resort_link | [Video] Time is relative.

That's all that we can say. [Not all they know, all they can say.] So if you hear anything more, you need to inform one of the patrol.

But remember, you're on a break.

[Honestly he has a feeling the museum is going to need as many scientists as possible to understand these spawners. And he remembers Narvin's problem from before.]

Yes, yes, understood. No vigilantism from me, I promise. [But he sounds almost disappointed.]

Do we have the disabled skeleton spawner in the lab and available for study? From the sounds of things, if I'm to be engaged in research, the most practical application currently would be to find out how they work, see if there's a way to detect these things in advance, or even deactivate them from a distance if that's possible.

Everything we had was turned over to the museum. You should have access to it there.

We got all we could out of it.

I'll have a look at it once I've settled in.

[His lips thin as unpleasant thoughts come into his mind.]

Do we have any remnants of the skeletons? I want someone to verify that they're purely mechanical and not...

[He doesn't believe in the walking dead in a magical sense. But after fighting against the Eminence and the Infinite Warriors, the idea of something possessing, altering, and animating corpses is foremost in his mind. He's visibly rattled by the memory, eyes growing a bit wider and darting, brow furrowed.]

They're easy enough to get. They're out every night. But we discovered the sun makes them mostly degrade.

So we'd need to store the remains in a lightless container and study it under artificial light only.

Pretty much, yeah.

The odd thing about those spawners, they seem to have stuck things in the rooms where they left 'em. Maybe they wanted to protect them but they're not always important stuff.

What sort of things did they leave with the spawners? Is there any pattern to the objects that anyone has been able to determine?

To be honest most of it just seems to be junk.

How peculiar.

Perhaps it has no significance at all, just the detritus of people who didn't have time to clean up after the themselves when...whatever happened to them...happened.

For once that's actually what I'm thinking. I'm not all that suspicious of it.

Look at that. The two of us, not suspicious of something odd. The day ought to be marked on the calendar.

Yeah. Probably means there's something behind it after all.

[He's suspicious that they're not suspicious.]

But I don't guess it's my job to figure it out until it's a problem and not just something that's real off.

[A slight smile flicks over Narvin's face. Suspicious of what they're not suspicious of. All is right with the world again.]

I'll keep my eyes and ears open for you. And if you want to bring any of this junk in, I can run it through a scanner. We're not likely to find anything but you never know.

The museum should have some of it. What the Orion looters don't take. I'm sure Jack Jeebs probably has some too, but he keeps it well hidden.

I'll get a random sampling and let you know if I turn up anything useful.

...

Jack Jeebs? [Narvin hasn't noticed an import by that name, and he wasn't here for the last market.]

I'm sorry to say you'll meet him when the monthly market rolls around. Because of the quarantine they've allowed some people from other universes to vend. Jack Jeebs is from mine, and he's a black market salesman back home.

I'm sure the fresh supplies are much needed, but I hate feeling that we're supporting smuggling and black market trade. [He sighs.] The quarantine would seem to give us no choice, however. By default, anyone who comes to trade here through the quarantine is probably dubious at best.

I gotta trust that Jeffers thought it was worth the risk. I mean, I'm the most dangerous human in the universe back where I'm from. Figured he had to have a reason for asking me in.

[Narvin cocks his head in interest at hearing Kay's description of himself. "Most dangerous human in the universe." It fascinates him. He's seen Kay's professionalism and security know-how. He hasn't yet seen Kay go head-to-head with a planet-destroying alien. And now he rather wishes he could.

Be careful what you wish for, he thinks to himself. The last thing this planet needs right now is a Dalek invasion.]

Someone needs to keep the smugglers in line and the hostile native fauna out of the village. And if it's not going to be me...well...I'm glad it's you.

That's a lot of confidence you're putting in me.

But I do what I gotta do.

[He also will, to some extent, let Jeebs get away with it. Because he knows Jeebs can get information, and that's a good way to find it.]

At least the delegation is gone. So you don't have to worry about the politics.

You've kept my confidences and you know your job. That alone means I trust you in the position more than I would most.

[Narvin gives what's almost an eyeroll at the very word "politics." If there's one thing he's had quite enough of for his life...]

You know, it's odd but I'm happier now that there aren't any other Gallifreyans around. When their delegation was around, even though they were from another universe, I felt obligated to them. But this way it feels more like a proper holiday.

Well, aside from the quarantine and the constant threat of possible attack.

You might want to watch out for nationalism, especially when skewed timelines come into play. [He doesn't know that Narvin has since become well acquainted with this.]

[He huffs a quiet laugh.]

Yes, I had an object lesson in that just recently. Multiple object lessons in fact. I feel like lately my life has been nothing but alternate universes and mangled timelines.

You and me both.

Don't worry, you'll have a lotta mysteries waiting on you. So just hang out, have a cup of hot tea, and don't worry about it.

[Video] Time is relative.

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