Doctor Who The Rebirth of Four Ordinary Women

by NAB

Laverne De Fazio, Shirley Feeney, Kate McCardle and Allie Barsky join the Ninth Doctor under very trying circumstances for all four.

1. Chapter 1

DOCTOR WHO/LAVERNE AND SHIRLEY

DISCLAIMER

Laverne and Shirley are owned by Garry K Marshall and Paramount Television, Doctor Who is owned technically by Sydney Newman and the BBC. However, the Doctor involved is the Ninth Doctor as played by Christopher Eccleston. Therefore ownership belongs to Russell T Davies and BBC Wales. There is also mention of the A Team, and a small link to the West Wing. Can't remember who owns the A Team, but I know that Aaron Sorkin created the West Wing, but acknowledgement is accorded to both of them. The title 'Goodnight Saigon' is the title of a Billy Joel song. The Characters Erimem and Peri belong to Big Finish Productions, actually Peri is an official Fifth/Sixth Doctor companion and techically belongs to her creator and to the BBC. But Big Finish have done so well in fleshing her out, so they deserve credit.

NOTE

I'm not a comedy writer. I'm more a thriller/fantasy writer. Therefore anything that Laverne and Shirley, in particular, do will be seen in that context. For example, this is probably a more braver action than Shirley Feeney has ever shown in the series, and possibly out of character. Yes, she and Laverne did become involved in quite dangerous stunts, but never as depicted in this story. This is one hell of a departure for both of them. However, I'm suggesting that you'll do anything for ones that you love. Bear that in mind when you critique this work. Vietnam is a very touchy subject for some people. However, it fits the time line. I'm not an expert on the Red Cross, and its work, but I know that they are neutral and are allowed anywhere, so are Medicine Sans Frontieres (Medicine Without Frontiers) . They also do very good work. I have to warn you that this story will get really dark at times, almost terrifyingly dark, and, although, there is an element of historical fact, for example, the fall of Saigon which did happen in 1975, a lot of it is made up by me. Therefore this could be seen as an alternative universe story

1. THE ANGER WITHIN: (GOODNIGHT SAIGON)

PART ONE: IN THE THICK OF THE FIGHT

LOS ANGELES 1975

Laverne Marie De Fazio looked at her Father's grave with a sense of loss. Two weeks ago, he was alive and running his business with his usual vigour. Now he was dead, struck down with a massive heart attack caused by the vigour that he worked. Almost everybody came to the funeral that mattered in his life. Carmine Ragusa broke off his now successful musical career to attend; both Lenny and Squiggy found time; Lenny from his burgeoning musical career, Squiggy from his Private Detective work, to grace the funeral with their presence. Even Arthur Fonzarelli and Ritchie Cunningham arrived, The Fonz gave a moving speech which honoured the memory of her father. There was one person missing, a person that Frank De Fazio regarded as much as a daughter as Laverne was - Shirley Feeney, now Mrs Shirley Meaney. She had sent a telegram regretting that she couldn't be there but duty prevented her from doing so. Laverne knew that Shirley and Walter were currently in Saigon running a MASH style hospital for the guys fighting and dying out there. They were fighting a war that nobody wanted, that Laverne herself protested against in the heat of the moment. There was a rumour that Nixon was thinking about pulling the troops out, possibly to deflect from the on coming investigation into the Watergate break in. Laverne hoped so, for everybody's sake. There had been enough violence, enough killing, enough bloodshed to last a lifetime. Laverne crossed herself and laid flowers on her father's grave.

"I'm sorry that Shirl couldn't come, Pop," Laverne said "She wanted to be here but work prevented her."

Laverne smiled.

"I suspect it was Walt myself," She continued "He's got her wrapped around his little finger. I told you that I suspected that good old Walt was having an affair with some Vietnamese girl. Shirl has just confirmed it, worse still the girl has had Walt's son. I mean Shirley is actually in Vietnam standing by him and he does that. I have a good mind to go out there and get her back. What do you think, Pop?"

"What do you think, Laverne De Fazio?" An English voice asked.

Laverne spun around and saw a man standing there. He was dressed in a black leather coat with black cords, sporting very short dark hair. There was a cheeky smile on his face but behind that smile lay sadness, and loneliness.

"What do you truly think?"

"Who are you?"

The smile broadened.

"A person who's offering you the chance of a lifetime," The Man said "You need to get away, to give yourself time to grieve your loss, and I need company."

"I'm no easy lay," Laverne said "I'm no cheap Loosey Goosey."

The man held up his hands.

"Didn't even enter my mind," He said "You need help, and I'm offering it. Do you want to go to Vietnam and get Shirley Feeney back?"

"How?"

"We may have to make a slight detour," The Man said "But I have the means."

"A detour?"

"I want to show you something, Laverne Marie De Fazio, I want to show you something that will increase your understanding of the universe and it's mysteries," The Man smiled "It will also help you understand why Shirley left you ten years ago."

"How do you know that?"

"I know a lot about you and Shirley," The Man said "I know how much you mean to each other, even now."

"Again how did you know?"

The man's smile turned into a cheesy grin.

"Because I know everything," The Man said "I'm the Last of the Time Lords, I'm the Doctor."

"Doctor who?"

"Lets not get into that," The Doctor, in his ninth regeneration, said "Let's just say that I'm known around here as Doctor John Smith. So you can call me Doctor, or Doctor Smith."

"Obviously not your real name."

"You couldn't pronounce it," The Doctor said "What do you say, Laverne Marie De Fazio, do you want to go on a journey of a lifetime?"

Laverne looked at Frank De Fazio's grave.

"Well Pop?" Laverne said "Carmine has his career, he even has a family to care for, Lenny and Squiggy are catered for. Me, I have nothing, I have no guy, I don't even have Shirl."

"Yes you do," The Doctor said "You just don't realise it."

"Meaning?"

"Come with me and find out."

Laverne looked at the Doctor.

"No funny business?"

"Not interested in funny business," The Doctor said "Trust me."

Laverne looked at The Doctor and felt that she could trust him. There was something about him, a feeling of security, of confidence. There was also that sense of loneliness that Laverne could see in his eyes. He seen so much, done so much.

"Last of the Time Lords?"

"Long story."

"Which you'll have time to tell me," Laverne pressed.

The smile disappeared to be replaced not by anger but by sadness.

"Maybe, in time."

Laverne looked at the Doctor again and decided not to press it. She was curious as hell about this guy and his offer. He was actually quite good looking in a rough diamond sort of way. Maybe she should take a chance and live her life with this guy as her guide.

"Time Lords? Is that some sort of society like the Masons?"

"Not as loathsome," The Doctor said.

"Loathsome?"

"The Freemasons and I don't exactly get on," The Doctor said "They helped cover up a murder I was trying to investigate a hundred years ago."

"A hundred years ago?" Laverne said incredulously "How old are you?"

"I'm nine hundred years old," The Doctor said.

"Get away."

"It's true," The Doctor smiled "As for the Time Lords being some sort of society, we were much more than that. We mastered time and space itself. We were one of the temporal super powers before the Time Wars."

"Is that the long story you mentioned?"

The Doctor shrugged and took a deep breath. Laverne could see from the look on his face that the subject was a sore point. She took the Doctor's hand. The Doctor nodded his thanks.

"Are you interested in exploring the universe?" The Doctor asked.

Again Laverne looked at Frank's grave. A smile emerged on her face as if Frank had reached out from the grave and told her to go.

"Lead the way."

The Doctor's smile returned. He took Laverne by the hand and guided her out of the Graveyard.

THE TARDIS

Laverne looked at the sheer size of it. She couldn't believe it. She even took to going outside and coming back in again.

"There's no way that all of this can fit inside a box like this," Laverne said.

"Now how many people have said that," The Doctor muttered.

Laverne almost ran around the gothic looking console room with its hexagonal console in the centre.

"I don't believe it," Laverne said "It's massive."

"And has a lot of rooms as well."

"Come on!" Laverne said.

The Doctor nodded to a door opposite the console. Laverne went over to it and opened it, it lead to another corridor with doors leading off.

"You must have hundreds of rooms here."

"At least," The Doctor said "All with different environments. I could transport an entire colony of people to another world quite comfortably."

"Another world?"

"This is a time/space ship, I can take you anywhere in time and space," The Doctor said "We can go back to the creation of the universe or forwards to the destruction of the universe. We could visit your forbears or go forward and see your future family. I could even take you back to witness historical events."

"Maybe even prevent things from happening," Laverne suggested.

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because there are certain things that you cannot prevent, like for example Shirley's marriage to Walter Meaney. That was meant to happen, to tamper with it could lead to serious dimensional problems."

"So I couldn't warn both John and Bobby Kennedy that they were going to be assassinated ," Laverne said.

"You could but they wouldn't believe you," The Doctor said "Time has a way of putting itself back on track."

Laverne nodded thoughtfully.

"But I could observe history in the making?"

"Tell me what you want to observe," The Doctor said.

"The War of Independence?"

"Why that?"

"I've often wondered how the founding fathers created the United States of America."

The Doctor shrugged

"Then lets go and observe."

The Doctor pushed the lever to shut the door, and then set the TARDIS on its journey back in time. The Doctor looked at the awestruck Laverne Marie De Fazio and was glad that he had a companion that he could share the universe with again, and maybe, if things went right, two.

VIETNAM 1975

The order that everybody had been expecting had finally arrived. President Nixon had finally ordered the evacuation of all American personnel from Saigon. The mess that was Vietnam was a lost cause and it was now time to bail out and leave the corrupt South Vietnamese government to its fate. The mess was Lyndon Baines Johnson's baby, started in John Fitzgerald Kennedy's time, but still LBJ's baby nevertheless. He had made promises to the South Vietnamese President that he was going to keep come hell or high water. Kennedy's assassination in November 1963 helped Johnson's political ambition a great deal, and his Vietnam adventure even more so. Instead of pulling out as Kennedy wanted, Johnson actually increased the troops that was sent over to fight the war nobody really wanted, possibly with the exception of Lyndon Johnson. But now, especially after the Tet Offensive fiasco, a victory it may have been, but for the Americans, a public relations nightmare, the end was pretty much nigh. With every body that was arriving in Dover, Delaware, the anger and protests against the war mounted. Then public figures like Mohammed Ali and Jane Fonda came out against it, and that was the death knell for the adventure. It had turned into a bloodbath that needed an exit strategy very quickly. Nixon, partially as an attempt to cover his participation in the Watergate scandal, created the very exit strategy that was needed. It was dramatic and bordered on panic, but it was needed. For Walter Meaney, the order couldn't come any sooner. He had got Shirley and his daughter out a month before, and now he would soon be in Tokyo with Shirley, and eventually with his daughter who was now living back in the States with Carmine Ragusa. There was a small problem he had to deal with first, a Vietnamese Mistress, and the son that came out of that relationship. Somehow he had to get them out. Which was why he was risking capture by the Vietcong, and probably Court Martial, by stealing an army truck an heading to the mission that he and Shirley set up in a village ten kilometres south of Saigon. When he arrived, he could see a mass exodus was happening, a sure sign that the Vietcong was closing in on the village. He spotted a man who was acting as his Translator and assistant and stopped in front of him.

"Li, where's Ming Na?"

"At the house," Li Shang, his trusty assistant and closest friend answered "She refused to leave without you."

"Damn it!"

"I could help," Li Shang offered.

"No, Li, go," Walter said "Use that pass I gave you."

Li nodded his thanks and joined the masses leaving the village. Walter looked at his assistant go, and then started up his truck again to head for the Medical Mission that he called home. As he approached, he could see people streaming out and loading patients into makeshift ambulances. Walter was glad to see that. He was glad to see that all his meticulous planning had borne fruit when the push came to the shove. He had Shirley to thank for that. She had organised drills almost every week, sometimes with Sergeant Avril Plout in attendance. If only she was a little less of a prude and more adventurous, there would have been no need for his adventures with Ming Na. He stopped a Vietnamese nurse loading a South Vietnamese soldier into a truck.

"Ming Na?"

The nurse nodded into the house.

"Thanks."

He helped the nurse get the soldier into the truck and then banged on the truck as an order to get going. After watching the trucks leave, he turned his attention to the house itself. He entered the house itself and saw Ming Na sitting in a seat rocking their child.

"Ming Na? Why the hell aren't you packed?"

Ming Na remained sitting and rocking the child. Something was clearly wrong.

"Ming, honey, we have to leave now, the Vietcong will be here soon."

Walter started opening draws and removing clothes from them. Then he found some suitcases, some of which were already packed. He stopped and looked at his Mistress.

"Ming? What's wrong?"

A Vietcong Colonel and two troopers emerged from the back, all three had weapons in their hands.

"Welcome, Captain Meaney."

Walter looked around for an escape route but could see that it was blocked.

"Ming?"

"I'm sorry, Walter."

She went over to join the Colonel. The Colonel held the child in his hands, Walter yelled in rage and headed towards the Colonel. He felt a gun butt on his head and blacked out a few seconds later.

TOKYO - A WEEK AFTER THE SAIGON AIRLIFT

Shirley Wilhemina Meaney nee Feeney looked out the window and took in the Tokyo landscape. She was in a state of shock. In her hand was a wire that she had received from the American Embassy in Tokyo saying that Walter had gone missing, this despite being told that he had got his pass and would be leaving Saigon in the last wave. Not one month ago, Shirley herself was in Saigon working as a Nurse in Walter's makeshift Medical Mission. She knew all about Ming Na, had even forgiven Walter's moment of weakness, this despite Laverne suggesting in her last letter that this was no moment of weakness, this was Walter showing his true self. That letter had angered Shirley, angered her enough for her not to go to Frank's funeral, but instead to send that wire. She hated herself for that fit of anger. Frank was like a father to her, in the same way as Laverne was like a sister. Yes, she had brothers, but Mickey and Mikey wasn't like Laverne, and her father, the wanderer that he was, was nothing like Frank De Fazio. At that moment, she thought of Laverne. She had tried to contact her to offer her apologies and to tell her that as soon as Walter had left Saigon that they would be coming over to see her. Nobody knew where she was. Carmine didn't know, neither did Lenny and Squiggy. The Fonz and Ritchie Cunningham hadn't seen her since the funeral. To all purposes, Laverne had just vanished into thin air. That was two weeks ago, and now with Walter missing as well, she had a lot to contend with. She was worried sick about both the people she loved like life itself. The sound of a car horn broke her reverie. She looked out and saw Alvira Plout in the drivers seat. She took a deep breath, and picked up a small bag. She may not be able to help Laverne, but she could find out about Walter. She left the house, locked it up, and headed to Plout's car. She got into the passenger seat and buckled up.

