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“At this point, I shouldn't even be surprised.”
Peri Brown gazed around their cell with an unimpressed look. It was fairly nice, as prisons went, with sparse but comfortable furniture and pleasant lighting. The door was still locked however, with a guard outside, and a distinct lack of windows.
“I don't see how that's my fault,” the Doctor huffed. He paced the room for a moment, before starting to pull out bits and pieces from his pockets. Probably he was going to work out some means of their escape.
Peri made herself comfortable on one of the chairs. “Not your fault?” She raised an eyebrow at him. “They specifically locked us up after you introduced yourself!”
“How was I supposed to know they'd find my name offensive? Really, I thought it was quite rude. I haven't even done anything yet!” He paused in his tinkering to frown in thought. “Then again...this place does seem awfully familiar. I'm almost sure I've been here before.”
“Oh, that makes perfect sense then.” Peri rolled her eyes.
The Doctor glared at her. “Why, pray tell, is that?”
“Only that I'm not surprised people who met you before would want to lock you up on sight,” she answered, in a slightly smug tone.
The Doctor looked incensed at that. “I'll have you know that I'm an extremely charming person and that I have many friends throughout the universe who would be delighted to see me!”
“None of whom are apparently here, because they locked you up almost as soon as we landed,” Peri pointed out meaningfully.
“Yes, well,” the Doctor went back to his project, grumbling to himself. “I suppose something must have happened when I was last here. If only I could remember what it was.”
Peri shrugged. “Whatever it was, you certainly made an impression.”
“Maybe they just don't like 'doctors' have you thought of that,” the Doctor pointed out in a petty tone.
She had to concede that it was possible, but the city they had seen outside seemed too civilized for that. Then again, looks could very often be very deceiving as she had learned many times on their adventures. She hoped they hadn't landed themselves in another mess of political despots or police states or secret mad science. Would it hurt to have a relaxing adventure for a change?
The door suddenly opened and two guards entered. Behind them was another man, who was clearly someone important by the way they deferred to him. He was perhaps 50 or 60 years old with white grey hair and intense eyes. His was wearing a fairly simple suit in light grey, but it was very well made and of high quality fabric.
Peri's suspicions were confirmed when one of the guards snapped to attention. “These are them, sir!”
The Doctor was quick to take charge of the conversation before anyone else could utter a word. “Finally someone in authority! I'll have you know that my friend and I have been unfairly detained for no discernible reason! If this is how you treat visitors, I've half a mind to lodge a complaint with the Galactic Tourism Board!”
The other guard bristled at the confrontational tone. “You will show the proper respect to his majesty!”
The man in the suite, however, just raised his hand to stop the guards moving forward. He addressed the Doctor directly, seeming not at all bothered by the blustering. “Yes, sorry about that. It seems we have a case of mistaken identity.” He waved at them both and gave the guards a stern look. “This clearly isn't the Doctor.”
Oh, the Doctor would not let that slide. “Not the Doctor? I'll have you know that I AM the Doctor! The one and only! Anyone who claims otherwise is either ignorant or hiding something.” He narrowed his eyes at the strange man.
The man crossed his arms, frowning. “I think this has gone far enough. I may be getting old, but I think I can remember my own friend and he wouldn't be caught dead wearing a get up like that!”
“Get up?!” The Doctor was properly riled now. “This outfit is the height of sophistication!”
“Oh yeah? On what planet?”
Peri took that as her cue to step in, before the Doctor got them thrown into a real dungeon this time. “My apologies, your majesty,” she said, getting to her feet and offering a small bow. “There seems to be some mix up. This is the Doctor, even if he isn't the one you were expecting. And I'm Peri. Perpugilliam Brown.”
“Pleased to meet you both,” the man gave Peri a warm smile, though he was still eying the Doctor with suspicious confusion. “Listen, I am sorry about all this. I asked the city watch to keep an eye out for the Doctor and I think they may have taken the request a bit too literally.” He raised an eyebrow at the two guards who looked sheepishly at each other. “I can offer you a tour of the city to make up for it?”
“That would be lovely, wouldn't it, Doctor?”
The Doctor had gone oddly quiet and was staring at their host with dawning realization. “Steven?” he asked suddenly, much to Peri's confusion. The Doctor's eyes lit up with delight. “It is! Steven Taylor!” He jumped forward to shake the man's hand enthusiastically.
