Elder Champions, the "Other" Doctor, and Alien Stacy.....

Now, there remains the issue of picking up the alien Stacy, finding out where that other Doctor and gang is, AND speaking with those mysterious Elder Champions....

Stacy

My human forms face mimics the odd feelings I have as I look back at the odyssey that my new friends had gone through while I'd been in custody.

How to explain it all? Well, took a bit of doing, but I manage. I round it out by telling how well I'd been treated while under protective custody (not bad, actually). After the others finally explained everything that had happened, the authorities were glad to release me over to the Doctor's custody (or so I thought until I actually saw that short fellow with the long scarf and his wife....think the policemen got conned or something when they got instructions to dump me here in this particular blue box). A trip in the TARDIS and meeting with two sharply pointed couple of people ("elves" they called themselves), I ended up here.

Soon Inquirer and "her" Doctor show up, and I notice that the "elfin" Doctor and his friends ("Romana" and an odd winged humanoid male named "Triakoth") make themselves scarce. They said not to mention them to the others, for fear of a time paradox.....

Considering what I know about time travel (not much), I'm going to just follow that advice and not open that can of worms. The others, if they notice I glazed over how I got here, don't mention it. Guess they figure that Morgana and Rugen gave me a pickup and such....

"...and that's what happened," I finish up.

"I think I'm going to be dizzy," Betty ("mine") mutters under her breath, trying to sort all of that out. Don't blame her, considering I'm still trying to do a bit of that myself!!

"Now, the next thing to do is to go back and actually stop my people from making a horrible mistake," I add, "It would be a shame after all of this that....something special be extinguished from the universe....er....my universe."

Chances were that if I explained really slowly and carefully, my superiors would understand....and believe me....

.....

Well, actually later I would find out that they hadn't at all, but after mysterious visit from some group called Operation Stopwatch the leadership of my people were VERY eager in NOT invading. Point in fact, I hear, they are now scared stiff about the very idea of invading the Earth. The biggest thing is that I hear description of one of the members of that mystery team who.....persuaded my leaders was a human appearing woman who.....bore a strange resemblance to the one named Inquirer.

Never will know, however. Though I retired honorable from service, all access to the sources to confirm or deny such things are well beyond my reach now.

Well....at least my pension keeps me living in good standards. Could have been much worse. Indeed, much worse. Earth and humanity could now be a memory and me only living with regrets and might have beens.

Inquirer

"Do hope she succeeds," I mutter as we part ways with the other Doctor and the alien Stacy, "Else I wonder what is to be done. Will have to check back here sometime, somehow, and see....."

Pity the fool or fools if they tried an act of genocide by not listening to Stacy. I'd make it ugly for them to make them see....differently.

Ack, pleasant thought that, I sigh to myself But if I must, I will....

Soon, we are also parting company with Daneel and his band. 'Tis actually a sad thing, but needful. Daneel is going to get his new people organized and such ("Being a Moses to his people" Baley says....causing Betty and Ragan to grin). Baley himself is going to be busy here as well. Not only does he have to file a LOT of reports and answer a lot of questions, but I get the feeling that his lot in life is going WAY up for excellent work! That and I believe that wedding bells are in the air for him and Gladia (and also Daneel and Roxanne). Could be wrong, but I doubt it. Will ask about it when I see them in ten years or so, when (and if) the Doctor and I still wish to be married.

Speaking of ten years, I think it'll be an interesting time just about then. Hairs on the back of my neck stand up when I think about it. Gut feeling, even, you might say.

In the meantime, the gang is going to settle down on Terra Prime for a bit after we take care of any side issues overlooked (like a few things that Betty mentioned a bit earlier). That done, the Doctor said he was going to take up that instructor position in the Elven Nation while he learned more about the Terra Prime universe (one of the universes the Rules and Agents tasked him to protect). Oh, we'll take side trips time to time to relieve the monotony, and Sigin is still going to be our magical instructor, but for the most part we need to at least touch bases there. Besides, the Doctor says that he needs to talk with Dr. What and Dr. Which in order to get a better grasp on their universes' histories. He knows most of it through his own experiences, but still....

Also, in the meantime, we are taking both Leelas back to Terra Prime. Seems that the elfin Doctor said or did something that makes them want to take up a job as one of Queen Astra's elite, one of Diana's Rangers. It'll be hard, but given both Leelas' backgrounds, I know they're up to the task. She'll make a fine addition to that elite force, but I fear that we may not get to see each other as much as we would like.

Anyway, by now I think a ten year break would be rather nice after all the running around we just did! The road will be calling again soon, but a rest right now would be rather nice. After ten years, though, I know in my metallic bones that magic is going to happen. Bet on it!

1. Thus ends Book 1 of Doctor Who the Eternal Champion...