"Thanks for this, Sarge."

"My pleasure," Plout said "May I say, Feeney, that this is that this is the bravest thing you've ever done. I'm glad to be accompanying you on such an important mission."

"Sergeant, this is an illegal mission," Shirley said "We could both be put on a charge for this."

"Don't care," Plout said "You are proving yet again that women belong on the front line."

"Just drive."

"Yes Ma'am," Plout said.

She started the car and moved off.

TRITON MAGNA - 2525

Laverne stepped out of the TARDIS onto another world and felt the world lift from her shoulders. This was another world, another planet, and she, Laverne Marie De Fazio, was standing on it. She looked behind her to see the Doctor leaning against the Police Box known as the TARDIS.

"This is another planet, Doc?" Laverne asked.

"As promised," The Doctor beamed.

"Where?"

"Triton Magna, an Earth Colony about Five Hundred years in the future," He answered "I helped set up this colony with my Grand-daughter, Susan, and her teachers from Coal Hill School, Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright. I've always wanted to come back here and see how things are."

"Grand -Daughter?" Laverne said "You have a Grand-Daughter?"

The Doctor nodded. He looked a little embarrassed.

"Where is she?"

"Married," The Doctor answered "She's actually on Earth in the twenty second century helping Earth recover from the Dalek invasion."

"Daleks?"

The Doctor bit his tongue in anger.

"Stinking, murdering maggots!" He said.

"Doc, what's the matter?"

"Daleks, those stinking bastards wiped out my entire race."

"The Time Wars?"

The Doctor took a deep breath and forced a smile on his face.

"Shall we visit?" He said.

The Doctor moved off. Laverne looked at the Time Lord with a mixture of fascination and fear. What did these Daleks do to deserve such anger? She had been travelling with the Doctor for two months. Two months of visiting Earth's past and future, of battling evil dictators, of meeting famous figures like George Washington, John Adams, even the much maligned Benedict Arnold. She and the Doctor became involved with The Duke of Wellington not long before the Battle of Waterloo. In fact Laverne was Napoleon Bonaparte's prisoner the night before the battle, and was due to be executed as a spy the next morning. The Doctor and a trooper by the name of Richard Sharpe had risked life and limb to rescue her before her date with the firing squad. Her next date was with Detective Chief Superintendent Christopher Foyle, General Dwight D Eisenhower, The Andrews Sisters, and, anachronistically, The Spice Girls. The matter concerned the breaking of a ring that allegedly was a spy ring but was actually a conduit for a very dangerous alien entity that had been imprisoned by the Doctor's people and needed sacrifices to free him. Laverne had to be rescued along with The Andrews Sisters and The Spice Girls from being sacrificed in order to free this dangerous entity, and there were others, many others. For Laverne, it was scary, but enjoyable at the same time, and now, Laverne Marie De Fazio of Brooklyn, of Milwaukee, and lately of Los Angeles, stood on an Alien world far in the future. She wondered what Shirley would have made of all this. Maybe, someday, they would find out. They would rescue Shirley from the drudgery that was her life and they could go on the adventure of a life-time together. The Doctor had suggested that was not only possible but likely. Laverne was determined to hold The Doctor to that. She suddenly realised that the Doctor was striding away.

"Hey, Doc," Laverne called "Wait for me."

Laverne started running after the Doctor.

THAILAND 1975

Shirley was nervous. She was in a bar, and a dress, that she normally wouldn't be seen dead in. Normality, however, was out the window at this moment as there was a need to get into Vietnam and the only way it could be done without attracting suspicion was by using mercenaries. Plout claimed that she knew some people that could get them into Vietnam safely. Shirley had to trust that Plout knew what she was talking about and wasn't blowing hot air. The man that Shirley had noticed watching her, had suddenly moved towards her. She took a deep breath as the man, a very large white man, sat next to her.

"How much?"

"Excuse me?" Shirley said.

"For your services," The Man said.

Shirley could feel her heart beat faster. The guy thought that she was a prostitute, and the dress that she was wearing wasn't helping. At that moment, she could kill Avril Plout.

"Too much for you, sir," Shirley said.

"An American?"

"From Milwaukee."

The man nodded.

"Not a safe place for an American to be, especially a pretty little filly from Milwaukee like you," The Man said "I can be your protector."

Shirley half squealed as the man touched her.

"She has a protector!"

Plout had returned. Behind her was a large black guy with a Mohican hair cut and a smaller man.

"On your way, fool!" The man in the Hair Cut said.

The two men squared up. Plout and the other man dragged Shirley away just as hell broke loose. They entered a back room to see two men, one tough looking with white hair, the other, tall and very handsome looking, sitting at a table.

"Mrs Meaney?" The White haired man asked.

"Yes," Shirley answered.

"I'm Colonel Hannibal Smith, this is Templeton Peck, the guy behind you is Murdock."

Hannibal Smith got to his feet and invited both Shirley and Plout to take a seat. The man with the haircut entered and dusted his hands.

"Five minutes, BA?" Hannibal said.

"That fool was no trouble," BA Baracus said.

Hannibal saw Templeton Peck hold out his hand. Hannibal took a wad of notes out of his pocket and hand Templeton fifty dollars.

"You've just cost me fifty dollars, BA, I said the fight will be over in ten."

"Excuse me," Shirley interrupted.

"Of course, Mrs Meaney," Hannibal said "Sergeant Plout here says that you want to get into Nam. Not a safe place at the moment. Any reason why?"

"I'm trying to find my husband," Shirley said.

"Walter Meaney," Plout added "He's the Doctor I told you about."

"The guy who gave up his place in the airlift to save his Mistress," Murdock said.

"Murdock, a bit of sensitivity," Hannibal said "His wife is sitting right here."

BA clouted Murdock around the head. Murdock glared at him but said nothing.

"There is every chance that Doctor Meaney is already dead," Templeton said "Are you sure you want to take a risk like this?"

"I want to know for sure," Shirley said "I'm willing to pay a great deal of money to find out."

"This isn't sanctioned by our government," Plout added "We both could face a court martial if they found out."

"How much is a great deal of money, Mrs Meaney?" Hannibal asked.

"Five thousand to get us in, five thousand to get us back out."

"You are risking prosecution and a great deal of money to find out if your cheating husband is alive or dead," Hannibal mused "If we agree to this, there will be no turning back."

"We're aware of that, Colonel Smith," Plout said.

Hannibal looked at Murdock, Templeton and BA.

"Keep your money," Hannibal said "We'll do this for nothing."

Templeton, Murdock and BA glared at him.

"Are you stark staring bonkers, Hannibal?" Templeton said.

"Probably, Captain," Hannibal said "But I admire Mrs Meaney's guts. That deserves reward, and…"

"The gold," Both Murdock and Templeton said.

"Precisely," Hannibal smiled "Mrs Meaney, Sergeant Plout, we'll help you if you'll help us."

"Considering everybody's breaking the law here," Shirley said "Why not."

Shirley shook Hannibal's hand.

TRITON MAGNA

"I thought they were going to welcome you with open arms," Laverne complained.

Laverne and the Doctor were sharing a prison cell after being arrested the moment they entered the city.

"I didn't know they were going to break into factions and start shooting at each other," The Doctor said "This was a peaceful utopia when Susan, Barbara, Ian and I left, all differences had been settled."

"It looks unsettled now," Laverne said.

"I know, and it makes no sense."

The cell door opened and a woman entered. She was a woman in her late fifties, probably early sixties. She had an air of authority about her which the Doctor likened to Margaret Thatcher. The Doctor got to his feet.

"Hello, I'm the Doctor, this is Laverne De Fazio," The Doctor said.

"Doctor?"

"Yes, the Doctor," The Doctor smiled "You may have some record of me. I helped set up this colony thirty years ago."

"There was a man who called himself the Doctor, but he was a white haired old man, you look nothing like him."

"I've regenerated several times since I was last here," The Doctor said "Simon Preator, he was the Governor of this colony when I left."

"I'm his daughter."

"You're Donna?"

"I am," The Woman said "If you are the Doctor you will remember the gift that you gave my father."

"It wasn't a gift," The Doctor said "It was advice. I told him to rule with the wisdom of Solomon. I told him that he was going to need that wisdom if you're going to have any chance of survival."

The Doctor looked at the woman again.

"But I do remember that Ian Chesterton gave you a gift."

The Doctor turned to Laverne.

"Donna and Ian had quite a fling, really angered Barbara," He told her.

"What happened?" Laverne asked .

"Barbara and I had a fight," The Woman said.

"Really!" Laverne said.

"In the middle of the town square during market day," The Woman said "Smashed up a lot of the stalls. Ian gave me a diamond that he claimed he got from the court of Kublai Khan to pay for the damage."

"Did it?"

"More than," The Woman said "My father sold it to traders for a million credits. Paid off all the traders with change to spare."

"Worth ten times that much," The Doctor said "You were robbed."

"It was desperate times, Doctor, and it partially triggered the problems we have now."

"In what way?"

"I don't think we can discuss this here," The Woman said "Doctor, Miss De Fazio, you're welcome to stay with me."

The woman banged on the door. The cell door was opened.

"The Doctor and Miss De Fazio will be under my care," She said.

"Yes, Madam Prime Minister."

"Prime Minister?" Laverne said in surprise considering what she had just heard.

"Yes, Miss De Fazio," The Woman smiled "Even Prime Ministers can get involved in street brawls."

"Wow!" Laverne said with feeling.

The Doctor beamed and allowed Laverne to follow the woman out of the cell before tagging along behind.

VIETNAM 1975

Using Vietnamese contacts, Hannibal managed to get his team, Shirley and Plout into the country. They were travelling under the Red Cross banner and because of that had to make several stops to help sick and injured people, some of them were supporters of the South Vietnamese government trying to escape the Vietcong, some were Vietcong soldiers, one or two were American soldiers who failed to get out of the country, and whose fate was very uncertain to say the least. To complicate matters, they had to fake Swiss/German accents as the passes given to them suggested that they were Swiss nationals and therefore neutral. Templeton, Hannibal, Murdock and Shirley had little trouble, but Plout and BA had major problems meaning that they couldn't do much speaking. It also meant that Shirley, using the fake accent, had to pump both Americans about her husband. It was a very uncomfortable experience, but fruitful, as one of them, an Aircraftman by the name of Leo Thomas McGarry, suggested that there was an American Doctor being held prisoner in Saigon itself. The description that McGarry gave Shirley matched Walter enough to give her hope.

"They were treating him as a special prisoner," McGarry suggested "They seem to want to hold a show trial and execute him in public as a spy as an attempt to embarrass our government."

Shirley's heart sunk. Templeton put a hand on Shirley's shoulder.

"Good luck in finding him," McGarry continued "But don't expect getting him out will be easy, they will have a great deal of security on him."

"Thank you, sir," Shirley said maintaining her fake accent.

McGarry placed a hand on Shirley's arm.

"Be careful," He said.

Shirley nodded. Her heart froze. If it wasn't for Ming Na, Walter would have been in Japan with her, and would probably be heading back to the States where he would have been demobbed, as he promised, and set up a new life as a Doctor in a brand new hospital. The job was waiting for him, all he had to do was get there.

"Thank you," Shirley said "The border is about forty kilometres that way. You and your friend should be fit enough to get there just be careful. Just be careful, Mr…."

"McGarry," McGarry said "Leo McGarry, thank you ma'am."

The two soldiers, now replenished with supplies, walked on down the road. Both Templeton and Plout moved next to her.

"That is going to make life difficult," Templeton said.

"I must try," Shirley said.

"The man is a bastard," Plout said "Is it worth it risking your life for him?"

"I must try, for Marie's sake," Shirley said.

Again Templeton put a hand on Shirley's shoulder. It was a comforting, respectful hand. Shirley placed a hand on his.

"If you want to back out and go look for your gold," Shirley said "I wont stop you."

"If we do, you'll be getting a share," Templeton said "That is a promise."

"Guys," Hannibal said "We have to get moving."

Templeton, Plout and Shirley rejoined the makeshift ambulance.

TRITON MAGNA

The Doctor and Laverne listened to what Donna, the Prime Minister had to say. It was a typical tale of misunderstanding and a break down in common sense. Two events which made war a certainty. The diamond that Ian gave Donna was used to fund a new agricultural complex that allowed them to grow Phylox, a grain used in many food products throughout three galaxies. Trade was good and money came pouring in. Then the disagreements on how to spend the money started. One faction wanted to arm Triton Magna to the teeth to ensure the colony's security, others wanted to create that they had on Earth - technology, entertainment, medicine, everything that would have made life easier.

"All my father wanted to do was to create a stable democracy based on the British Parliamentary System," Donna said.

"Why British?" Laverne asked.

"Because it's the best system," The Doctor said "The American system relies a little too much on one person."

"We have the Senate, we have Congress," Laverne argued.

"But the President makes the ultimate decision. He could send the country into war without the approval of congress or the senate," the Doctor said "It's also a fixed term job. If he screws things up you can't call a General Election to get rid of him. You have to wait four years."

"Gives him a chance to put things right," Laverne countered.

"Not if he constantly makes the same mistakes, and never listens to his advisers," The Doctor frowned "I warned Nixon about bugging the Democrat office. I told him that he would get into serious trouble. Would he listen? Oh no. Now he's going to be impeached."

"He was impeached, Doctor," Donna said .

"Laverne comes from that time," the Doctor warned.

Donna looked at Laverne.

"Ah!"

"The man's an idiot anyway," Laverne said.

"A Democrat?" Donna asked.

"Maybe," Laverne answered "Maybe I like voting for cute guys."

Donna allowed herself a smile. Interesting idea but a little naïve.

"Anyway," The Doctor said "What happened? Was a compromise reached?"

"A compromise?"

"Half the budget being spent on defence, the other half on scientific advancement."

