We could start in the rooms—and in the Nightmare Room—and begin to discover which objects are truly dangerous and deal with those appropriately, and which might be useful or recyclable."

"I think that's a good idea."

As Jonas stood with his finger on his lip, thinking, Patch hesitantly interrupted.

"Captain, might I make a suggestion?"

"Sure," Jonas said.

"I see that you spend most of your time fishing… but doing little else. As the captain of this vessel, I believe it is in your best interest, as well as the potential crew's, that you become better acquainted with the TARDIS and its functions. Although you may not be able to master it, you should have a rough understanding of how it works. I believe you should begin educating yourself."

Jonas looked at him. "But that's why I have you here."

Patch shook his head, looking down. "No, sir. I believe you misunderstood. Currently, I am under your command—but I do not know if I always will be. At some point, you must face it, I may move on. And then where will you be? You may need to create another Android, perhaps. But at some point, you will need to understand how this ship works.

On all Starfleet vessels, for example, a captain had to understand their workings. If not in explicit detail, then at least a rough idea. I believe this is your opportunity to start educating yourself.

The process of making the repairs I've suggested to you may be quite lengthy. During that time, it would be wise for you to begin learning. To master the TARDIS as much as you can.

"I might also suggest that you begin developing some other skills—something that would help with your survival. Something that might help you create a source of income. I'm only making these suggestions, Captain, because this is a process that works."

Jonas thought carefully about the suggestions Patch was making. He finally nodded.

"I suppose you're right. I mean, I can't just sit there and fish all day, can I? I suppose I should start learning. Do you have a recommendation?"

Patch nodded. "I do. I can work with INDEX to create a study curriculum. And I believe that if you follow this strictly, you'll very quickly begin to accumulate the required knowledge. Being what you and I both assume to be immortal, if not perhaps a Time Lord yourself, you'll have plenty of time to go over this information, read it, reflect, and learn.

"Even with your level of intelligence, which you've remarked is low, although I find you to be fairly regular for a human. Hermione was the genius of her group of friends, and the red-headed one was inferior to you. The other was perhaps about your level of intelligence. According to the records, even Ron was able to become a competent engineer under his wife's influence."

"Huh. At least I'm smarter than Ron," Jonas thought to himself.

"Okay… hmm."

"What is it?" Jonas asked Patch.

"Give me a moment, please, sir." Patch pulled out a small tablet and began inputting information. "Fascinating," he finally said.

"What is?"

"The TARDIS recommends you read near the Eye of Harmony. She said the hum tends to make it more desirable for learning. Miss Hermione Granger herself used to do so."

"Well, I guess I can try," Jonas said.

So now, each had their task.

They switched the manufacturing room from creating Pages to creating an assortment of robots and droids that would travel throughout the TARDIS.

The priority: the Appraisers.

The Appraisers came in two models. There was the Head Appraiser and the Assistant Appraisers. The Head Appraiser could control up to 500 assistants. Their job was to go through and start cataloging everything.

The Assistants were much smaller—perhaps only their core being about a foot high. Their tentacles were long, though. They looked more like jellyfish than squid, while the Head Appraisers themselves resembled the Pages, only slightly bigger.

They also created janitorial robots, whose job was to keep things tidy. These came in various sizes, starting small.

Next came maintenance robots. Jonas had always liked the R2 units, so he made some R2s, and even some BB8-style droids for maintenance. These were given a slightly different set of protocols, instructions, and knowledge, something more in line with maintaining the TARDIS itself.

Jonas reflected briefly on how much the Doctor loved to be the only one who touched his TARDIS… but he knew he wasn't the Doctor. He had no idea how to fix anything on the ship. He'd more than likely get them all killed if he tried.

No, Jonas was sure, the best thing to do was to trust in the creation of these robots.

Finally, he had an idea: to fill the food court with Androids as chefs, each working in the various restaurants, imitating the species that typically served there. He thought that would be fun.

So Jonas began his new career: fishing and reading.

He would fish in the morning. He loved the early morning on this planet. As gloomy as it seemed, there was a certain charm to it. The sunrise painted the sky in oranges, reds, and greens—a strange but beautiful spectacle.

After fishing until about lunchtime, he would return to the TARDIS, grab materials for that day's study session, and head to the Eye of Harmony, which was now easy to find.

Very soon, days turned to weeks. Weeks into months. Months into years.

How many? Jonas had no idea. He'd lost track of time long ago. He wasn't aging anymore, and he could never really remember what day of the week it was. All he knew was that he'd been doing this for some time.

Patchwork had been busy as well.

Once he had laid out the designs for everything else, he began working through the Nightmare Room and made some interesting discoveries.

Roughly 40% of the room's contents were, in fact, pretty harmless. Some of them offered beneficial technology, particularly in repairing the TARDIS. This had been one of Jonas's hopes.

The remaining 60%, however, ranged from dangerous… all the way to nightmare-level. It was a good reason Jonas had named the room what he had.

These items required special handling. So, Patch designed a new kind of appraiser specifically for them—called the Guardian Appraiser.

The Guardian Appraisers were black with gold trim. They looked ominous, which Jonas approved of. He wanted them to look even creepier.

So he gave them robes and cloaks with hoods. And though they were squid-like in shape, they also had a head—something humanoid, with smooth, white plastic features like a smiling skeleton.

Why Jonas did this, Patch had no idea. Maybe the human was bored. That's all he could think of.

Whenever a Guardian Appraiser reached for something, its tentacles would extend from within its robe's sleeves, making it appear like some eldritch alien being.

