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Return of the Doctor Part 2 of 6


The Doctor's Return

Chapter II
Confrontation

No one who has experienced it needs to be told just how pleasant spring in
Washington, DC can be. Flowers blossom everywhere, and the cherry blossoms
are nationally famous. Many couples and families breathe in the fresh aromas
that meet their noses. One particular couple, visiting from England, were no
exception, although some in-the-know types might believe otherwise. After
all, they had seen infinite wonders of the universe, but had never gotten to
know the planet which they now called home.
The man and woman both looked relatively young, by all appearances no
older than mid-30's. The children to whom the gentleman told stories each
weekend believe this also; after all, his claim to be over 1000 years old
simply wasn't possible for anyone born on Earth. The fellow, however, simply
denied that he WAS born on Earth ... that, despite the fact that he now owns
and operates a junkyard at 76 Totters Lane, he was indeed from another planet.
The children would laugh wildly at this, and beg for one of his many stories
about big silver giants and living salt-shakers who were once mutants. They
would always be treated to one of his stories, followed by one from his lovely
wife about freeing lion-faced slaves in another universe. The children
enjoyed the fact that the stories seemed so real.
And, indeed, they were real!
This is the Time Lord once considered to be the best "renegade" in all of
Gallifreyan history, the man who prefered to be called "Doctor." His exploits
throughout time and space have been well chronicled elsewhere. None would
have thought at the time that he would ever retire from his "wandering
adventurer" role, especially the Doctor himself. Nonetheless his last
adventure, which cost him no less than two of his last three regenerations but
regained instead his beloved Time Lady, convinced him that it was time to ease
off, to "settle down," as it were, with the one whom he treasured more than
any other companion he had ever had. In this, his eleventh incarnation, he
was tall and mildly stocky, with dark wavy hair and an infectous smile, the
"perfect body," he had said after first seeing it.
The Doctor looked from the blossoms to his bride. Romana had always been
in better control of her regenerations than he had been; it was to this that
he attributed his current appearance, since it was a substance in her blood,
passed on to him by transfusion during that last escapade, that permitted both
of them now to dictate what they would look like. She was as beautiful as she
had become after her first regeneration; indeed, she had consistently chosen
to resemble Princess Astra of Atrios, which suited her husband. She kept the
long blonde hair, the short but well-rounded figure, and (best of all to the
Doctor) that infectous smile of her own. The two were all smiles now as they
strolled, hand in hand, down the walk. In all their travels they had never
fully explored the Earth; now they were determined to enjoy its full beauty.
Romana inhaled heavily, let the breath out with a sigh, and commented,
"My, it smells heavenly here."
"A simple reaction of the pollen with the olefactory sensors in your nose,
my dear," the Doctor replied. Romana promptly gives the eternal scientist a
shove on the shoulder and runs ahead of him, the skirt of her yellow sundress
flowing behind her, her laughter wafting in the air. The Doctor, in slacks
and polo shirt, smiles even wider (that smile that, whenever he flashes it,
makes her almost see the mop of curls and infinitely-long scarf she remembered
so well) and gives chase. After a quick lovers' game of hide-and-seek, the
two sit down at a park bench, mildly tired but still energetic. They look
into each others' eyes lovingly.
The romantic interlude was broken by a sound. It was faint, but grew
slightly louder each time it occurred. The other couples remarked about
hearing some strange noise, but chalked it up to a car screeching its brakes
far off. To the two ex-Time Lords, however, the sound, though barely audible,
was unmistakeable. Both of them had heard that familiar grinding / wheezing
sound too often to think it anything other than the sound of a Gallifreyan
vehicle materializing. They quickly conferred, decided that the sound came
from somewhere in the wooded park nearby, and entered the trees.
"Honors to you both, champions of Gallifrey, and greetings, old friends,"
the Celestial Intervention Agency colonel said on their arrival.
The Doctor was the first to recognize the Time Lord. "Romana, it's
Andred! How goes the intervention business nowadays, old fellow?"
"Exciting, as always." The three exchanges handshakes, friendly embraces,
and idle chit-chat for a short time, until Romana noted Andred's slightly
somber mood.
"Yes, I'm afraid this is indeed a business trip." He sensed what the
Doctor was about to say, so he cut him off with his reply. "I realize,
Doctor, we promised to leave you and Lady Romana alone when you moved to
Earth. Were the situation less critical I would gladly send my own men into
the frey. Unfortunately current events won't let me ask for anything but the
best." Andred wasn't sure exactly how the Doctor would respond to such