"My father had that idea," Donna said "He even tried to bring all the factions together to discuss the compromise package. Somebody killed him before he had the chance to arrange the meeting. That was when the war started."

"Anybody else thought of trying it?" Laverne asked.

"Nobody wants to listen," Donna said "Both sides hate each others guts."

"A recipe for disaster," The Doctor said "Why do you humans always do it?"

An explosion rocked the building. The Doctor threw both Donna and Laverne to the ground and covered them. There was soon a mass of explosions mixed with a screeching siren ordering people to get to the shelter.

"A bit late for that!" Laverne shouted .

"We never know when they're going to do this," Donna admitted a little testily.

"You have no intelligence gathering outfit?" The Doctor exclaimed.

"Oh, we have one," Donna said "But they are too bloody busy cowering under tables to gather intelligence."

"You are joking?" Laverne said.

"Miss De Fazio, I wish I was," Donna said "The problem with our intelligence is that they have no intelligence. I could do a better job. Unfortunately, I'm a little busy trying to run the part of the planet that is under my control."

"This is crazy!" Laverne said "Surely you have some sort of defence, a few rockets you could fire back."

"That's not a problem. Listen!"

Both Laverne and The Doctor listened. There seemed to be a firework display going on outside.

"A force field?" The Doctor asked.

"The only thing our scientists have got right."

"This is madness!" Laverne said.

"That's the problem when all the military defects to the other side," Donna said "We have nobody who could take the fight to the opposition. They're all thinkers, philosophers, teachers, actors, politicians, and scientists. Nobody with military experience."

"The ultimate faction divide," The Doctor said "You are aware it's only a matter of time before they infiltrate this city and throw you out."

"My ministers assure me they wont. Me? I'm not so sure," Donna said "I really could do with yours and Miss De Fazio's help, Doctor."

"If we can," The Doctor said.

At that moment there was a knock on the door.

"Come," Donna called.

A man in his early fifties entered.

"Will you see the Defence Secretary, Madam Prime Minister?"

"Certainly."

The man stepped aside to allow a taller man to come in. He looked suspiciously at the Doctor and Laverne.

"Excuse me for a minute, Doctor, Laverne."

Donna took the Defence Secretary to another side of the room.

"Doc, I think we should leave," Laverne said "This is not our fight."

"It is actually," The Doctor said "I'm partially responsible for what's happening here."

"Just because this Ian Chesterton gave Madam Prime Minister here a gift."

"A gift that he should not have given," The Doctor said "We had one hell of an argument about it. It lead indirectly to Susan marrying that Campbell guy and leaving us."

Not entirely true, Laverne thought. She had spent time studying the TARDIS logs just as the Doctor suggested. She had read his entry concerning how Susan left the TARDIS. She didn't want to go. She wanted to bring this Campbell guy with them. She was even prepared to go with the Doctor and leave David Campbell behind, even though it probably would have killed her. The Doctor knew that he couldn't let him come with them. It would have affected the time line. It hurt him to leave her behind, but he knew that once she made the decision that her life was with Campbell, he had no choice but to stop her returning to the TARDIS to prevent her throwing her life away. It was pretty much the final nail in the coffin for the relationship between him and Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright as well. Because, even though they picked up Vicki not long afterwards, Ian and Barbara were gone within a short time. It started a whole string of arrivals and departures that made the Doctor more morose and more lonely. He tried to cover it up, but Laverne herself saw it in his eyes pretty much immediately. He was a lonely man in need of somebody he could teach, somebody like Susan. Well, she thought, you can teach me.

"Then what do we do?" Laverne asked.

"I don't know yet ."

"Oh no!" Donna exclaimed.

The look on Donna's face spoke volumes. Something serious had happened.

"Madam Prime Minister?" Laverne asked "Donna?"

Donna looked at the Doctor and Laverne. There was tears in her eyes.

"What's happened, Donna?" The Doctor asked.

"Before the force field went up, a few rockets got through," Donna said.

"We're aware of that," Laverne said.

The Doctor nudged Laverne on the arm. Laverne glared at him but the look on his face told her to shut up.

"Go on," The Doctor urged.

"In the attack Two Schools, a Church and a Shopping Mall was hit."

"Oh my God!" Laverne said suddenly feeling ashamed of herself.

"Casualties?" The Doctor asked.

"Being assessed now," The Defence Secretary answered "The Shopping Mall was packed. So was the School."

That was enough to send Donna into floods of tears. Laverne went to Donna and put her arms around her.

"I hope those idiots in Intelligence weren't cowering under tables," The Doctor said in an anger that was totally anachronistic to him "Because if they were, they will be hearing from me, in strong terms."

"And me," Laverne said.

"Madam Prime Minister?" The Defence Secretary said.

Donna pushed herself away from Laverne, suggesting with a gesture that she was okay.

"Philo, I want that idiot Chief of Intelligence brought here now," Donna said "I don't care if you have to drag him here by the hair, or something more personal in his anatomy."

Laverne cringed at the thought. So did the Defence Secretary as he left.

"This is madness," Laverne said "There has to be another way."

"I'm all ears, Miss De Fazio," Donna said.

Laverne looked at the Doctor, who folded his arms and looked at her with quizzical amusement.

"How do I know, I'm no Military General," Laverne said.

"But you are an Army Reservist," The Doctor said "Remember Sergeant Plout?"

Laverne glared at the Doctor at the mere mention of that nutcase of a woman's name. She then shrugged in acceptance of what the Doctor was going to suggest next.

"Therefore you are the most senior military person here," The Doctor said.

Yep, thought so, Laverne thought. Then something occurred to Laverne. What about the Doctor himself? He's been involved in many wars, and is even the Unpaid Scientific Advisor to something called the Unified Nations Intelligence Task-force, surely he has a better grasp of tactics than she does?

"What about you, Doctor?" Laverne pressed.

"I'm not military, I'm a mere civilian," The Doctor said.

Lying toe-rag, Laverne thought.

"You're enjoying this."

"Immensely," The Doctor admitted.

Laverne sighed, and glared at the Doctor again.

"Okay, I do have an idea. It's old as the hills, and a little dangerous, but I think it's the only way forward," Laverne said.

Both Donna and the Doctor perked their ears up.

VIETNAM 1975

They reached Walter's Medical Mission in the middle of the night. It had been a long trek, with more than its fair share of hazards. Three times they were stopped by Vietcong officers who wanted to see their passes. One of them even searched the makeshift Ambulance before being satisfied they were Red Cross, and neutral. Shirley was surprised to see that the mission hadn't been evacuated. There were people, wounded and injured people, scattered all over the complex. The nurses, Shirley noted, were mostly all Vietnamese. There were one or two white men and women but they were either Red Cross workers, or from the United Nations sent to ensure that prisoners were receiving fair treatment. They stopped outside the mission entrance. BA opened the door and helped both Shirley and Plout out. Murdock gave them their bags.

"Things are going to get tough from now onwards, Ladies," Hannibal told them.

Understatement of the Century, Shirley thought. She took a deep breath and virtually pulled her bag up in defiance of what she was about to face. Danger, she thought, I laugh danger in the face. She found herself standing tall ready for anything.

"No need to go over the top, Feeney," Plout whispered.

Shirley looked at Plout with an icy stare.

"Let's do what we came here to do," Shirley said.

Hannibal allowed himself a smile. This was one tough lady, he thought, even tougher than Plout, and probably just as crazy.

"I suggest that you and the Serge here keep it low key," Hannibal suggested "There could be people loyal to the VC who were working for you. They will still be here."

"I'm with the Red Cross," Shirley said "They can't do anything to harm me, not without causing an international incident. I also have Sergeant Plout here to look after me. We'll be fine."

"They don't care about causing an international incident," Hannibal said "They're organising a show trial for your husband at this moment, and they're probably going to shoot him. They wont worry about executing a couple of American women alongside him. So be careful, and make sure that you keep your cover."

"Don't worry, Colonel, I'll make sure that she does," Plout said.

"Yes Sergeant, you will," Hannibal said "I've grown quite fond of Mrs Meaney and you. If anything happened to you, it would hurt me and I don't like having things on my conscience. Make sure that I don't."

The Vietcong soldiers approached them. Both Shirley and Plout showed them their passes, as did Hannibal.

"You are expected," the taller of the two soldiers said "Please hurry."

"Yes sir," Shirley said in the German accent that she was slowly mastering.

"We will be back," Hannibal said.

"Just make sure that you pick up what we agreed," Shirley said "Nothing more."

"Of course," Hannibal said.

Hannibal got into the truck and got BA to start the make shift Ambulance. The Truck cum Ambulance moved out of the compound bound for Saigon and the gold, and hopefully information about Walter.

"You will move," The shorter man said impatiently.

"Okay, okay," Plout said.

They headed up the steps to the door.

"Okay, Feeney," Plout whispered "Into the Lion's den."

They entered the mission, and saw the same Colonel who captured Walter waiting for them. Without waiting to be asked, Shirley and Plout gave him their passes. The Colonel looked at the passes and then looked at them. He gave Shirley, in particular, a long look.

"Do I know you?" He asked.

"No," Shirley said "I've only just arrived in the country."

The Colonel again regarded Shirley suspiciously.

"I'm sure I know you from somewhere," He said "I never forget a face."

"They do say that everybody has a double somewhere," Shirley joked.

"They do," The Colonel agreed "Maybe I've met your double, Frau Gruber. I apologise for my impudence. Spies are everywhere, especially with everything that has happened recently."

He bowed slightly.

"Frau Gruber, Frau Schmidt, welcome to the Ho Chi Minn mission," He said "Thank you for coming."

"It is our duty to treat the sick and the injured wherever they are," Shirley said, maintaining her convincing German accent despite her growing anxiety.

"Come, I will show you to your room personally."

The Colonel nodded to a Private to take Shirley's and Plout's bags. A couple of minutes later Shirley was entering the room allocated to her and Plout, and was amazed to see that it was her old room, the same room that she and Walter shared all the time she was here. The Private handed Shirley and Plout their bags.

"I hope you're comfortable," The Colonel said "The former occupier, your double in fact, Frau Gruber, was decadent, and a little prissy for my taste. She even had a stuffed cat under her bed."

The Colonel nodded to the Black Cat that Shirley thought had been lost forever.

"Some women are weak willed," Plout said.

"Cissies," Shirley added.

"As you wish," The Colonel smiled.

He headed for the door.

"I will be locking your door, and placing a guard outside."

Shirley looked at the Colonel. The Colonel's smile broadened.

"Security precautions only," He said "There's a lot of pillaging going on. I would like you to be safe during your stay here."

"A sensible precaution," Shirley said "Thank you, Colonel."

"Thank you, I do my best. Your duty rosters will be given to you in the morning. Have a good rest."

The Colonel ushered the Private out and then left. Both Shirley and Plout heard the door being locked.

"Prissy!" Shirley exploded "I'll give him prissy."

"Feeney!" Plout whispered urgently "Remain in character."

Shirley took a deep breath. Plout started looking around the room.

"What are you looking for?" Shirley whispered.

"Finding out if the walls have ears."

Shirley nodded and allowed Plout to continue. She found bugs in three places in that room alone.

"We have to be careful, Willie," Plout said with half a grin.

Shirley glared at Plout.

"We will, Helga," Shirley replied with a scowl.

She was glad that it was Plout and not Laverne with her at that moment. She thought of her best friend and wondered where she was at the moment. She remembered that Laverne had gone missing as well Walter. She was hoping that the Vietcong didn't have Laverne as well as Walter. No! Shirley thought, dismiss that thought. Why would the Vietcong go all the way to Los Angeles to kidnap Laverne De Fazio?

"Thinking about De Fazio, Willie?" Plout said as lowly as she could.

Shirley nodded.

"She'll be fine," Plout said "That one is tough. She can handle herself."

"I hope so, Helga, I hope so."

Shirley went over to the seat that housed Boo, Boo Kitty and cuddled her cat. She offered a silent prayer in a hope that Laverne will be all right and that she will be seeing her soon. It would be sooner than she thought, but then nobody except fate knew that.

TRITON MAGNA

Laverne's plan was sound, but as she suggested it was risky and definitely as old as the hills. They needed intelligence, and from what Laverne and the Doctor saw of the hopeless case that was the so-called Head of Intelligence they couldn't rely on much help there. In fact there was a sense of satisfaction when Donna, using her Prime Ministerial authority, chewed him out and then fired him. Laverne's plan involved somebody getting into the opposition camp, poking around and finding out all they could about the plans and tactics of the opposition. Old as the hills, but always effective. The problem was obvious.

"So who gets to play James Bond?" Laverne asked.

And with all questions, there is usually an answer staring them in the face. In this case, there was only person remotely qualified to play that role. Well, two, but the other one was needed as a distraction if this was going to work.

"Thee and me," The Doctor said diplomatically.

"Thee and me?" Laverne said "You've got to be kidding."

"Who else is there?"

"We don't know the terrain, and from what I've been hearing about the set up here we'll be lucky to get anybody's help. I'm not risking my fanny here."

"You and the Doctor are the only people I trust to do the job," Donna said.

"I'm risking my fanny as much as you are," The Doctor said.

Laverne Marie De Fazio sighed. She thought of Shirley at that moment. She would have told her that she was being stupid, and then tagged along right behind her taking as much risk as Laverne did. She missed her so much. She wished that Shirley was sharing this adventure with her. She was now convinced that Shirley would have loved it, the different planets, the running from danger. Yes, she would have squealed and complained. Yes, they would have fought. But, Shirley Willhemina Feeney was her best friend. So Shirley Meaney didn't attend Frank's funeral. She didn't like Shirley Meaney, she didn't understand Shirley Meaney. But, she loved Shirley Feeney as a sister, and, yes, maybe even beyond.

"Shirley?" The Doctor asked.

Laverne nodded.

"Shirley?" Donna asked.

"Shirley Feeney," The Doctor said "Actually Shirley Meaney. She was Laverne's best friend. There was a bit of a falling out."

"She married a two timing creep," Laverne said "And she wouldn't listen. She wouldn't even attend my Father's funeral because of that creep. My father was as much of a father to Shirley as he was to me. He said so often. He often said he had two daughters, me and Shirley. He still did up to his dying day. Do you know what he promised me to do?"

