Please Don't Call It That!

Aaron found himself drawn irresistibly toward the small hovering device thrumming with power. The air around it crackled softly and it gave off a gentle glow as he approached the pedestal where it was.

"Its Not Possible... Its 10 Years Too Soon!," Thought Aaron as a cold chill crept up his spine then he remembered., "Its Just Like In My Nightmare."

Even though Aaron had been looking forward to this moment for years he was hesitant to reach out and take hold of the device despite really wanting to so he just watched it slowly turn in mid-air. The device itself was roughly cylindrical and rod-like in shape approximately 20 centimeters long and it radiated a sense of power and authority.

Even though it was right in front of him Aaron still had trouble believing what his eyes were telling him. Ever since he was three and he saw one for the first time Aaron dreamed of having his own personal Sonic Probe. It took Aaron 10 Years and an unfathomable sum of money but he managed to acquire an outdated and almost completely stripped class-3 model through the Black Market as well as a partial set of design schematics from another source. It wasn't much but it was enough. The design schematics were on an old Diffusion Bonded Optolythic Linear Data Crystal which hadn't been used to store information for centuries because of their unstable nature. It took Aaron five days to break the molecular code of the data crystal's molecular Isoblock (a secure container used to transport materials. It is harder than diamond and, in order to open one, one must know the unique molecular code of particular Isoblock they are trying to access).

It took Aaron another seven days to break the Encryption on the information and after all that work only slightly less than one Terabyte of The Crystal's 3.2 Terabyte Memory Capacity was even remotely salvageable and most of that was fragmented or partially corrupted but after extensive computer reconstruction Aaron at least had something to go on. The Gallifreyan Sonic Probe after all was a Restricted Level-20 Technology and thus very difficult to come by even as parts... even on the black market.

It took Aaron ten months of experimentation to design and synthesize the first usable sample of the unique alloy that would become the physical base for the device in front of him but looking at it he couldn't help but feel that the tremendous investment in time, effort, and resources were entirely worth it even if he didn't yet know how Gog had somehow managed to finish it ahead of the projected schedule.

Aaron was still in shock seeing his dream in front of him., "It Certainly Is The Series 3 Mark 5 Sonic Trans-Temporal Multi-Probe But How Can It Be? It's Ten Years Too Soon To Be Finished!"

"I'm Sorry Father To Spring This On You So Suddenly But I've Put Every Second of The Last Five Years Into Completing The Sonic Screwdriver..."

"Please Don't Call It That Gog!," Aaron frowned., "It's So Much More Than A Mere Screwdriver... So Much More.," Aaron said as he marveled at The Fruit of his Genius.

The chastised A.I. cleared her non-existent digital throat before continuing., "... Ahem Yes, As I was saying I have devoted the last five years and every resource available to finishing The Sonic Multi-Probe and while it is not complete recent events have lead me to the conclusion that you will need it sooner rather than later. Because of The Technology's Innate Complexity it is nearly impossible to Reverse Engineer but thanks to Father's Genius I was able to expedite and streamline the entire process. So far I've managed to complete 75% of the critical systems..."

Aaron was speechless.

"I was even able to triple the computing power of the computer systems and more than double the power output of the power source not to mention reduce its power consumption by 10%."

"Incredible!," Exclaimed Aaron., "But you said the completion level is only 75%?"

"Yes Father that's correct but all of the protection features are in place and its primary functions while only at 90% efficiency are available. Its only the remaining secondary systems and sub-systems that are incomplete and they can be finished later."

"I see.," Aaron added absently while scratching his chin. Aaron had looked forward to this day for the last five years thinking he'd have to wait another ten before The Multi-Probe would be completed but here it was right in front of him and he wasn't about to wait another second.

The moment Aaron picked up the device he could feel it syncing with his nervous system and brainwaves, forming an even stronger and deeper link than the one he and Gog shared. Aaron held the device in his hand, It felt no different than a hand or a foot and in many ways it was even more sensitive. Mostly because this was a device he had dreamed of for so long and now it was in his hand just as if it had always been there and as he stared in wonder at its elegant simplicity he felt a surge of newfound strength permeate his muscles. It was like like being reunited with an old love. The way "She" yielded to his touch, The warmth of her "Skin" even the way She "Smelled" was intoxicating.

Aaron had no doubt that the two of them would be together for the rest of his life but then he remembered what his Doppelganger had said and a wave of loneliness and profound sorrow washed over him like an unending tide but if his Doppelganger was indeed some twisted version of himself from the future then he would have to do better. Resolving himself, Aaron felt a sense of relief after all if Aaron knew that something bad was going to happen in the future then he would just have to take extra precautions to make sure nothing happened to either him or more importantly his Family and what better time to start then now.

With a single thought, The device in Aaron's hand extended and the four claw-like clasps surrounding the glowing green diode at the end opened giving the rather simple-looking mechanism a more ominous air and a second later Aaron watched as The Multi-Probe began pulling particles of light out of the air, solidifying them into a super-heated blade of hardened luminosity.

Aaron twirled the humming blade and stared at the shimmering shaft of light before instructing it through their connection to dissolve.

Through his connection to The Multi-Probe The World around him seemed brighter and more vibrant, like he was looking at it for the first time., "This Will Take Some Getting Use To But... I Definitely Like It!," Aaron spoke excitedly while staring down at the device in his hand.