flattery anymore; he remembered his wife Leela telling him how receptive her
former companion would become when flattered. Since not everything about a
Time Lord's personality changes with regeneration, the Doctor responded as
Andred had hoped.
The next quarter of an hour was spent relaying to the Doctor and Romana
the events of the past day. Andred told them of the invasion of Mares 6, and
of the reports of the union of three of the deadliest races in the universe.
"Doctor, we ought to do something."
"Yes, Romana ... but what?"
"I know you'll think of something." The Doctor was as sure of that as he
had ever been ... not quite confident at the time, but eager to dive into it
anyhow.
"I suppose it will be nice to travel in one of the newer model TARDISes,
Andred," the Doctor remarked as the trio of Time Lords walked in the direction
of the colonel's transportation. "I almost wish ... I almost wish I had kept
the old girl around, though."
"I think you might be pleasantly surprised, then," answered Andred as the
three stopped at the top of a small hill. At the bottom sat a blue box. The
Doctor's heart lept for joy as he shot down the hill, Romana and Andred trying
their best to keep up. They found the Doctor at the bottom, eyes wide and
smile wider than his wife had thought possible, even during his fourth
regeneration. She knew what was going on, though: her husband was having a
tender reunion with yet another friend. The Doctor walked around the police
box, noticing the scars that still remained on its exterior, almost
remembering exactly what incident caused what bruise. Andred produced a
familiar key and handed it to the Doctor. "I think you should do the honors."
The Doctor took the key and, almost reverently, inserted it into the lock and
turned. The door opened, and the Doctor, forgetting all rules of courtesy,
jumped into the TARDIS, followed by Andred and Romana.
"It's amazing, Andred," the Doctor finally said. "How in the name of
Rassilon did you ever get the old girl working again?"
"No difficult feat, Doctor. Since your victory over the Hadon empire that
made you the hero you are," Andred paused, noticing a slight blush on the
Doctor's face, then continued with, "we've kept your old capsule in the
Museum. I left orders to keep it fully functional, as a tribute to you and
Lady Romana. Of course, we never have gotten around to fixing the chameleon
circuit, and the navigation is still a little iffy, but ..."
"Well, what are we waiting for?" the Doctor interrupted. Without waiting
for an answer he operated the control to close the doors, and began setting
coordinates on the console as though he had never left it.
Romana knew her husband was probably regressing to his old loveable
personality traits, but she decided to try and set the old boy straight
anyhow. "Darling, shouldn't we first find out where we're going?"
"What? Oh, yes, of course. Where were the fleets last reported, Andred?"
"They were reported leaving the Mares system, Doctor. I've kept the
TARDIS computers linked with Agency reports coming in, so it should have their
last reported position." Andred pushed a few buttons on one side of the
hexagonal control console. The main scanner lids opened, revealing a tactical
map showing the position of three massive fleets of starships to the left of
the display.
"I don't remember that function being in the TARDIS computer."
"Oh, yes, Doctor. Granted it wasn't well developed in these old Type
40's, but still functional." Andred stopped as a fourth fleet appeared on the
right of the tactical display. "Another fleet is moving in to meet the
Devastator Fleet."
"Devastator Fleet?"
"Yes, m'lady. That's what the Agency has started calling the combined
fleets."
"Why isn't the fourth fleet being identified?"
The Doctor was the one who responded, "Well, Andred SAID tactical wasn't
well developed." ("He's back to his old self," thought Romana and Andred)
"Well," the Doctor continued, "there's only one way to find out what's going
on out there."
Only a curious squirrel was witness to a sight and sound that the planet
had not experienced for too long ... the groaning and wheezing of the TARDIS
dematerialization.
Shortly the TARDIS re-appeared in deep space, within scanner range of the
four fleets, but far enough away to not get in the way. At the closer range
the Doctor had no trouble identifying the fourth fleet as a fleet of Rutan
spacecraft.
As the Rutans came within range of the Devastator Fleet the battle began.
The three Time Lords watched in horror as the Rutan fleet was annihilated,
with only minor damage sustained to a few Sontaran craft. During the battle
the Doctor noted one ship of a unique design hanging behind the remainder of
the Dalek saucers, the Cyber-fleet, and Sontaran battleships. "That must be
the one responsible for all this," he surmised. "We must see what's going on
there."
Andred and Romana were ready to protest, but the Doctor was already in
motion, programming the TARDIS.

Next time: Chapter III
The Fleet Leader

Story © 1986 Joe Sewell
Melbourne, FL

Doctor Who and related material © 1986 BBC
England
 
To the best of our knowledge, the text on this page may be freely reproduced and distributed.
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