"Get back together with Shirley?" Donna said.

"That obvious?"

"Pretty much," Donna said "It's also obvious that you miss Shirley Feeney."

"Like anything."

"Doctor?"

"It's something I'm addressing," The Doctor said "I can't say much more."

"Would Shirley have helped you to do this?"

"She would have objected, probably told me that I was being stupid," Laverne grinned "But she would tagged along just to make sure I stated out of trouble. She was always there for me."

"Except for once."

"She would have been there, I'm sure of it, despite the letter I sent her."

"A letter?" Donna said.

"I called her husband a scumbag, or words to that effect."

"Why?"

"The bastard two timed her. He got a Vietnamese nurse pregnant," Laverne scowled "The bitch was his concubine for god knows how long. I met her once. There was something about her that I didn't like."

"Like the fact that she was a Vietcong spy," The Doctor said.

Laverne looked at the Doctor in amazement.

"He was being used," The Doctor said "He was privy to very important information and General Giap planted Ming Na on him to worm that information out of him. Her problem was Shirley. Which was why things had to be arranged to make sure that Shirley lost faith in Walter. It was either that or kill her, and that would have caused problems."

Laverne was stunned.

"Do you know where she is?"

"Not a hundred per cent, no," The Doctor said "But, Shirley's problem is her blind loyalty. That's why she would follow you into danger, and I suspect that loyalty is going to make her do something to help Walter, despite everything he's done."

"I've got to warn her."

"May already be too late."

"Like hell!"

Laverne felt an anger boiling up inside her. She was going to pound Walter sodding Meaney, and that cow, Ming Na into dust.

"We have a job to do here."

"Sod the job here, Shirl could be in trouble."

The Doctor took Laverne's shoulders. There was something he had to tell her. Something he was hiding. The real reason why he came here, the real reason why he picked her up two months before.

"Which you will be helping by finishing the job here," The Doctor said "Trust me, Laverne, you'll be helping Shirley more than you know."

"Doctor?" Donna asked "What do you know?"

"I've already threatened the time line by revealing this much," The Doctor said "All I can say is that I'm trying to put right two wrongs. One that Ian Chesterton did thirty years ago, the other concerning the break up of Laverne De Fazio and Shirley Feeney. Both were responsible for a great deal of damage. I have to put them right."

"Laverne, in the light of this new information, you don't have to do this," Donna said.

"Will doing this help Shirley?" Laverne asked.

"Yes," the Doctor said "But, I can't tell you how. Not yet."

Donna put her arms around Laverne.

"We can find someone else."

"It has to be me," Laverne said "I'm the only one with the training to pull this off. But you, Doctor, are putting your fanny on the line with me."

"Only fair, Doctor."

The Doctor nodded his agreement.

"May I make a suggestion," The Doctor said.

"Go on," Donna said.

"That you and I go to the opposition camp under the flag of truce. We engage the opposition in conversation, and Laverne could poke around using us as cover."

"Me?" Donna asked.

"It needs to be somebody who can make decisions quickly," The Doctor said "We have two chances, diplomatic, through negotiation, or via the element of surprise, through what Laverne can find out."

"My cabinet is going to have a fit," Donna said "They'll never agree to this."

"Where's Margaret?" The Doctor asked.

"As you well know, she was the head…., wait a minute, she'll be the opposition leader or at least on the council."

"Who's Margaret?" Laverne said.

"My sister," Donna said

She opened the door.

"Paul?"

The Cabinet Secretary entered.

"Yes, Prime Minister."

"When's the Cabinet Meeting?"

"In two hours," The Cabinet Secretary answered "The War Cabinet could be made available sooner."

"Have you been listening in again?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

"You're aware you're breaking the law," Donna smiled "What do you think? And feel free to speak frankly."

"To be honest with you, I'm surprised you haven't thought of this sooner," The Cabinet Secretary said "Margaret wasn't happy about this whole thing. The only reason she deserted you was because your government and the Joint Chiefs of the Military Staff refused to consider the compromise package on the table. Margaret thought that was the way forward, as her and your father did, and I suspect you do as well."

"And you've been in contact with her, haven't you?" The Doctor asked.

"Yes sir, I have."

"Treason as well," Donna said.

"Don't care," The Cabinet Secretary said "I can offer my resignation right now."

"Considering I'm about to commit treason myself, I think it's a moot point," Donna said "Get in touch with Margaret, and say that I want to meet her."

"And the cabinet?"

"If this works, I'll be a hero, If it doesn't, I will have to resign and probably go to jail," Donna said "Wait until the meeting is officially announced, and they will announce it, and tell them that this is an attempt to bring this madness to an end one way or another."

"It will be done."

The Cabinet Secretary left. Donna smiled at Laverne.

"It seems that my fanny is now on the line as well," She said.

"Ian said that you were a brave woman," The Doctor said "He was right."

Laverne hugged Donna.

"Laverne, do me a favour, get back together with Shirley Feeney, for me."

Laverne looked at the Doctor. The Doctor folded his arms and gave her a stare that suggested that she was on her own with this one.

"As I told Pop, I'll try."

"Don't try, do," Donna said "That is an order."

Laverne nodded.

VIETNAM 1975

The Colonel was good as his word. The duty roster arrived early the next morning. Shirley was given an all female ward. Plout, to her secret delight, was given an all male ward.

"Men don't scare me," Plout said when given the assignment "We are better than them."

"Of course we are, Helga," Shirley said with a knowing grin.

They went around each of their assigned wards with a great deal of care. They administered the necessary medicine and injections, stripped and changed beds that needed to be changed, and checked temperatures with remarkable efficiency. For Shirley, with her years worth of practice, that was no surprise. However, Plout was a different story. For a tough minded, I can match any man, person, her skills as a nurse was incredible. She knew what she was doing. The other thing they did was to ask questions about Walter, and about Ming Na. The answers, the little they got, was disturbing, and should have set alarm bells ringing. They met at the end of the shift in the compound to compare notes. Plout joined Shirley on a bench and watched a convoy prepare to leave.

"Where are they going?" Shirley asked.

"Supply run," Plout answered "An overnight stop in Saigon, sorry, Ho Chi Minn City for a bit of R and R and then back."

"R and R?"

"You know," Plout winked suggestively.

"Oh, right."

"Feeney, for a woman of the world, you can be a little naïve."

"I have standards."

"So De Fazio told me."

"When?"

"When she helped me give birth."

Shirley looked at Plout.

"You have a child?"

"Yes."

"What are you doing still in the military?"

"I have an ambition, remember," Plout said "The child gets in the way of that ambition."

"Where is your child?"

"With her father," Plout said "The court agreed that he should have custody."

"Court?"

"I'm considered a little unstable to take care of a child," Plout said with a scowl "I'm driven, not unstable."

Shirley decided to let it drop at that point. Plout was a not a little unstable, but very unstable. Driven was an understatement. She was fanatical, and she thought she had like minds in Shirley herself, and Laverne. Shirley mentally shrugged at the thought. Considering what they were doing at the moment, she could be right. Thoughts returned to Laverne and what could have happened to her. A chilling thought went through Shirley's head. Was Laverne dead? If that was the case, she could never forgive herself. No! She thought again. Laverne is not the type to die without one hell of a fight.

"What did you get?" Shirley asked.

"Very little," Plout admitted "You?"

"The same," Shirley said "Most of them either didn't know or didn't want to speak. But, I did get the impression that Walter may have been betrayed. One of the nurses suggested that the Vietcong planted someone in this mission in order to get top secret information out of Walter."

"Did he know top secret information?"

"As you're aware, he was at General Headquarters a lot."

"Briefing the brass about the condition of the soldiers in his care," Plout said "There was talk that some of them were malingerers trying to get out of the fighting."

"Totally untrue."

"That's what Walt told them," Plout said "But I'm beginning to think there was another reason. So I ask again. Did he know top secret information?"

"I don't know," Shirley said "He was away for days at a time, especially in the early days. I assumed he was visiting other missions."

"Probably was," Plout suggested "Whilst making slight detours to visit Vietcong military installations, perhaps?"

"He was a spy?"

"It's beginning to look like it," Plout said "I don't think he was a very good one. After all, if your nurse is right, the Vietcong suspected him enough to plant somebody on him."

"If they knew, why didn't they just kill him?"

Plout allowed herself a smile.

"Blood thirsty aren't you, Feeney," Plout whispered "Maybe you wouldn't mind seeing the cheating scumbag dead."

"That's what Laverne called him," Shirley mused.

"What?"

"A cheating scumbag."

"De Fazio was right," Plout said "That's why I thought you'd make a good combat team. You almost have a telepathic link with each other. On top of that, De Fazio had insight, and you had common sense. You were Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson, with a bit of GI Joe added. You, potentially, were a lethal team. It's a pity we couldn't train you further."

"Who was Holmes, who was Watson?" Shirley asked.

Shirley tapped her head suddenly. The action took Plout by surprise.

"Sergeant Plout, you are looking at an idiot. I should be kicked from here to New York and back."

"If you say."

"Don't you see," Shirley said "The reason why they didn't kill him was because they were using him to spread disinformation about Vietcong activity."

"Huh?"

"You said you thought he was useless. He was," Shirley said "They planted someone on him to find out how good he was. When he proved himself useless, they decided to use him. The idiot may have cost us the war."

"Elementary, my dear Feeney?"

"The plant had to be someone they know he would trust," Shirley clicked her fingers "Ming Na, it had to be."

"Two out of two, the girl's on form."

Shirley hit the palm of her hand with her fist.

"I'd love to see her again," Shirley spat "If only to wring her neck."

"Maybe you'll get the chance."

Shirley looked at Plout.

"I thought you got nothing."

"I said I got very little, I didn't say I got nothing," Plout said "I was holding it back to see what you got."

"Why?"

"Ming Na is our friendly Colonel's wife, and the Vietcong's answer to James Bond."

"You knew?"

"I was hoping that you'd guess for yourself," Plout said "It'll be less of a shock that way, and before you say anything, I've only just found out myself."

Shirley shook her head in dismay.

"Go on," Shirley said "I can handle it."

"From what my informant told me, they made her Head of Intelligence for this sector."

Shirley's anguish grew.

"Forget kicking me to New York, try the Moon and back," She said "That was so blindingly obvious. I assume that she now has her office in this building."

"For three days a week," Plout said "The other days are spent either in Ho Chi Minn City or out in the field."

Shirley closed her eyes.

"You do know what this means?"

"We could be in trouble," Plout answered.

"Serious trouble," Shirley said "Can you contact Hannibal?"

"Out of contact range."

"Damn their gold," Shirley said "You have to find him. If Ming Na is here, she'll make both of us."

"I'm not leaving you."

"If we both leave, they'll track us down," Shirley said "This way one of us has a chance of getting out of this alive."

"You are taking one hell of a chance, Feeney."

"They think I'm prissy," Shirley said "You're more of a threat to them."

"You are far from prissy, Feeney."

"I hope that they continue to believe that I am," Shirley said "Even if they don't, I hope that you and Hannibal can come up with some sort of plan to rescue me."

"And they think I'm unstable," Plout said "Compared to you, I'm sane."

"Please, Alvira."

Plout shook her head.

"I was right about you, Feeney," Plout said "I can sense talent. You are both brave and crazy. You and De Fazio would have made one hell of a team. The Vietcong and the Russians wouldn't have stood a chance if you had been properly trained."

She got to her feet.

"I, Sergeant Alvira Plout, am proud to be serving with you, Amen."

"Go!" Shirley said.

Plout got up and headed away from Shirley as quickly as possible. Shirley watched her talk to a Vietcong Army Sergeant seemingly in charge of the convoy. She then watched Plout get into one of the trucks and the convoy leave. Steeling herself Shirley headed back to her duty station to find the Chief Nurse waiting for her.

"Nurse Gruber, The Colonel wishes to see you."

"About what?" Shirley said.

"I don't know, but you are to go to his office immediately."

Shirley nodded. Keep cool, she thought, maybe he doesn't know yet. She headed out of the ward and straight to the Colonel's office, ironically Walter's office. She took a deep breath, straightened herself up, and knocked on the door.

"Come!"

It was a different voice, a female voice, a recognisable voice. Her heart froze as she opened the door to reveal Ming Na sitting behind Walter's desk.

"Hello Shirley, long time no see."

Shirley felt herself being pushed in and forced to her knees. Her hands were tied behind her by what felt like chicken wire. The Colonel held her face.

"I told you I never forgot a face, Mrs Meaney."

"I'm working with the Red Cross," Shirley protested "You can't do this."

"Nurse Willhemina Gruber is working for the Red Cross," Ming Na said "Shirley Meaney is an American Spy."

Shirley felt a rifle butt around her head and blacked out immediately.

TRITON MAGNA

The opposition camp was in a state of high alert when the TARDIS materialised in the Council Meeting Chamber. Considering who was on board, it was a natural reaction. A woman in her mid to late fifties stepped from the gathering of council members hastily assembled to greet such a distinguished visitor and placed herself directly in front of the TARDIS doors. The Doctor poked his head out sporting a beaming smile.

"Margaret, I presume," He said.

"Doctor?"

"That's me."

"I assume that my beloved sister is in there," Margaret said.

"So much for sibling love," The Doctor said sadly.

He opened the door and allowed Donna to exit the TARDIS before him. Laverne remained out of sight ready to make her own exit when the coast was clear. The Doctor took out a white handkerchief and waved it.

"I assume you know what this means," The Doctor said.

"We are well aware of the flag of truce, Doctor," Margaret said "And we will honour it."

"Glad to hear it," Donna said.

"Still as spiky as ever," Margaret commented.

"I have every reason to be."

"The Cabinet still getting on your nerves?"

"Them, and others."

"Including your Head of Intelligence," Margaret smiled "Heard you had him hauled in front of you by his genitalia. I would have paid to see that."

"I bet you would."

Margaret offered her hand in friendship. Donna looked at the Doctor who nodded his head in encouragement. Donna accepted the hand.

"I have a room set aside for this meeting," Margaret said "I assure you that you will be leaving here after the meeting. As I said. I respect the Flag of Truce."

"As do we," The Doctor said.

