poly_chromatic | one echo

[One would think spending one second in a space ship and another in a zoo would rattle a person. However, when Jenny lands on the ground with a thump, she isn't necessarily rattled. No, she's excited.] Hello, what's this?

[She picks up the device next to her and studies it for a brief moment before looking up excitedly at the massive creature in front of her. An elephant, not that she knows that.] Oh hello, what are you? [Getting to her feet, she reaches out to gently pet the trunk of the beast.] Trapped here in a cage, like me? Doesn't seem fair.

[It takes her no time at all to work out the device in her hand, the video coming to life. She smiles excitedly into the screen. The elephants trunk can be seen inspecting her hair, her shoulder, her face. She doesn't seem to mind it one bit.] Excuse me. I found your cages. And while I understand the necessity of them given certain situations, I must insist that you allow the more harmless creatures their freedom. It doesn't seem ri- [The elephant's trunk pokes her in the side and she laughs and looks up to him in response.] Oh, that tickles!

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How can he be your dad? There isn't -- they're all -- tell me.

[ He's settled on creepily intense, I'm sorry. He's practically lunging at the camera. ]

Progenation machine. Quite handy little things for wars. They create soldiers out of the DNA of other beings. I was created from his DNA when he arrived on Messaline and he does have wonderful DNA.

[She's quite thrilled to be of his lineage. From everything she had seen of him on Messaline, The Doctor was the best kind of people. And then she ends with a very proud proclamation since it had been such a big deal for The Doctor and Donna back on Messaline.]

I have two hearts!

[ It's a whisper: ] Two hearts.

From his DNA, so... You have two hearts. Just like I do. A daughter.

A daughter. Took him a bit to warm up to me, or the idea of me. But I suppose his DNA made me a bit different than the rest of the soldiers. He's a good man, my dad.

[Of course then she realizes that he said the words 'just like I do'. She's eyeing the video curiously, her expression suddenly gone from excited to serious. Her dad had said there was another of him here. But this man didn't look like him.]

You have two hearts too? I was led to believe that that was something uncommon.

[ A short laugh. ] Very uncommon. But of course, I'm a Time Lord too. He used to be me. Regeneration. Don't know if he explained it to you; he didn't even tell me you existed. [ And there's a bit of a scowl there. This is relevant information! ]

[Her eyes are suddenly wide with happy excitement and before she can stop herself, she blurts out the words:] He did tell me. He said there was another him here! You're my other dad!

[Her features immediately fall as she remembers herself. The Doctor saying there's always a choice. This Time Lord doesn't remember her. No one had ever mentioned her to him.] I'm Jenny. Just Jenny... no last name. People seem to have two or three names all over the place but I'm just Jenny.

I've only got one name. Makes it a bit confusing at times when I'm both in the same room. [ Oh, pronouns. ]

...It's been a long time since I've been anyone's dad. [ He's not entirely sure how he feels about it. ]

Oh. Well. [She has to struggle with herself for a moment to not just say that this is how it is. Sometimes she still fights with the facts and ideals she was programmed with and the way she's learning things could and probably should be. So instead of saying anything that might make her dad think she's an echo and not an actual person, a part of him, she says something he's said to her before.]

There's always a choice. You told me that once or twice. So you can be what you want to be. That's the beauty of choice, yeah? [Yep, she feels like she's trying to pass a test or something. She doesn't even know if she's good at this kind of test. Ask her to assemble weaponry, she could do it probably quicker than most. Ask her to jump through hoops, she can, literally. But whatever she feels needs to be done right now with her dad? She isn't quite sure.]

I like your name, The Doctor. Bit confusing at first but then I suppose so is just Jenny. I had no name until Donna named me. She picked a good one, didn't she?

A choice, yeah. [ He smiles. She does sound like him. (Them. Whatever.) He does like that. ] We'll see how it all falls out. Is someone coming to find you? It'd be nice to meet in person.

Donna, eh? I shouldn't be surprised. She's going to drag me into all kinds of trouble, I can already tell.

Oh, Donna is wonderful! She gave me a name and discovered I have two hearts. And she believed I was somebody before anyone else did. And I've heard she's here! [She's obviously fond of Donna and that shows through in her tone, the way she speaks of her.]

Yes, my dad is with me. We couldn't take the elephant with us yet, but I'm going to work on freeing it later. He's walking and I'm following but the destination is unclear. I sort of like the unexpected, don't you?

Good for Donna. I'm sure she'll pop up and say hello soon enough.

The elephant will keep, I imagine. He's probably bringing you back to the flat. Of course, who knows? Could be an adventure.

[ So much enthusiasm from her! It's almost overwhelming. He definitely sees his future self in her. ]

Are you at the flat? Will you be at the flat? What's a flat? I thought that that was more of an adjective such as a flat surface.

[Sorry Doctor, she's really confused! They didn't include that in the military training she received at creation!]

I'd like to meet you in person.

Yes, yes, and it's a little place where people live. An apartment.

I'd like that too.

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