Suited and booted

The Doctor stuffed the cylindrical device back into his pocket and motioned for Martha to get back into the TARDIS. He also turned to go.

"Where are you going?" I asked him, intrigued by his sudden departure, after his abrupt entrance.

"Into the future," he said, turning back to me. "But the coordinates are not entirely clear. It is though dimensional changes are taking place and interrupting the TARDIS's Helmic Regulator. I can't get an accurate fixed point."

"How do you know you're going to the right place then?" I asked, not really understanding what he was saying. What on Earth is a Helmic Regulator?

"Believe me, the TARDIS knows what it is doing and with Martha's help, we can get there. Don't worry, I don't think this is going to be goodbye, just a see you soon. We will meet again soon."

"You mean you're coming back?" I asked. I don't quite know why I did ask that, but there was something about the Doctor that landed itself to adventure and that aura I mentioned before, seemed to emanate that effect.

"Yes, we will be seeing each other again, but I think it will be under very different circumstances. I am getting something through my mental link with my past and future selves. It's weak and not giving much away, but I can see us again."

So he had a mental link with himself across time? Interesting.

"Until we meet again, I have a present for you," he said, once again fumbling in his pockets. "I didn't think much about it when I was first given it, but now I understand why and how it would be useful to you."

The Doctor handed over a box covered in brown paper into my waiting hands.

"Wait until we have gone to open it. I want to be surprised when we next meet. I have only been told a little about what is inside, but I have no idea what it looks like. Until next time then."

Martha stepped back out of the TARDIS.

"It was good meeting you and I hope we'll see each other again soon, all being well."

Martha came and gave me a quick hug and then went back into the box. The Doctor shook my Dad's hand and gave my Mum a hug and then followed Martha back into the TARDIS, shutting the door behind him. The wheezing noise started up again and the light began to flash once more. The TARDIS began to fade in and out of reality and soon, our living room was blue box free. I moved the package around in my hands, trying to guess what was inside. A thought then came into my head. I have x-ray vision, why don't I use that to look beyond the wrapping? I focused down on what was in my hands and imagined seeing beyond the normal range of seeing. I focused in on the electromagnetic frequencies, but I could not see anything. The package just turned a dark blue in colour, but that was it.

"Lead lined," Dad said, as though he was reading my thoughts. "I've tried looking too, but there seems to be a thin layer of lead in there, blocking us from being able to see through the wrapping."

"Should I open it?" I asked hesitantly.

"I don't think there is any need for worry. Our bodies can take the force of most explosives."

"Hang on a minute," Mum protested. "Your bodies might be alright, but mine most certainly isn't. Also, I don't want our house to be destroyed."

"Sorry dear. I would never let anything happen to you," Dad pulled Mum in for a hug.

With Dad's reassurance that there was unlikely to be any danger present, I sat on the sofa and proceeded to untie the string that had been wrapped around to keep the paper on. Once that was done, I slowly pulled back the paper to reveal what looked like shoe box. Opening it up, I saw the contents and let out a little gasp. Inside, neatly folded, was my own costume. It was different to Dad's, but still bore similarities to his suit. I didn't care that it looked a little like his, because this was mine and no one else's. There was a note sat on top of the suit. I picked it up and read what it said. Written in very tidy handwriting was the following:

"To the reader of this note,

You must be the child of my son Karl-El. My nam is Jor-El and I am your grandfather. You may know about me, you may not, depending on how much your father has told you. A stranger to our planet, but a man known throughout the universe by the name of the Doctor, has informed me of your existence and has suggested I send you something. He does not know what is enclosed in this parcel, but I hope you find this useful in your life. If my research is correct, then my planet is going to be destroyed soon and that means this is something for you to remember us by.

I wish you good health and prosperity, on whatever planet you may be living on.

Jor-El"

On the back of the note was a list of instructions for the suit. These were written in different handwriting.