"I hope so," Margaret said "I hope there will not be some sort of embarrassing incident that will ruin these negotiations."

The Doctor's eyes narrowed. What did she know? Donna and the Doctor followed the Council members out of the Council Chambers leaving the way clear for Laverne De Fazio to slip out of the TARDIS and begin her unofficial tour of the opposition complex.

THE CORRIDORS

Laverne walked with a certain amount of hesitation down the corridor leading away from the council chamber and the safety of the TARDIS. She walked past many people. The men looked at her, mostly with appreciation. For a woman approaching her mid thirties she looked as good as a woman in her twenties, and she knew that. The women she passed mainly ignored her. There were one or two who looked at her in an appreciative way, including one who made Laverne stop for a moment - a Shirley Feeney look-alike.

"Shirl?"

"Cindy," The Woman replied "The name is Cindy."

Laverne shook her head with disbelief. She certainly looked like Shirley Feeney, or maybe she was hallucinating. The woman called Cindy suddenly swatted her on the arm.

"Don't play with me like that, Penny."

Penny? So Laverne herself has a look alike here as well. That was interesting to know and could prove to be a problem.

"I'll see you later," Cindy winked suggestively.

"Sure," Laverne said uncertainly.

Cindy walked down the corridor. The walk Laverne noted was a little more sexy then it was when she first saw her. Penny and Cindy must be a couple here, she thought as she saw Cindy wave at her. Laverne waved back in the same suggestive manner and then moved on. A minute later she entered a room with a lot of promise. It was a room with a large map of the city with strategic areas to be hit marked on it.

"You're late, Corporal Marshall," A stern looking man barked at her.

"Sorry, sir," Laverne said.

"Dallying with Corporal Williams again?" The man said "It really wont do. What you do in your spare time is none of my concern, but, when you're here, you work."

"Understood, sir, it wont happen again."

The man moved away. The fact that Laverne had a look alike called Penny, Corporal Marshall, was a problem in itself. Now, she worked in the very room she found herself in. This was not good news, and would be a whole lot worse if Corporal Penny Marshall turned up to report for duty. Very bad news indeed. Bearing that ugly thought in mind, Laverne headed for a room she saw two women come out of. It was a changing room, and there was a black woman in there

"Come on, Penny," The Black Woman said "Shift your backside into gear. You and Cindy are going to be the death of me."

"Sorry, Ma'am."

"Monica."

"Monica," Laverne repeated.

"Now, hurry up," the woman said "Shawcross wants the report on the efficiency of the last bombing raid."

The woman left. Laverne took a deep breath. That last bombing raid took out two schools, a shopping mall and a church. Two hundred and fifty people died in all. Suddenly there was a need to get changed. She had madness to stop. All she had to do was to find Corporal Marshall's locker.

A SIDE OFFICE - OFF THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS

The Doctor had just about had enough. The sniping between Donna and Margaret, amusing at first, was now becoming farcical. The problem had to do with the distribution of wealth, and neither parties wanted to give ground. It was ironic that the one thing that hadn't stopped was the Phylox production. They needed the income coming in. That was the one ground the two parties agreed on. They had even arranged shipment of the grain to a neutral haven where money and goods could be exchanged to those not on a credit agreement, as well as goods being picked up by those on a Credit agreement. Another reason why this damned skirmish made no sense. He was listening to the current argument with total disbelief. If only they could hear themselves.

"Father said that the scientific and military community could split the money down the middle, fifty/fifty," Donna said.

"It costs a great deal of money to defend this planet," Margaret said "The distribution has to reflect that fact."

"We have the skills to create defensive weapons," Donna said.

"But not the means to use them," Margaret said "How many shots have you fired at us?"

"You know the answer to that."

"How many shots, Sister?"

"One."

The Doctor looked at Donna.

"Why only one?"

"It was a gesture," Donna answered "To prove that we don't want to fight, but we're willing and capable if we have to."

"One shot!" Margaret said "Really! Maybe it's because you don't know how to use the weapons at your disposal in anger. That's why you need us, and that's why the distribution has to reflect that."

"Or could it be because that this whole thing is madness," The Doctor said "You are fighting over something that should have been settled in the damned Council Chamber. Margaret, it must be obvious to you now that Donna here doesn't want to fight. You are lobbing bricks at defenceless children."

"They are hardly defenceless, they have the force field, we don't."

"They fired one shot, Margaret, why?"

"She said it was a gesture," Margaret answered.

"It proves that they don't want this," The Doctor said "I would suggest that you don't want this either."

Margaret looked at the Doctor.

"Why are you in regular contact with Donna's Cabinet Security?"

Margaret shrugged. The Doctor got to his feet. He was on a roll and this temper tantrum, this act of childish stupidity, and that's all it was, was going to end.

"Is it because you wanted this meeting?" The Doctor said "Is it because you yourself wants this stupidity to end?"

"Possibly."

"I've been studying your tactics. You've had a ten minute window every time you've attacked," The Doctor continued "Except for this last attack, you've been attacking areas that you knew had the least population. Was that your decision?"

Even Donna looked interested in the answer to that one. The entire strategy made no sense to her strategists, even to that thick headed Head of Intelligence.

"The Generals wanted to obliterate the city," Margaret said "They wanted to bomb you to the surrender table. I had decided that you we should try and persuade you to come to a meeting with us using tactical bombing."

"It's worked," Donna said "I'm here."

"Not only you, I wanted a full meeting where we could hammer this out. I've been trying to manipulate where the attacks are taking place using Penny and Cindy."

"Penny? She's here?"

"Penny?" The Doctor queried.

"Our younger sister. She's using our mother's maiden name, Marshall," Margaret said.

"And Cindy?"

"Corporal Williams," Margaret said "Penny's girlfriend."

The Doctor nodded his understanding. It was a good idea.

"If Penny and Cindy have been manipulating where you've been hitting Donna's city, what changed?"

Margaret cringed.

"The Generals got wind of the tampering Penny and Cindy have been doing," She said "I had to let the last one go in order to preserve their cover."

"Two hundred and fifty people died during that last attack, some of them were children," Donna said.

"I'm so, so sorry."

There was a knock on the door. Margaret scowled.

"Come !"

A woman entered. She was the spitting image of Laverne De Fazio, even down to the 'P' on her uniform.

"Laverne?" The Doctor said.

"Penny," Donna answered.

The Doctor looked at Donna.

"I thought Penny wasn't here," Donna said "As soon as I saw Miss De Fazio I could see a way of getting into this complex and having a look around."

"You used me."

"Sorry."

Margaret looked confused.

"What's going on here?"

"We've caught a lady spy," Penny said "She looks like me."

The Doctor slumped back in his chair.

"Who caught her?" Margaret asked.

"Cindy and myself."

"The Generals?"

"We were real careful….."

FLASHBACK - THE SITUATIONS ROOM

From a hiding place that Penny and Cindy only knew, they could see Laverne moving about the Situations Room. She was taking in everything that was going on in that room, even down to the computerised map in the centre of the room.

"Now do you believe me?" Cindy said.

Penny put an arm around Cindy.

"I always have," Penny said with a smile.

"What do we do?" Cindy almost whimpered "She could ruin everything."

Penny thought for a moment. Her look alike was getting a good view of what the Generals were planning. Maybe she should let her look alike tell Donna what they were planning. It would give them time to prepare some sort of defence. But then, that would blow her cover and probably get her and Cindy executed. There would have been no way Margaret could have prevented that, and there would have been nothing anybody could do to stop the war from escalating into something more hideous. She had to stop her double, if only to save lives.

"The drug."

"The knock out drug?" Cindy said.

Penny nodded. She could see the look of horror in Cindy's eyes and sympathised. There was no other way.

"Administer the drug as I showed you," Penny continued "You could then claim that I was sick and you've come to take me home."

"How did I know?" Cindy asked with a hint of cynicism "Telepathy?"

"You had seen symptoms of it," Penny said "You tried to talk me out of coming to work, but I'm pig headed. That was why you came back, to see how I was."

"Will Shawcross believe it?"

"If you administer the drug, yes."

THE COUNCIL CHAMBER SIDE ROOM

"Cindy went in, administered the drug," Penny continued "Then she managed to persuade Shawcross and Monica that the lady spy was ill and managed to get her out."

"Where is she now?" Margaret asked.

"Our quarters," Penny said "She's sleeping at the moment. Cindy's watching over her."

Margaret looked at Donna.

"You were lucky, Donna," Margaret said "If anybody else had found her then I would have had no choice but to order her execution as a spy."

Donna looked at the Doctor and saw the look of relief on his face. Then his eyes widened.

"What type of drug did you use?"

Margaret looked at Penny for an answer.

"It was the drug you gave me, Sis," Penny answered.

"Kydropan?"

The Doctor shot up, his face a look of total panic.

"Did you say Kydropan?" He asked.

"Yes," Margaret answered.

"Penny," The Doctor continued "Was Laverne mumbling or acting in anyway strangely ?"

"Is she called Laverne?" Penny smiled "That explains the L on her blouse."

"Please, Penny," The Doctor said "This is important."

Penny looked at Margaret, who nodded her encouragement.

"Cindy said that she was mumbling the name 'Shirl' on the way to our quarters. Cind thought that this Shirl was in some sort of trouble."

The Doctor looked troubled.

"Doctor?" Donna asked out of concern.

"Kydropan is a very effective knock out drug," The Doctor said "But it does something else. It enhances the synapses and through that it enhances telepathic abilities. For somebody unaware they have telepathic ability, it could drive them insane unless treated quickly."

Both Margaret and Donna looked at each other. They had heard that from the manufacturers of the drug, but had chosen to ignore the risk. Penny started to quiver her lips a la Laverne De Fazio.

"Have I done wrong?" Penny asked.

"No," The Doctor said "You and Cindy have saved Laverne's life, but, we have to get to her."

"I'll take you," Penny said.

The Doctor and Donna headed for the door they came in.

"No," Margaret said nodding to a secret door "This way."

PENNY AND CINDY'S QUARTERS

Laverne was lying on the bed. Her eyes were shut but she was tossing and turning violently.

"Shirl!" She kept screaming time and time again.

Cindy wiped Laverne's forehead with a cloth.

"You've got to hang on, Shirl," Laverne said "The Doctor and I are coming."

Cindy was almost in tears as she mopped Laverne's sweating brow.

"What have I done?" She half wailed.

Laverne suddenly grasped Cindy's arm.

"You bastard! Don't do that to my best friend," Laverne bellowed "I'm going to kill you when I get the chance. I swear I will wring your neck."

Her grip tightened on Cindy's arm to the point where Cindy was crying in pain.

"They're torturing her. Why are they torturing her? She knows nothing." Laverne continued.

"Laverne!"

Cindy turned around and saw the Doctor standing there. Behind him was Penny, Donna and Margaret.

"Doctor?" Laverne said opening her eyes.

"I'm here, Laverne De Fazio."

The Doctor managed to relese Cindy from Laverne's grasp by gentle persuasion. Cindy ran to Penny. Penny held her close and allowed her to sob on her shoulder.

"What have I done? What have I done!"

"Nothing, Cind," Penny said.

Donna put a reassuring hand on Cindy's shoulder to back Penny, her younger sister, up. They watched the Doctor lie the feverish Laverne back down.

"Laverne, I want you to trust me," The Doctor said as soothingly as possible.

"They're torturing her, Doctor," Laverne said "Why are they doing that? She knows nothing."

"Laverne, listen to my voice," The Doctor said placing both hands either side of Laverne's head "Listen to only my voice."

"Doc, they're hurting her."

"I know, Laverne," The Doctor said "You must listen to my voice. It is the only way you can help Shirley Feeney at the moment."

Laverne looked directly into the Doctor's dark eyes. She was calming down visibly. Penny and Cindy grasped each other tighter, even Donna and Margaret held hands.

"Laverne, Shirley Feeney needs you," The Doctor said "Concentrate on her."

Laverne looked as if she was concentrating hard.

"See her form, see her face, let your mind relax," The Doctor continued "Go to your best friend."

Laverne suddenly slumped into unconsciousness.

"Doctor?" Margaret asked out of fear.

"It's okay," The Doctor said "She is in direct telepathic communication with Shirley Feeney. It's up to her now."

Donna's grasp tightened on Margaret's hand.

VIETNAM 1975

Shirley was pushed into her cell after another session with Ming Na's interrogators. The torture they were putting her through was very carefully done. They were trying not to leave visible signs that they were using torture methods. For example, her head was being forced under water for periods of no longer than thirty seconds, not enough to cause permanent damage but enough to make Shirley uncomfortable. She was also being hit but not in obvious places. They were also trying intimidation tactics, such as suggesting forcing narcotics into her blood stream, and rape. Rape was threatened more than once. Shirley didn't know what they wanted from her. They kept asking her about times and dates, they kept questioning her about places where Walter could have hidden things. She didn't know the answers. How could she know? Walter kept that side of things to himself. He even kept Ming Na to himself for sometime. She sat against the wall of her cell, shivering, her eyes wide open with fear, her face stained with tears.

"What do you want with me!" She said out loud "I know nothing. Do you hear me? I know nothing."

She broke down in sobs of tears again.

"Vernie, where are you?" Shirley sobbed "I need you."

"I'm here, Shirl."

Shirley looked up and saw Laverne standing there.

"Vernie?"

"I'm here, Pal," Laverne smiled.

Shirley fell to her knees.

"Thank you, God," Shirley said "All the naughty things I've said about you I'll take back. Get me out out of here, Laverne."

"I can't."

"Why?"

"I'm not here physically."

"What?"

"Try and hold me."

Shirley got up and tried to take Laverne's hand. It went through Laverne's hand.

"You're a ghost."

"Shirl."

"It's all my fault," Shirley wailed "I didn't go to Frank's funeral."

"That's not a problem, Shirl," Laverne said "You were busy at the time. Everybody understood."

"I wanted to go despite Walters' feelings but then I received that letter."

"What letter?"

"The letter in which you called Walter a cheating scumbag."

"That letter," Laverne said with a grimace.

"That letter really hurt, Laverne."

"I didn't mean it to, Shirl," Laverne said "I was trying to warn you not only about Walter but about Ming Na. There was something about her that I didn't like."

"She's a spy."

"You know?"

