h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

* Eli and Lucy have spent most of their day in the tardis' garden, but now feel like having a drink. Their way to the kitchem takes them through the lounge. Lucy smiles at Kyra. *

Hi sweetie. How are you?

* Eli greets her decidedly cooler, with a simple 'hello'. *

*Kyra grins at Lucy, and smiles hopefully at Eli*

Hey. I'm good.

*She gets up as Frankie struggles to roll over and stand to greet Eli and Lucy*

* Eli bows down for a moment to greet Frankie. Straightening up again, he looks at Kyra. *

We were going to have a drink. Do you want something, too?

* Meanwhile Lucy takes over petting duty, to Frankie's delight. *

*Kyra nods, smiling*

Sure.

*She's eager for things to get back to normal*

* Eli nods and disappears into the kitchen. *

* Lucy smiles at Kyra and sits down on the floor, rubbing Frankie between her ears. *

So, how close are you to finding your father?

*Kyra sits back down and crosses her legs*

It started off pretty slowly. But after my mum died I went to the house and found these pictures. And I got a copy of my file. I still don't have his name, but I have my mum's name and the name and last known address of her brother. I was going to go see him next. Hopefully he knows who my dad was.

* Lucy gives Kyra a thoughful look. *

Isn't there an easier way to find out who he was?

* Eli returns with a pitcher of fruit juice, three glasses and a bowl of cashew nuts. He places the tray on the table, pours them all a drink and sits down in one of the chairs. *

*Kyra shrugs, and smiles thanks at Eli when he returns*

His name isn't on any of the official documents. If they could have found out who he was they woulda. They don't like to have to pay for orphans if they don't have to.

* Lucy nods slowly. *

So why did you come to *this* time, then? Why didn't you go to, say, ten months *before* you were born?

*Kyra shrugs*

I dunno.

*To tell the truth, Kyra hadn't thought it through very well at all. She had just wanted to go back to the earliest time she could remember. She definitely hadn't even been considering turning up a few weeks before her mother's death in order to try to change history ...*

* Lucy exchanges a glance with Eli, who sighs and shakes his head. *

That's the problem, isn't it? You rush in without thinking things through and just hope you'll come out okay at the other end.

*Kyra shrugs one shoulder sheepishly*

I've been careful, I haven't gotten into any trouble. I haven't done anything to change my past. I'm not doing anything dangerous.

* Eli gives Kyra a sharp look. *

How can you be sure about that? How long have you been staying in the inn?

*Kyra doesn't understand why that matters, but she answers anyway*

Since I got here. A month.

*She tries to hide the slightly accusatory tone in her voice*

* Eli nods slowly. *

And what if in the original timeline someone else has been staying there? That person or persons would now have had to find new lodgings because of you - and different things may have happened to them because of it. Do you understand what I'm trying to tell you?

*Kyra nods sullenly*

I guess I shoulda stayed on the streets.

*She doesn't relish that idea - it's winter here, and while it never gets cold enough to snow, the nights do get chilly*

* Eli shakes his head. *

You still don't understand. *Every* interaction you have with people in the past can potentially change the future. There's no way to predict what will and what won't.

* He gives Kyra a solemn look. *

What you should have done is stay in the tardis and observe. That's why you should have gone back to the time of your conception - to find out which man your mother was seeing.

* He gives her a crooked, mirthless smile. *

But that wouldn't have been *fun*, right?

*Kyra smiles back*

Right.

* Eli glares at Kyra. *

Are you still thinking this is a joke? That whatever you've done can't possibly be *that* serious?

*Kyra stares at Eli in shock. She honestly hadn't thought it was that bad. She's done far worse, in her opinion. She almost backs down out of simple surprise, before regrouping and responding in kind*

Alright! So I shouldn'ta come here without you babysitting me. But this is *my* past, *my* life. So I might have accidently made someone late for work some time in the future cos I stood on a bug or something. I'm sure the future of this stinkin' planet'll be just fine, all ready for you to use me in 17 years.