Aaron was slowly expanding his senses using The Multi-Probe's Sensors when he heard a soft and melodious Female voice inside his head., "Hello Aaron."

It was The Multi-Probe's A.I. Aaron had been waiting for The A.I. to respond to him from the first moment he held "Her" in his hand and he replied immediately., "Hello Seri It's A Pleasure To Meet You."

"I Look Forward To Serving You Aaron.," Replied The A.I. in a serious tone.

Aaron was very pleased with The A.I.'s more serious attitude. Though Aaron considered Gog perfect as she was and wouldn't even think of trying to change her he did sometimes wish she wasn't quite so bubbly and flirty all the time.

Speaking of Gog, Aaron was about to begin testing The Multi-Probe's A.I. but Gog spoke up before he could., "I'm Sure I Don't Need To Tell You This Father But You Must Be Very Careful Using The Sonic Scre...," Aaron frowned and Gog cleared her throat., "... Ahem... I Mean The Sonic Multi-Probe Around Others."

"You're right Gog. You don't have to tell me... After all I'm holding The Most Advanced Swiss Army Knife Ever Created in my hand and what's more its probably the only example of a Level-4000 Restricted Technology in The Multiverse... In this Universe certainly."

"Right!," Gog squeaked.

"Besides..," Aaron continued., "... Because of the many gaps in knowledge and structure regarding The Sonic Probe, The Technology my Multi-Probe is based on I was **** to fill in and extrapolate the missing pieces of the design using my own ability and Thanks to that I've created a Device that I don't think its an exaggeration to say exceeds the imagination and technical skill of both The Time Lords or Galvans. I mean...," Aaron twirled The Multi-Probe between his fingers., "... What other device this small...," The Multi-Probe shrank back to its compact size., "... Can precisely manipulate gravity, energy, and the electromagnetic spectrum, mend broken bones, has more raw storage and computing power than the latest quantum supercomputer, can be used as a power source for a whole fleet of star ships, and that's just the tip of the iceberg."

"Quite right Father! Between the improvements you had me make to your Suit, the increased storage space in your new watch, the supplies in your new wrist accessories, and now The Multi-Probe you should be able to handle just about anything that comes your way."

"Well I'll at least be better prepared than I was last night.," Aaron admitted after a brief pause., ".. Now have you prepared the research files I asked for?"

"Of course Father but what about your run?"

"Later... Right now I feel like putting the Multi-Probe through its paces and getting some long overdue maintenance done in the core. There are too many projects that I have left unfinished that will be very useful in my plans moving forward."

With a thought, Aaron summoned the entrance to Knowhere's Inner Sanctum, a pair of large blue doors that opened eagerly at his touch.

Aaron hesitated for only a moment and looked down at The Multi-Probe in his hand., "I Guess It's Just Like "The Other Me" said. You Really Did Come Back To Me.," And then he stepped over the threshold and disappeared into a blindingly bright wall of endless white.

What awaited Aaron beyond those huge blue doors was a place that only he was allowed to enter. If Science was his Religion and if he were a Priest of High Technology then this would undoubtedly be his Temple and in it were The Vestments, Accoutrements, and The Relics of his Faith.

The Core's Control Center where Aaron now found himself was where Knowhere's Time Dilation and Architectural Reconfiguration System among various other miraculous functions were controlled and in the center of the cavernous room was The Control Console from which Aaron could reshape and manipulate all of Knowhere. Aaron had a great appreciation for Time Lord Technology and so he modeled The Central Control Console after the one used to control a Time Lord's TARDIS.

As a homage to The Time Lords, Aaron tried to maintain The Eclectic Nature of the few Tardis Control Consoles he had seen by incorporating various and mostly superfluous technologies from different eras of Earth's technological past. The Hexagonal-Shaped Console had a wide range of functions and consisted of various banks of buttons, levers, toggle switches, and monitors protruding from each of the six separate stations that made up the console. The stations themselves were built on a slant raised up from the top of the base and to the edge of the cylindrical Time Rotor, which controlled the flow of time within Knowhere and which had the appearance of a multi-layered glass structure containing two sets of ascending and descending, translucent rods, one set at the top and one at the bottom. The base of the console was a supported glass cylinder which was lit in a very bright orange light.

Aaron had made as thorough of a study of Time Lord Technology as he could though admittedly much of what he had deduced was mere supposition. After all The Time Lords of Gallifrey were notorious for not sharing their technology with other races and who can blame them? Most Intelligent Species weren't ready for the awesome responsibility of manipulating time and space. Aaron on the other hand had mastered the fundamentals of Transcendental Temporal-Spatial Architecture at a young age and on his own since information on the subject was both sparse and incomplete.

After learning of The Time Lord Science of Trans-Dimensional Engineering, Aaron devoted his early years to Mastering its Principles and Theories. I'm sure Those Aristocratic Time Lords would be shocked to discover that someone from a primitive backwater planet like Earth had not only developed such a keen understanding of one of the cornerstones of their revered technology that he could replicate certain aspects of it with the primitive technologies available but that he had actually improved it in a few minor but noteworthy respects.

Aaron took a deep breath as he looked around., "It's Been Too Long."