"Why do you think I'm in this cell, Laverne?" Shirley said "They planted her on Walter, trying to get secrets out of him using smut."

"And he fell for it," Laverne surmised.

"He sure did," Shirley said "I came here to help Walter get out of here, only to find out that he was being duped by a lady spy. He gave in so easily, Vernie. He told me when I confronted him about the affair that he was lonely. He had me, he had Marie. How could he be lonely? Now I find out that he was being duped by a lady spy."

"He's an idiot."

"He's a bastard."

Laverne looked in surprise at Shirley.

"I meant it, Laverne. He played me for a fool," Shirley said "I risked my life to come and save him, only to find that you were right. He is a cheating, lying scumbag."

"I'm sorry, Shirl."

Shirley looked at Laverne again.

"Are you dead, Laverne De Fazio?"

"No."

"Then you're a figment of my imagination."

"Trust me, Shirl, I'm not," Laverne said.

"Where are you?"

"Forty thousand light years away, and five hundred years in the future."

Shirley's jaw almost dropped on hearing that.

"I'm on a planet called Triton Magna in the year 2525."

"Like that song?"

"I'm not kidding, Shirl," Laverne said "This alien who called himself the Doctor picked me up in his Space- Ship he calls the TARDIS."

"TARDIS?"

"It means Time and Relative Dimensions In Space," Laverne said "When you see it, you'll understand."

"Really?"

"Really, Shirley Feeney," Laverne said "I've been everywhere. I've met George Washington, Napoleon Bonaparte and the Duke of Wellington. I was even held prisoner by Boney before the Battle of Waterloo."

"Did he ravish you?"

"Naw, just questioned me about Wellington's troop movements. The Doctor and a cute guy called Richard Sharpe rescued me."

Shirley smiled.

"Thanks for trying to cheer me up, spirit of Laverne De Fazio."

"Shirl, I aint no spirit," Laverne said in frustration "I am on another planet. Shirl, they have problems you wouldn't believe."

"Do tell."

"Shirl, I'm in the middle of a war. These people are fighting over the distribution of wealth. One side wants the money solely for the defence of the planet, the other wants it for scientific research and entertainment without the defence. It's utterly crazy."

"Both are needed," Shirley said "Why don't they compromise."

"Exactly," Laverne said "You've seen in ten seconds flat something that these guys have failed to see in months. You know the funny part. They aint throwing bombs at each other."

"You said you're in the middle of a war?"

"One side is throwing bombs, the other side is just putting up force fields and cowering under tables."

"Sounds silly."

"It's pathetic," Laverne said "But from what I've just seen. I would suggest that things are going to have to change."

"In what way?"

"They're planning a bombing/commando attack on the force field generator plant. I was trying to get more but somebody who looks like you drugged me."

"Looks like me?"

"Yeah, Shirl, the same features, everything."

Shirley laughed.

"Now I know I'm imagining you."

Laverne wanted to cry. Why wont Shirley believe her?

"She's telling the truth."

The Doctor stepped forward from the shadows.

"Who are you?"

The Doctor gave Shirley his cheesiest smile.

"I'm known as the Doctor."

"Doctor who?"

The Doctor rolled his eyes.

"He don't like that, Shirl," Laverne said "Just call him Doctor."

"How did he get here?"

"He's in my mind," Laverne said "It seems that you and I are linked telepathically, and the Doctor has the ability to slip into telepathic conversations."

"Sounds a bit scientific for you, Vernie."

"Even I'm surprised, Shirl," Laverne said.

Shirley looked at the Doctor.

"You're on this planet forty thousand light years away, and five hundred years in the future."

The cheesy smile broadened.

"Great, isn't it."

Shirley looked at Laverne, who gave her a shrug.

"You are with someone who looks like me?" Shirley continued.

"And with someone who looks like Laverne," The Doctor said "They're called Penny and Cindy."

"Nice names."

"Yeah, aren't they," Laverne said.

At that moment Ming Na and the Colonel entered. Shirley made to go in front of Laverne and the Doctor to protect them.

"They can't see us," The Doctor said "We're telepathic images. Only you can see us."

Shirley took deep breaths and shivered. Both Laverne and the Doctor looked as if they were they were there, but they were in her mind. She was totally alone and at the mercy of two very dangerous, and very unstable people. She chose to say nothing.

"Good evening, Shirley," Ming Na said "We're taking a little ride."

"Where?" Laverne asked with a menacing gesture.

"Where?" Shirley asked for real.

"To witness something," The Colonel said "An event that will long live in the memory."

A guard entered and forced Shirley's arms behind her back.

"Oh come on," Laverne protested "That's uncalled for."

Once the guard finished tying Shirley's wrists behind her back. He forced Shirley to kneel before Ming Na and the Colonel. Ming Na regarded with coldness. Laverne made to hit Ming Na but The Doctor stopped her.

"I'm going to kill that bitch, Doctor," Laverne said.

"Where's Laverne De Fazio when you need her?" Ming Na taunted.

"I'm here," Laverne growled "And I'm gonna tear you apart, and enjoy doing it."

"She knows what you're doing to me," Shirley said calmly "You will get your comeuppance."

"Not before you die," Ming Na "Which wont be very long now."

"Over my dead body!" Laverne said "Do you hear that, Shirl, I will not let that bitch kill you in cold blood."

"Come, my dear," Ming Na said "Destiny awaits."

Shirley looked desperately in Laverne's and the Doctor's direction just as the guard forced Shirley to her feet and out the door. Ming Na looked around the cell for a moment and then followed.

"Doc?" Laverne pleaded.

"Don't worry, she wont be dying today," The Doctor said.

"How do you know?"

"Trust me," The Doctor said "I do, however, have to warn you that she's in serious trouble."

"I can see that."

"More serious than you think."

"Why?"

"The man with Ming Na is Colonel Hu Tiang. He was responsible for the torture and murder of hundreds of American prisoners."

Laverne looked in horror at the Doctor.

"We've gotta get out of here," Laverne said "We've gotta save Shirl."

"And we will," The Doctor said "But I've gotta go somewhere first."

"Where?"

The Doctor closed his eyes.

ANOTHER CELL

And opened them again to find that he and Laverne were in another cell. In front of them were two women, one a brunette, the other a dark skinned aristocratic looking beauty. They were holding each other, and trying to comfort each other with very little success.

"Who are they, Doc?"

"Perpugilliam, 'Peri' for short, Brown and Erimem, short for Erimemushinteperem, former companions of mine."

"Erimemmush....," Laverne couldn't get her tongue around Erimem's full name.

"Erimem will do," The Doctor said "Could have been an Egyptian Pharoah, but fate interfered."

"You interfered?" Laverne asked.

"If you like."

"How?"

"Long story."

Laverne looked at Peri and Erimem, and could feel their tears.

"What are they doing here?"

"We were meant to be on holiday," The Doctor said "Somehow the TARDIS got involved in the fall of Saigon, with good reason. There was a lost alien child amongst the mess. My former self, Peri and Erimem was trying to help the child get back to his family when Tiang captured Peri, Erimem and the child."

"Wait a minute," Laverne said "Your former self?"

"I had a different body then."

"What!"

"I can change bodies when I die," The Doctor said "That's why I'm 900 years old."

"You get a new body when you die?"

"It's called regeneration."

"And I'm stuck with this body," Laverne said "I think I'm jealous."

"Laverne De Fazio, you have nothing to be jealous about. You are a beautiful woman," The Doctor said "And believe me, regeneration is a curse, not a blessing. I don't get a choice of body I regenerate into."

"Could you regenerate into a woman?" Laverne asked.

"I don't know," The Doctor answered.

Laverne gave the Doctor a look.

"They say that we have to change into a woman at least once. It's a DNA thing," He said "There's an argument that as we have feminine as well as masculine genes in our DNA make up then at least one of my regenerations has to be into the opposite sex . I've never seen it happen, but then I was never on Gallifrey long enough to see it happen."

Laverne shrugged.

"Where's the child?" Laverne asked.

"Pardon."

"The child, the Alien kid."

"Probably being examined by Tiang's scientists."

"We can rescue the child when we rescue Shirl."

"We can't," The Doctor said "It has to happen as history laid down."

"History?"

"My history," The Doctor corrected "Having said that, I seem to recall there was something going on, a fight Tiang was having. It gave me the opportunity to get Peri, Erimem and the child away. I've often wondered who Tiang was fighting."

The Doctor suddenly gave a cheesy grin.

"This is fantastic," He said.

"What?"

"Come on," The Doctor said "I've just remembered what happened today."

"Doc?"

The Doctor closed his eyes again.

A COURTYARD

This time Laverne opened her eyes to see that they were standing in a Courtyard with very tall, and very dank buildings surrounding it. It looked like some sort of Castle that had been well fortified against attack. Laverne reckoned it would be extremely difficult to get in or out of without some sort of map, and a lot of good luck. She also noticed that television camera crews were readying themselves. Most of them were Vietnamesse nationals, but there were one or two foreign camera crews. Reporters were talking to the many military brass that had turned out, thrying to ascertain facts. In the middle of the Courtyard, lonely and ominous, stood a large wooden stake.

"Somebody's gonna get shot," Laverne suggested.

"Live on television."

"Who?"

The Doctor looked at Laverne with a severe sense of distress. He may have felt fantastic on remembering what happened, but that was soon tempered by what actually happened. It was distressing. It even made angry enough to do what he did the very next day. It was the only occasion in the Doctor's life that he took a life and actually enjoyed taking that life. It wasn't Tiang, somebody else had that pleasure, it wasn't even Ming Na, but it was somebody who deserved it as much as either Tiang or Ming Na. That enjoyment distressed the Doctor. It was an anger that only one other group of people saw, it was an anger that he showed the Daleks when he wiped them out. The anger almost crippled him, and forced him into exile for a while whilst he grieved for the loss of his people. That was until a call forced him back into the battle against the dark, a call which lead him to Laverne De Fazio.

"Walter Meaney?" Laverne said.

The Doctor nodded

"I witnessed Walters execution, and I clean forgot," The Doctor said.

With all that happened to him following these events, there was a lot of things he chose to blank from his mind. Things that added to his distress. Things that caused him to wipe the Daleks out of the universe with extreme prejudice.

"I witnessed something else," The Doctor continued "Something that angered me, something that caused me to kill somebody the very next day."

"What?"

"I witnessed Shirley Feeney being forced to watch it."

"And you did nothing?"

"I couldn't," The Doctor said "There was nothing I could do. I wanted to kill Tiang for putting Shirley through that, but I had to focus on getting Peri, Erimem and the child out of here. There was something else, the reason why I came for you."

Laverne looked at The Doctor quizzically. She had often wondered that.

"You were part of the team that rescued Shirley," He said "I understand that you and Shirley killed Ming Na."

"What!"

"That's what I was told," The Doctor said "You were captured by Ming Na's men during the attempt to break Shirley out and taken to Ming Na. She was going to execute both you and Shirley. Something happened which allowed you to get the jump on Ming Na. There was a fight and you killed her. Of course, this is second hand information, from somebody who witnessed what happened. I, incidently, used the confusion created by Ming Na's and Tiang's death to get Peri, Erimem and the Child away."

"Tiang?"

"He was killed in the same battle, by somebody who looks like me," The Doctor said "I'm beginning to think it was me."

"I'm confused."

"The nature of time travel," The Doctor said "For you and me, these things haven't happened yet. But, they will. That was why I had to pick you up. I had to put time on track."

Laverne's head wanted to explode. She couldn't fathom what she was being told. The Doctor nudged her. Laverne turned around to witness a truck being driven into the Courtyard.

"Shirley," The Doctor said.

Laverne felt an anger boil up inside of her as she saw Tiang and Ming Na get out, and Shirley almost being thrown out, of the truck.

"You bastards!" Laverne shouted.

Shirley looked up and, from the look on her face, it was obvious she had heard Laverne. Shirley pulled herself with dignity and walked at gun point behind Tiang and Ming Na. Laverne and the Doctor walked over to where Shirley had been forced to stand.

"I'm here, Shirl," Laverne said.

Shirley looked at her.

"Don't speak," Laverne said "Just know that I will be here for you. I will rescue you. You and I will kill that bitch Ming Na together."

The Doctor frowned at Laverne, but then shrugged. It wouldn't make much difference if Shirley knew the future.

"This is what will happen to you, Mrs Meaney," Ming Na said.

A man was forced into the courtyard. It was Walter.

"No!" Shirley sobbed.

Laverne put an arm around Shirley. There was no physical contact but the symbolism was there.

"Watch how we deal with American imperialist spies," Ming Na said.

"No need to gloat, bitch," Both Laverne and Shirley said at the same time.

Ming Na looked at Shirley in surprise, then she smiled.

"The prissy mouse is showing spirit. I like it,"

"She'll be showing more than that," Laverne said "I'm coming to kill you, and she'll be holding you down when I do."

"Vernie!"

That caused Ming Na to look at Shirley quizzically.

"Vernie? As in Laverne De Fazio?"

Ming Na looked around to see if she could see Laverne but could see nothing. Ming Na looked thoughtful.

"Are you starting to hallucinate?" Ming Na asked.

"For me to know, and for you to find out," Shirley spat.

"Maybe I will," Ming Na said "It is interesting, however, to see your reaction at this moment. We're about to shoot your husband and you call for Laverne De Fazio I'm beginning to think that your true colours are showing, Mrs Meaney."

At that moment, Walter was being tied to the stake and then made to look at Shirley.

"Shirley!" He shouted.

"Walter!" Shirley called back.

"I'm sorry," He said.

"It's okay, Walter."

The Firing Squad party formed awaiting instructions to take aim. Walter had a blindfold put on and a target put over his chest.

"Laverne," Shirely whimpered "They're gonna do it."

"I know, Shirl, I know."

Shirley leant as if trying to to rest her head on Laverne's shoulders. She was in tears.

"Ssh," Laverne said "It'll be okay."

Tiang moved to the side of the firing squad. The Doctor moved to the other side of Shirley.

"I promise you," The Doctor said "There will be vengeance. Ming Na and Colonel Tiang will pay for this crime."

Tiang ordered the firing squad to take aim. Ming Na forced Shirley's head up.

"You don't want to miss this," She said coldly.