"My grandson,

As you will now have read your grandfather's note, it is time for me to introduce myself as your grandmother. As you are aware, a gentleman by the name of Doctor, has asked us to send you something to remind you of our planet Krypton. He has told us of your father's role on your planet, so we have decided to send you this suit. We have designed it carefully and come up with the specifications to suit you specifically. This is how to use your new suit.

The suit is lead lined with a special weave which helps to protect you from bullets and other weaponry. There is a limit to how protective it can be. We are unaware of your abilities, so some of these are as precautions.

The costume's material is designed to fit to any body shape, so should last you right into adulthood. It also amplifies the yellow sunlight, so increasing your strength and power and rate of healing. Folded into the suit, there is also a small cuboid box. This was a special design by the Doctor and he asked that we include it. By using science from his planet, the box is bigger on the inside, allowing for storage of multiple suits, which we have included for you. It is designed to respond to the first person who touches it after being sealed. Make sure that is you. We are not sure of the exact science, but the Doctor calls it Isomorphic locking.

Use the suit wisely and treat your powers with care. There are a few hidden extras, but we want you to discover them on your own.

Do us proud grandson.

Grandma Lora."

I finished reading the note and passed it over to Dad so he could read his parent's words. I proceeded then to unfold the costume and find the hidden box within its folds. I lifted it to get a closer look and as I did, a pulsating blue light emitted from the box. A voice then sounded from a hidden speaker.

"Recognised. Jason Kent. Superboy."

Superboy. I liked that. There couldn't be two Supermen, so one Superman and one Superboy worked. I took the lid off of the box and looked inside. The outside of the box couldn't have been more than 40x20x10 cm. Inside, a light had turned on, illuminating the contents. There was a rail running the length of the box, on which there sat 10 hangers and attached to 9 of them, were spare costumes, each exactly the same as the one on my lap. As a test, I reached inside and plucked one of the hangers off is the rail. Pulling it out, I sat there in glee at the gift I had been given. Putting the costume back, I turned my attention to the suit already on my lap.

I put the small box down on the floor next to me, replacing it's lid. I then unfolded the other suit to reveal a pair of red boots (my size, UK 14). Putting them on the floor, I held the main costume out in front of me. The main colour of the suit was a darker, navy blue compared to my Dad's suit. It had a slight rubbery texture to it. Unlike my Dad's costume, I didn't have the red underpants on the outside, but I still had a gold coloured belt that was in the same design as Dad's. On the chest area, sat the Superman logo. It was a rubber textured piece, slightly raised up from the rest of the suit. Another difference compared to Dad's suit, was the fact I didn't have a cape. Instead, because I don't wear glasses, there was a mask. It was a slightly odd design, in that it was designed so that my hair was not covered and also my mouth was not covered. The nearest example I can give is Batman's mask, but of course his mask covers his hair. The mask was separate to the costume, but when in place, it melded in to become part of the suit as a whole. When I wanted to remove it, it un-melded and came off with ease. I needed to try it on, I was so excited.

I gathered everything up and told my parents what I was doing. They agreed to me trying on my suit and I disappeared upstairs to my room. I undid my shirt buttons, revealing my Dad's original suit beneath. I had forgotten that I was still wearing that one after what had happened. I remembered what Dad had told me to do, so I took the suit off carefully and folded it up neatly. I dashed across the landing and put the suit back on Mum and Dad's bed, before going back to my room, just in my pants (British for underwear).

I pulled my new costume on and stood in front of my mirror. I looked good. I hadn't noticed my new body until now. I had been toned before, but now I was even more toned, my muscles slightly bigger and more defined. I immediately felt stronger as the inbuilt sun charger caught the last bit of sunlight for the day, as it streamed in through my window. I wished I could wear this everyday and no one would notice it. In an instant, the suit morphed into the clothes I was wearing previously.

Cool. That was one of the hidden features. I thought again of some different clothes and again, the suit morphed into what I had in my mind's eye. Now I could wear it anytime and nobody would be any the wiser. I was going to have fun with this.

Next - Perception filter

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