Like their Head Appraiser cousins, the Guardians also had minions. Their little assistants were called the Disciples of Nightmare.

Through the years, Patch and Jonas had worked together to make adjustments—to change the function of certain robots, and to add new ones when needed. The TARDIS had become a living factory of ideas, constantly adapting to their needs.

There was, however, one line Jonas never crossed.

He was opposed to creating any war robots.

He had the resources. He knew blueprints, designs from a thousand worlds. But he refused.

Jonas didn't believe that someone with access to such immense power should be the kind of person who chose to seek out the deaths of others.

It felt wrong.

And more than that, it felt like the TARDIS itself wasn't meant for war. It was capable of war, yes. But it wasn't built for destruction. It was built for exploration, protection, for discovery, for survival… for hope.

It was as if the TARDIS was geared for something more.

He had shared these thoughts with Patch many times over the years.

And now, as they walked through the main engineering corridor, Jonas glanced sideways.

"Patch. Hey."

Patch turned his head. "Yes, sir?"

Through the years, Jonas had wondered one thing in particular:

Why was the TARDIS so big?

He finally confronted Patch with the question.

Patch had wondered the same thing. And he had a theory of his own, that the TARDIS was meant for something greater. Something more than just himself, R2, and Jonas traveling around the multiverse.

"Perhaps it was meant to be a refugee ship," Patch had suggested. "Or a kind of collection, a United Nations of multiversal peoples."

The size was hard to wrap your head around. Currently, the TARDIS has expanded to the combined size of the North and South American continents. There were lakes and even oceans in certain parts of the ship. It had a false sun in its outdoor environments. But there was no animal life. Not yet.

There were also cloistered, enclosed zones—the parts of the TARDIS that still felt like a traditional ship. Long corridors, deep humming, reinforced doors. A massive floating world with a ship's heart.

"Patch," Jonas said one day, gazing out over one of the inland seas, "what do you think we should do with this big ship?"

"Sir," Patch replied, "I think we should prepare for the possibility that we must populate it. Otherwise, its immense size would be unnecessary. It would be more efficient to reduce the size of the TARDIS and utilize its functions purely for your interest.

"But I believe that would be a mistake. And it would not allow the TARDIS to live up to her full potential."

Jonas nodded slowly. "I feel the same. But I'm not going to rush into anything. I think we should do some adventuring first, get our bearings, before we decide what we're going to do."

"Affirmative," Patch said. "I find that building our experiences will lead to wisdom."

"Agreed. However, Patch, I'd like to make one thing clear. If you're going to change anything in the bridge or the ship-like parts of the TARDIS, keep in mind that I prefer certain classic elements of a Doctor Who flight bridge. Big circular patterns on the walls. A central command station. Retro but clean. You can modify it in other ways, just… make it comfortable."

Patch acknowledged the request.

"Oh, and I like that whirring noise when it materializes and dematerializes, but I want to be able to turn the sound on and off. It's hard to be sneaky when it's so loud."

In between finishing critical repairs and system integrations, he redesigned the entire area they had designated as "the ship." This included:

Crew quarters

Easy access to the food court

Recreational areas, including a holodeck

And a complete redesign of the TARDIS's main command center

Patch honored Jonas's preferences, including the traditional circular wall motifs and the central console. But some elements reflected Patch's Starfleet-inspired background, modular stations, divisions by function, and the option for different departments to be managed independently.

There were also couches placed in various locations—for comfort, for rest, for quiet contemplation.

The result was something between a military bridge and a cozy living room. Somehow, the contrast worked.

And after not too many more years, the time had finally come.

Launch Day was approaching.

In three weeks, they would be leaving this world, possibly forever.

They would be heading out on their first grand adventure.

The only task remaining was the installation of the Time-Turner into the Eye of Harmony. That was why they set a three-week delay. It would take that long for the Eye of Harmony to fully assimilate the new system, and re-stabilize its chronal fields.

Jonas stood on the bridge, "Now," he said quietly to himself, "we're about to begin our real adventure."

He took a deep breath.

So many years.

So much building.

So much waiting.

Now it was time.

"Patch," he said softly, not even turning his head.

Patch appeared beside him, silent but present, hands clasped behind his back like a soldier at parade rest.

"Status?" Jonas asked.

"The Eye of Harmony is stable. The Time-Turner has been fully integrated. All decks report ready. All systems are online. Pages are reporting clear throughout the ship. Janitorial, maintenance, and Guardian units are standing by. Navigation is yours, Captain."

Jonas nodded, slowly. "Still feels weird to be called that."

"You are the captain of this ship," Patch said without hesitation. "Whether you asked for it or not."

Jonas looked around the bridge again. The circles on the walls. The couches. The scent of new wiring and old wood and polished brass. The flickering holograms hovering above each console—languages, coordinates, timelines waiting to be explored.

"I want to go to the first place she suggests," Jonas said.

"The TARDIS?" Patch asked.

"Yeah. No input. No coordinates. Let her pick. Just… let's see where she thinks we should begin."

Patch tilted his head in thought. "Acknowledged. Standing by for TARDIS-selected coordinates."

The console pulsed. A low hum began to build beneath their feet as if the entire ship had taken a breath.

"Final systems green. Navigation locked. TARDIS ready," Patch reported.

Jonas placed his hand on the console. "Alright, girl. Let's see what you've got."

The engines began to whirr.

The time rotor pulsed upward.

The outer world shimmered, peeled away.

And with a sound like memory grinding through time—

They were gone.