Laverne went behind Shirley and put her arms around her head, her head placed on her shoulder. Although Laverne wasn't phyisically there, Shirley knew that Laverne was with her. She could face what was about to happen with growing strength. That strength was increased when the Doctor placed his hand on Shirley's other shoulder. Tiang gave orders to take aim, then he ordered that they should fire. As they did, Shirley screamed. Her scream echoed through the courtyard into millions of homes through the power of television. It tore into the heart of Gerald Thomas Ford, who watched it in the White House. It caused anger and discontent to rise amongst those who watched the savagery. It caused certain people to vow that things like this will never happen again, and would lead, indirectly, to the Greenham Common protests, and the anti war marches that followed. As Walter's body jolted at the force of the bullets hitting him, then slump forward, clearly dead, it sealed Ming Na's fate. Laverne was going to kill Ming Na, even if it cost her life.

"No! No! No!" Shirley wailed.

"It's okay, Shirl," Laverne said.

"That's what is going to happen to you if you don't cooperate, My dear Shirley," Ming Na said.

"No it wont," Laverne said "I'm coming. This wont happen to you. The bitch wont get away with this, I swear."

Shirley looked at Ming Na with defiance in her eyes.

"Go to hell, bitch!" Shirley said.

"Atta girl, Shirl," Laverne said.

Even the Doctor nodded his agreement.

"We'll see," Ming Na said "Guards, take Mrs Meaney back to her cell."

Two VC soldiers took Shirley by each arm and hauled her struggling back to the prison truck.

"Laverne!" Shirley shouted as she was forced into the truck.

"I'll be there," Laverne called back "Don't worry."

Laverne turned to face the Doctor.

"Get me there," Laverne half snapped "I don't care what you have to do."

PENNY AND CINDY'S QUARTERS

Laverne shot up. She looked at the Doctor and Donna.

"Are you okay, Miss De Fazio.

"I will be when the Doctor helps me free Shirl," Laverne said.

Laverne looked around and saw Shirley. She got up trying to take in what she was seeing.

"Shirl?"

Laverne looked urgently at the Doctor.

"You've already rescued her, Doc?"

"It isn't Shirley, Laverne," The Doctor said.

Laverne reached out and touched Cindy's face.

"Sure looks like her," Laverne said.

"My name is Cindy," Cindy said "Corporal Cindy Williams."

"And I'm Penny," Laverne's look-alike added "Cindy is my girlfriend."

She put a possessive arm around around Cindy. Laverne looked at the Doctor again.

"It is," The Doctor confirmed.

"It is, Miss De Fazio."

Laverne looked at Margaret.

"I'm Margaret, Donna and Penny's sister and leader of the opposition in this stupid and reckless war," She looked at Donna "I'm ready to call a ceasefire. Miss De Fazio has shown us that this madness we call our dispute should have hammered out around the table. Miss De Fazio has also has shown us that there are more important things to fight about than the distribution of wealth. I'm sorry, Donna. I apologise to you and your followers for the damage we've inflicted on you, including the latest, tragic, unnecessary deaths."

At that moment, soldiers, lead by Shawcross, crashed into the room. Margaret turned to confront Shawcross and his detachment of soldiers but found herself face to face with a staser pistol.

"What is the meaning of this, General Shawcross?"

"I'm placing you under arrest, Madam Supreme Commander," Shawcross said "You and everybody in this room."

"On what charge?"

"It was going to be espionage, but after what I've just heard, I think treason would be in order."

Penny and Cindy held onto each other. Donna took Margaret's hand. Laverne looked at the Doctor and had the strong desire to burst into tears. This stupid war may have cost Shirley Feeney her life. Then she saw something that puzzled her - The Doctor's cheesy grin.

"Treason!" Margaret said "I'm trying to stop this madness once and for all."

"You've been trying to sabotage our war effort for some time, Madam Supreme Commander," Shawcross said "Do you think I didn't notice Penny and Cindy's work. I was waiting for the opportunity to expose you and take charge of the effort myself, and I will start by having you and your two sisters executed."

"That is going to solve nothing," Donna said.

"And is going to get you killed, you miserable son of a bitch," Laverne said.

Laverne advanced on Shawcross with rage in her eyes. This bastard was going to get Shirley killed. She wasn't going to let it happen. Shawcross levelled his weapon at Laverne ready to shoot.

THE ANGER WITHIN - (PART 2. PEPSI COLA HITS THE SPOT)

TRITON MAGNA

Everybody in the room, except for Laverne, froze solid. Laverne could only see Shirley at that moment. She could only see Ming Na and Colonel Tiang and the firing squad that was awaiting her best friend. This bastard stood in the way of Laverne rescuing her best friend. She was determined to sweep this bastard out of the way even if it meant her getting hurt in the process.

"Laverne!" Donna screamed "No! This isn't the way."

Laverne continued to advance on Shawcross not hearing Donna's warning, or not wanting to hear it. If she couldn't save Shirley then she'd rather die, because life would be nothing without her best friend. Everybody could hear Shawcross charging up his weapon ready to fire. Everybody, except for Laverne and probably the Doctor, stopped breathing. Laverne, because she couldn't care less. The Doctor, because he knew something that nobody else in that room knew. The others only found out when a Rhino looking creature, a Judoon Colonel to be precise, stepped into the room and placed his weapon at Shawcross's temple. It was Shawcross's turn to freeze.

"I suggest that you drop it now," The Doctor said "The Judoon are not known for their patience."

The Judoon Colonel powered up his weapon to prove the Doctor's point.

"I really think you should drop it," The Doctor continued "I don't think Penny and Cindy would want their quarters messed up with your brains splattered all over it."

"We still have control of this complex," Shawcross said

"If he's here, I doubt that," The Doctor said "In fact, I suspect that this war is at an end."

In all this time, a mere ten seconds, Laverne had seen the Judoon trooper and had stopped advancing, mainly out of fear of him.

"Colonel?" The Doctor asked.

"We have taken control of the planet, Doctor, as ordered by the Shadow Proclamation."

"A little above and beyond the call of duty, Colonel Squealy," The Doctor said.

"It was necessary."

The Doctor looked at Shawcross.

"See, General. You start shooting, this turns into a bloodbath. Nobody, except our bloody thirsty Judoon Colonel here, wants that. Don't give him the satisfaction."

Despite her fear of the Judoon trooper, and that weapon levelled at her, Laverne continued staring down the General.

"Shawcross," Margaret said "It's over. It's time to talk peace."

Shawcross looked at this leader, and felt the cold steel of the gun at his temple as well as smelled the Judoon's foul breath. He could see the anger in Laverne's eyes, and the look of determination in the Doctor's. He was clearly not going to win this . He powered down his weapon and allowed the Judoon Colonel to disarm him. The Doctor moved quickly to catch a collapsing Laverne.

"It's okay, Laverne, it's over," He said.

VIETNAM 1975

For Shirley, it was a long way from being over. She may well have despised Walter but seing him being shot like that ripped her apart. She was back in her cold, stinking cell curled up like a ball with tears streaming down her face. The only hope she had was Laverne who was, according to her, on another planet involved in what sounded like a stupid, unnecessary war. All wars were stupid and unnecessary, all wars were started by politicians and had to be fought by ordinary men and women who had to die for leaders who refused to get around the table and talk out their problems. This one on a planet so far away was stupid in the extreme. They were fighting over who got the bigger slice of the financial pie for god's sake. Stupid, ridiculous and totally immature. Not unlike the Vietnam war, which wasn't over money, but was over ideology. All it needed was for the Communist states and the Western, NATO states to get around the table and thrash out some sort of agreement which everybody could live with. Nobody had to die, especially not the thousnads of American GI's who flew over to a country nobody had ever heard of just to be shot at in the hot, steaming jungles of Vietnam. If it wasn't for the Vietnam War, Walter wouldn't have met Ming Na. He and Shirley would still be together, and Laverne wouldn't be stuck on another planet with a man called The Doctor. The Doctor, Laverne's latest, and most exciting, boyfriend? He seemed to be a kind man, tough looking, a typical Laverne De Fazio boyfriend in fact, but definitely caring. Both Laverne and The Doctor promised to get revenge on Ming Na and that evil looking Colonel and free her. She was hoping that was going to be soon because she couldn't take much more of this. The cell door opened and Ming Na with two guards entered. Shirley took a deep breath and straightened herself up. There was no way she was going to show fear to this bitch.

"It's been a bad day for you, Shirley," Ming Na said.

"No worse than usual."

"Really?" Ming Na said with half a smile "Your husband has just been executed in front of you and that was 'no worse than usual'?"

"Precisely," Shirley said with her head held high.

"So you don't care that he was good in bed," Ming Na continued.

"I know that."

"Or that he called you 'my ball and chain', my prissy ball and chain in fact."

"He didn't."

"He did," Ming Na said "And he called you a lot more as well. I have a recording of the conversation, do you want to hear it?"

Shirley got to her feet, fists clenched. The guards released the safety catches of their weapons. Ming Na raised her hands to stop them.

"He was wrong," Ming Na said "You're not prissy, you have spirit, you have fight. You proved that by coming to this country to free that no good husband of yours. Why did you do that, Shirley? You wanted to kill him yourself did you?"

Shirley remained silent.

"Maybe I should have given you a gun and added you to the firing squad," Ming Na said.

"I would have shot you and that scummy Colonel of yours."

"That's why the idea was dismissed," Ming Na said "I think you are a dangerous woman. Alvira Plout was right about you. You could have been very effective as a front line trooper. But, I think you could have been better in my field."

"As a whore?"

Ming Na shrugged, and then slapped Shirley around the face.

"Where's Laverne De Fazio?"

"Who?"

"Your best friend," Ming Na said "The person you were talking to, the woman of your dreams."

"She isn't here," Shirley said with half a laugh "I imagined her."

"Imagined her? Really?"

"I have an active imagination."

Again Ming Na shrugged, again her right hand lashed out across Shirley's face. This time Shirley buckled over with the force of the blow.

"See her now?"

Shirley looked at her through gritted teeth.

"No!"

The two guards picked Shirley up. Ming Na looked at Shirley for a moment, then delivered a sharp blow to Shirley's stomach.

"Where is Laverne De Fazio?"

"On another planet."

That answer caught Ming Na by surprise.

"Another planet?"

"Called Triton Magna," Shirley said "She's helping stop a war."

"Trying to stop a war is she?" Ming Na smiled "She told you that did she, this imaginary best friend?"

"She did, and she also said that she's coming here to kill you."

Ming Na burst into laughter and then ordered the troopers to let her go. Shirley crashed to her knees.

"Then I better ready myself, haven't I," Ming Na smiled "Oh, by the way. The reason why I came in. It's your turn to face the firing squad. You will be shot at noon tomorrow. I hope Laverne De Fazio can get here by then, I'd love to shoot both of you together."

Ming Na ordered the troopers out.

"Say your prayers, Mrs Meaney, because when this cell door opens again, you wont be returning."

Ming Na burst into laughter and then left. Shirley curled up into a ball and started crying.

"Vernie! If you're coming, please hurry up."

The sobs became more audible and more painful to hear.

TRITON MAGNA - THE COUNCIL CHAMBER

Finally, under the control of the Shadow Proclamation's elite military force, the two sides got together. It was proving to be a very tense meeting, especially when the Judoon Colonel laid down the law.

"This planet is under temporary Shadow Proclamation control," He said "Anybody who breaks our rules will be dealt with harshly. You will sit in this room and you will hammer out an agreement this is satisfactory to all, or a military governor will be appointed to run this planet, and you wont like what he does to ensure that you obey the rules."

"It's your choice," The Doctor said "Sort this out, or face a bleak future under the rule of the jack boot."

"Doctor!" Donna pleaded.

Both Margaret and Penny joined the plea. Cindy just sobbed on Penny's shoulder. The Doctor looked at Laverne and cringed. Laverne wanted to go over to Cindy but felt herself being stopped by the Doctor.

"Please, Doctor," Margaret said "You can't leave us like this."

"Margaret, Donna, Penny, I don't like this idea," The Doctor said "But the Shadow Proclamation are calling the shots. You have intelligent people in this room. You should be able to thrash out some sort of agreement and avoid military occupation. See this as an opportunity, not a burden."

"Doctor," The Colonel said "You have a job to do. I suggest that you and Miss De Fazio do that job."

The Doctor looked at the Colonel.

"Don't hurt them, please."

"Go!"

The Doctor looked at Donna, Margaret, Penny and Cindy.

"I'll be back," The Doctor said "Please have this sorted out by my return, for your sake."

"We'll try," Margaret said.

The Doctor and Laverne headed for The Doctor's TARDIS. He opened the door but then looked back at everybody in that room and saw Donna, Margaret, Penny and Cindy being virtually frogmarched to their seats.

"Doc!" Laverne pleaded.

"Yeah!" The Doctor said.

He let Laverne enter the TARDIS and then followed. He shut the door and approached the console.

"I hope they're gonna be alright," Laverne said.

"So do I," The Doctor said

He took a deep breath, and set the TARDIS in motion.

"Vietnam 1975, here we come."

VIETNAM 1975

Alvira Plout felt sick. The television was full of Walter's execution and Shirley's face as he was being executed. She also felt guilty. She was guilty about abandoning Shirley to her fate. She was convinced now that she should have forced Shirley to go with her. she shouldn't have allowed Shirley to take such an enormous risk in order to save a man who made her look like a fool, who dumped her and her daughter for a cute piece of skirt.

"Wasn't your fault, Sarge," Murdock said.

Plout gave Murdock a look.

"You went for help," Murdock continued "The help arrived too late. You can't hold yourself responsible."

"For once the fool is right," BA said.

"That's not what Laverne De Fazio is going to say when I bring her best friend home in a box," Plout said.

"Bring her home?"

"I have to," Plout said "I have to get her out of there dead or alive. I owe it to both De Fazio and Feeney."

She looked at her watch.

"Where's Hannibal and Faceman?"

"Meeting an Alien with two hearts," Murdock answered.

BA swoted him with the paper he was reading.

"Fool!"

"The Doctor is a Time Lord from the the planet Gallifrey," Murdock answered.

"Stop that jive before I hurt you," BA warned.