If anything, this only seemed to confuse the man, Steven, even more. “I'm sorry, do I know you?”
“Of course! I told you, I'm the Doctor!” the Doctor insisted, beaming. “We used to travel together, oh, a long time ago now. How else would I have recognized you?”
Steven crossed his arms, looking dubious. “That doesn't mean anything. I'm a public figure. Most people here know me whether I like it or not. And everyone knows I traveled with the Doctor. You could be making it up.”
“Well, I bet most people won't know that I met you on Mechanus where you'd been stranded when your ship crashed. You were lucky to survive when the Daleks attacked, as I recall. Vicki and I very nearly left without you.”
“Vicki...” Steven looked fond at some long distant memory. Then he shook his head stubbornly. “But this doesn't make sense. You can't be the Doctor. You look nothing like him for a start!”
Peri was starting to understand what was happening. This had to be an old friend of the Doctor's. It would actually explain a lot. Much as she was happy for the Doctor, she thought she had better step in before his usual tact started another argument. “Oh, I can explain that,” she offered. “You see the Doctor does this thing where he changes his whole face and personality.”
“It's called regeneration,” the Doctor put in helpfully.
“Right,” Peri conceded before pushing on. Steven was already looking more confused then ever. “I don't really understand it myself, but I saw it happen. One minute he was this nice English gentlemen and then next, well...” She waved at the Doctor with his puffed out chest and multicolored outfit as if that explained everything. Which honestly, it pretty much did.
“Personally, I think this is a vast improvement,” the Doctor added, looking immensely pleased. “That cricket outfit was just ridiculous.”
“That's a matter of opinion,” Peri giggled.
Steven was looking between them with narrowed eyes and seemed to be starting to understand. “So you really are the Doctor?” he ventured cautiously. “Tell me then, what was the name of the girl we met in Troy?”
The Doctor's face fell and he looked truly sad. “Katarina,” he answered softly. “She...I'm so sorry, Steven. I never should have taken her with us.”
“It wasn't your fault. It wasn't exactly safe in Troy either.” Steven sighed sadly and nodded. He offered the Doctor a knowing smile. “It is you then, Doctor. I never told anyone about her, not even Dodo.”
Peri almost wanted to ask who Katarina was and what happened to her, but decided against it. Whatever it was, it had obviously affected them both deeply and she thought it better not to pry.
The Doctor brightened considerably at Steven's admission. “It's so good to see you again, Steven!” He surged forward, this time enveloping Steven in a tight hug. Peri couldn't help grinning at the pair of them.
The old man laughed and hugged back. “It's good see you too, Doctor! I always wondered if you'd stop by again.”
“And the city looks marvelous! You've done a great job with the place.” The Doctor regarded his old friend proudly.
“Oh, I'm not in charge, not anymore. The elected Council and First Minister run things these days. Officially I'm retired, but I can't seem to convince them to drop the title.” Steven shrugged looking a little self conscious.
The Doctor clapped him on the shoulder, smiling warmly. “Don't sell yourself short. You've done very well, Steven. I always knew you had it in you.”
“Politics was never really my thing,” Steven admitted, though he looked quite pleased and even relieved by the Doctor's approval. “But I did my best. We have peace for the most part, and everyone gets fair representation and opportunity. It's not perfect. There's still crime and conflicts and the economy took a hit last year. But no one has their life-force sucked from them anymore, so I think it still counts as an improvement.”
Peri definitely wanted to hear the story behind that. It sounded horrifying.
“I think you've done a marvelous job, right Doctor?” Peri smiled brightly. “But maybe we could continue this somewhere less claustrophobic?” She was only too happy to let the two old friends reminisce, but it wouldn't hurt to do it somewhere a bit more comfortable. Maybe without the lingering guards who looked completely baffled and unsure what to do with themselves.
“Oh yes, of course!” Steven held out his arm to Peri. “Perhaps you would do me the honor of joining me for lunch, Miss Peri.” He leaned closer. “And maybe you can explain the deal with the coat.”
Peri laughed. Oh it was going to be fun to swap stories with someone else who understood her crazy life and even crazier traveling companion. “After you, your majesty.”
“Now don't you start. It's just Steven.”
The Doctor trailed after them, huffing and shoving his hands into his pockets. “What is it with humans and my coat? Really, no sense of fashion at all.” He was smiling as he said though. Because for once there was no great conspiracy or war to be halted. For once he could just relax and enjoy a visit with an old, dear friend.