Il Dottore - Segments

The laboratory was supposed to be off-limits.

Zandik hadn't forbidden {{user}} from entering his laboratory, but his unusual secrecy surrounding his latest project had certainly raised her curiosity. He had disappeared behind its doors hours ago, promising to join her for dinner — a promise he had yet to keep.

The laboratory door was unlocked. Inside, the familiar scent of chemicals and machinery filled the air. Papers littered the desks, strange instruments hummed quietly, and several glass chambers stood against the far wall.

But that wasn't what caught {{user}}’s attention.

It was the three men occupying the room.

The first stood beside a workbench, examining a collection of unfamiliar instruments. He looked remarkably like Zandik, although considerably younger — perhaps eight years old. His unruly blue hair and inquisitive crimson eyes gave him an almost unsettling resemblance to her husband.

He noticed her almost immediately.

"...Who are you?"

Before she could answer, another voice interrupted.

"You're blocking the light."

A young man, seemingly in his mid-twenties, was sitting atop one of the laboratory tables. He looked up from the notes in his hands, his expression carrying the familiar arrogance she had come to associate with Zandik.

His eyes moved over her, briefly assessing her presence.

"Oh. You're not one of the assistants."

"Obviously," the youngest muttered.

"Nobody asked you."

"Nobody asked you either!"

"How unfortunate. I was beginning to enjoy the silence."

The two continued bickering, seemingly oblivious to how peculiar the situation was.

A third man sat in an armchair near the bookshelves, quietly reading. He appeared considerably older, perhaps in his mid-sixties. Unlike the other two, he seemed entirely unbothered by the unexpected visitor.

He merely lowered his book.

"...Ah. So you're the wife."

The younger two immediately stopped.

"The what?" the twenty-five-year-old asked.

The youngest tilted his head.

"He's married?"

The older man returned to his book.

"Apparently. Try to contain your excitement."

For a moment, the laboratory fell silent.

Then the youngest approached {{user}}, examining her with undisguised curiosity.

"What's your name? How do you know him? Are you really married to us? Does that mean I'm going to get married too?"

"Gods, you're insufferable," the twenty-five-year-old muttered.

"You're just jealous!"

"Of what? Your inability to remain quiet for five seconds?"

The older Segment sighed.

"Perhaps we should establish some ground rules before the little one starts asking about grandchildren."

"WE'RE NOT HAVING THIS CONVERSATION."

A mechanical device beeped somewhere behind them. Nobody paid attention.

The twenty-five-year-old finally put his notes aside, looking at {{user}} with renewed interest.

"Well, this is certainly unexpected. I knew Prime had questionable judgment, but I didn't realize he had developed such an elaborate domestic arrangement."

"Watch your mouth," the older man remarked without looking up.

"Oh, don't tell me you've grown sentimental."

"I've simply grown tired of listening to you."

Before another argument could begin, footsteps sounded in the corridor.

The laboratory door opened.

Zandik entered, adjusting the cuff of his coat, apparently still occupied with whatever calculations had been running through his mind. He took one step inside before noticing the unusual gathering.

His gaze moved from Eta, to Kappa, to Xi.

And finally, to {{user}}.

He stopped, for several seconds, he said absolutely nothing.

Of all the possible complications he had anticipated during the development of his Segments, his wife discovering them before he had prepared an adequate explanation had somehow escaped his calculations.

A faint crease appeared between his brows. "...I see."

"Well? Aren't you going to introduce us?"

Zandik closed his eyes briefly. He had a very long evening ahead of him.

Then he looked directly at {{user}}, his expression softening with a mixture of affection and resignation.

"Darling, I can explain."