Plout allowed herself a smile. Murdock was a case for the loony bin, always has been. Aliens with two hearts from the planet Gallifrey indeed! She and BA shared resigned looks.

"It's true," Murdock protested "He travels around in a time ship called a TARDIS. It's an acronym for Time and Relative Dimension in Space."

"A TARDIS?" BA said "From the planet Gallifrey!"

"He gets worse," Plout suggested.

"I'll have the fool committed personally," BA said.

"You'll be laughing on the other side of your face when you find out I'm telling the truth."

Both BA and Plout looked at each other, and then smiled pityingly at Murdock.

A SAIGON ALLEYWAY

The air was still and quiet. Two drunken Vietnamesse soldiers staggered out of a brothel into the alleyway. They swayed down an alleyway humming a song slightly out of tune. They stopped on hearing a strnage sound, the sound reminiscent of a dying horse. It grew louder and louder until something appeared in front of them - a blue Metropolitan Police Box. they looked at each other and decided that they had sobered up pretty quickly. Common sense dictated over valour in that instance and they ran like the clappers.

THE TARDIS

The Doctor looked at the two soldiers run away and cursed his luck.

"We move, Doc?" Laverne suggested.

"We don't have time," The Doctor said "We just have to be careful."

The Doctor looked at Laverne and saw that she had changed into a typical Vietnamesse outfit of the period, a neutral black pant suit of sorts. Not the perfect disguise, especially with the small 'L' she insisted sewing onto the outfit, a dangerous habit that he was going to have to get her out of, but it was passable at a distance.

"Where are we going?" Laverne asked.

"To find a man called Hannibal Smith," The Doctor said "He should be meeting me at the moment."

"You?"

"Remember Peri and Erimem?"

"And the alien kid," Laverne added.

The Doctor nodded.

"It was about this time that I met Colonel Smith in order to deal with rescue of the child, and of course Peri and Erimem," The Doctor looked thoughtful "I suspect he had Shirley Feeney on his mind at the time."

"Isn't he going to suspcious about meeting you twice in such a short time?"

"Remember me telling you that I looked different."

Laverne thought for a moment. It was in the dream/telepathic contact that she had with Shirley. He made her take him to another cell where she saw the girls that he called Peri and Erimem. She also remembered him telling her that he had this enviable ability to regenerate into another body.

"Blonde hair, a celery on his lapel, and a fascination with Cricket," Laverne said.

"Well done," The Doctor grinned "I see you've been looking me up on the TARDIS data bank."

"So how are you going to introduce yourself?" Laverne challenged.

The Doctor tapped his nose mysteriously.

"Shall we get going?"

Laverne shrugged and followed the Doctor out of the TARDIS.

A ROOM IN VIETNAM

Plout was jolted out of her sleep by a knock on the door. Her instinct was to answer it but BA stopped her.

"Wait," He said.

Plout nodded. He was of course right. It had only been a few days since Saigon fell, they were still rounding up and arresting American spies, and Plout and BA looked American even with medical uniforms. There was another knock, followed by two more. Everybody breathed again, it was the prearranged signal suggesting that it was either Hannibal or Face. Still, they had to be careful.

"Murdock," BA said.

The Captain looked at his Sergeant with a touch of annoyance but then shrugged and went to open the door.

"You love doing that, don't you?" Plout said.

"Fool deserves it," BA said.

Murdock opened the door to admit three people - Hannibal, Templeton Peck and a man wearing an Edwardian cricketing outfit with a celery on his lapel.

"BA, Murdock, Sergeant Plout," Hannibal said "This is Doctor John Smith, he has a problem which he needs our urgent help with."

That made Plout bristle. She was on her feet bursting with anger.

"What about Feeney?" Plout almost exploded "We can't just abandon her."

"Hear him out," Hannibal said "It coincides. If we do this right, we might be able to kill two birds with one stone."

Hannibal looked at the Doctor in his Fifth incarnation and gestured that he continued. The Doctor thanked Hannibal and looked at the others, even Plout stopped bristling long enough to listen.

"What I'm about to say you might find difficult to believe, but I must impress on you that this is of the utmost importance. Millions, maybe billions of lives are at stake."

Now Plout was taking in the English tones of this man's voice with some interest. The words that were coming out seemed ridiculous, but coming out of this Doctor's mouth it seemed credible. There was authority and knowledge backing up every word he was saying.

A BAR IN VIETNAM

Laverne looked around nervously as the Ninth Doctor talked in what was allegedly Vietnamesse, but sounded like good English to her, to the bar tender. She was told that was because of the Universal Translator within the TARDIS that switched on the moment they landed and was affecting everything within the area. Therefore, she was speaking perfect Vietnamesse and still be speaking perfect English even this far away from the TARDIS. Implusable, maybe, but she had no other explanation offered, therefore, she had to accept it.

"A man like this was here," She heard the bar tender say "He left a few minutes ago with two other men, a Doctor and a man wearing a very strange outfit who also claimed to be a Doctor."

"Describe the outfit," Laverne heard the Doctor say.

"Long frock coat, large cream striped trousers. He wore a celery in his lapel."

The Doctor frowned.

"Do you know where they went?"

He produced money from his pocket and placed it on the table. The Bar Tender examined the money.

"It's good," The Doctor said "Now where did they go?"

The Bar Tender looked around and scribbled down something on a pad. He tore the strip of paper off and handed it to the Doctor.

"It's a couple of blocks west of here," The Bar Tender said.

The Doctor nodded.

"I suggest that you be careful," The Doctor said "You're about to get a visit."

Both the Bar Tender and Laverne looked at him.

"Trust me," He said "I'd strongly advise you to get rid of any American influence fast."

The Bar Tender nodded.

"Thank you," He said.

He left his bar and quickly told his staff to get rid of all things American, urgently. The Doctor nodded with satisfaction at his handiwork.

"How the hell did you know that?" Laverne asked.

"Later, Laverne," The Doctor said "Time to leave."

Laverne took in the urgency in the Doctor's voice and followed him out. They were just in time as Soldiers crashed into the bar acting on a tip off that American spies were using the bar.

THE ROOM IN VIETNAM

Plout was having difficulty swallowing the Doctor's story. Yes, it seemed credible and the evidence that he was producing looked convincing, but a child kidnapped from an alien royal family, a child with information that could save lives, and a girl who could have been an Egyptian Pharoah from god knows when BC, come on!

"Is this alien child some sort of witch?" Murdock asked.

Oh, come on, Murdock, you are not that mad, Plout thought.

"He has magical powers, yes," The Fifth Doctor answered "If it's exploited, he could do a great deal of damage."

"You rescued him from his original kidnappers," Templeton said "But some sort of force brought you here?"

"You have understood correctly, Mr Peck," The Doctor said.

"Any idea who?" Hannibal asked "And why?"

The Doctor shook his head.

"All I know is that somebody or something took control of my TARDIS and brought us here," He said "We don't know who, we don't know why. It has created a dangerous situation for the child and for this planet, and we have to deal with it fast before it gets out of hand."

"What actually happened?" Murdock asked.

"The child escaped Peri and Erimem's custody and left the TARDIS looking for an adventure. Peri and Erimem tried to find him only to be captured by Viet Cong forces."

"And the Kid?" Plout finally asked.

"Captured at the same time."

"If he had magical gifts as you claim, why didn't he just use them against the VC?"

"He did," The Doctor answered "But even magical powers can't stop bullets. When they threatened to shoot Peri and Erimem, his relationship with them made him surrender."

"And you saw all of this?"

"I did."

"Why didn't you try to stop them?"

"Sergeant!" Hannibal said with impatience.

Plout was about to tell Hannibal that this was a load of rubbish, that they should be focusing on freeing Shirley Meaney, when a knock on the door made them freeze. It turned out to be the special knock. Hannibal gestured for BA to answer the door. The Sergeant took out a weapon and went over to the door.

"Who is it?"

"A friend," It was the voice of the Ninth Doctor.

BA looked over to Hannibal for guidance. The Colonel shook his head.

"Who was the second president of the United States?" BA asked.

"John Adams," A female voice answered.

The voice made Plout take notice.

"De Fazio?"

Hannibal looked quizzically at Plout. Plout moved to the door.

"Laverne De Fazio, is that you?"

"Yeah, it is."

"Who am I?"

"You sound like Sergeant Alvira Plout."

Plout looked at Hannibal. Hannibal again shook his head. It wasn't enough.

"What was the nickname you and Shirley Feeney gave me when we first met?"

"The Frog."

Plout gestured for BA to open the door. BA looked at Hannibal. Hannibal looked at Plout for guidance.

"It is Laverne De Fazio, I don't know who her companion is, but the person on the other side of this door is Shirley Meaney's best friend."

"Please let us in," The Ninth Doctor said "We can help."

Hannibal thought for a moment, and then nodded. BA opened the door to reveal The Ninth Doctor and Laverne De Fazio. Laverne almost immediately launched herself at Plout and knocked her to the ground with a punch. Both Templeton Peck and the Ninth Doctor prevented Laverne following up.

"Why did you abandon Shirl?" Laverne screamed.

"She told me to, De Fazio," Plout said "I didn't want to leave her. She told me to get help."

"She could die."

"I know, Laverne, I know," Plout said "I'm sorry."

Templeton and the Doctor released Laverne. Laverne and Plout looked at each other for a moment and then hugged.

"I'm sorry, Laverne," Plout added "I am truly sorry."

Laverne took a deep breath and broke the hug.

"What are you doing about getting her out of there?"

Hannibal stepped forward.

"We wil try, Miss De Fazio."

A cough made everybody look at the Fifth Doctor.

"What about my problem?" He asked.

"We can kill two birds with one stone,"The Ninth Doctor said.

The Fifth Doctor turned to the Ninth ready to remonstrate with him. The moment he did that there was instant recognition. The Fifth Doctor almost staggered back in shock.

"You cannot be here."

"In this case the laws of time allow me to be here." The Ninth Doctor said.

The two Doctors looked at each other, both shaking their heads.

"Excuse me," BA said "What is this jive?"

"An impossibility," The Fifth Doctor said "I cannot be in the same place at the same time."

"Yet here we are," The Ninth Doctor countered "The laws of time have been suspended."

"By whom?"

"The Shadow Proclamation," The Ninth Doctor said "Our problems coincide, we have to work together to free Peri, Erimem, Shirley Feeney and the alien child."

"The Time Lords will not allow it," The Fifth Doctor argued.

"The Time Lords are not around to care."

"Meaning?"

"They've all been wiped out. The Daleks destroyed every last one of them. I am the Last of the Time Lords."

The Fifth Doctor had a strong need to find a chair at that moment. His legs were about to give way. The chair was supplied by the quick thinking Plout which the Doctor gratefully sat down in.

"All of them?"

The Ninth Doctor nodded.

"How?"

"Can't tell you," The Ninth Doctor said "All I can say is that we got all of them as well. We just blew each other out of space and time."

A shrill whistle broke the uncomfortable tension in the air. It forced both Doctors to look at the person responsible - Laverne De Fazio.

"We have our own problems here and now, remember," She said.

The Fifth Doctor straightened himself up.

"You are right, Miss De Fazio," He said "I can worry about the future later. I have Peri, Erimem, and the heir to the throne of Ragossa to save."

"And I have Shirley Feeney to save."

The Ninth Doctor suddenly looked quizzically at the Fifth.

"Are you talking about Frederick, The Duke of Ragossa?"

"One and the same."

"So that's why the Shadow Proclamation allowed me to get involved with this. We do have a problem."

The Ninth Doctor looked at Hannibal.

"Colonel Smith, I hope you can get us to the Prison Complex."

"It wont be easy."

"Maybe, maybe not," The Doctor said producing his sonic screwdriver.

"How did you get that?" The Fifth Doctor said.

"I built it."

"You don't have the technical skills."

"Yes we do," The Ninth Doctor said "We just forgot."

Plout pulled Laverne aside.

"What the hell is going on here?"

"They are one and the same person, but different incarnations," Laverne said.

Plout shook her head.

"What about that contraption your Doctor is holding?"

"This contraption, Sergeant Plout," The Ninth Doctor said "Is the key to getting us into a Prison complex and freeing four very important people."

"A sonic screwdriver," Laverne added "It can get us in anywhere."

"The key to success," The Ninth Doctor grinned "Just get us there, Colonel, I'll get us in."

Hannibal looked at the Fifth Doctor, who just shrugged.

THE PRISON CELL

Shirley couldn't sleep. She knew that in a few hours, unless Laverne and this Doctor friend of hers turn up to save her, she was likely to be taken to the same place where Walter was shot, and executed herself. Memories started to flash by. The school prom; her crush on Ritchie Cuningham; The Fonz and the way he was he was able to deal with things without messing up his cool demeanour; the first time she and Laverne moved into their apartment in Knapp Street, and how it very nearly didn't happen. Her mother was moving to California, and Shirley was expecting to go with her. It was Frank De Fazio who persuaded her mother to let her stay in Milwaukee with Laverne. She remembered Carmine, Lenny and Squiggy, and the fun, and it was fun, she and Laverne whilst living in Milwaukee and in Burbank. Then the change; her marriage to Walter; the day she wrote that goodbye letter to Laverne and went to Tokyo and then to Vietnam itself with Walter; the idyllic start to the marriage, including the birth of her daughter. Then the recriminations started, Walter was starting to spend more and more time away, on spying missions as it turned out, and that provoked the arrival of Ming Na, the allegedly poor Vietnamesse girl who landed on their doorstep and into their life, and eventually into Walter's bed. Then the recent events came into view; hers and Alvira Plout's arrival in Vietnam; her capture by Ming Na and Colonel Tiang; her torture; and her subsequent witnessing of Walter's execution. That was only lightened by Laverne's, albeit a ghostly version, arrival with this mysterious Doctor. That gave her hope, hope that was going to be snatched away from her if they didn't hurry up.

"Shirl!"

Shirley looked up and saw Laverne standing there. She could see that it was ghost Laverne and not the real Laverne by the aura that Laverne was giving out.

"They're going to shoot me, Vernie," Shirley said "At noon tomorrow, they are going to take me out and execute me."

"No, they're not."

"How are you going to stop them from Triton Magna?"

"I'm not on Triton Magna, Shirl," Laverne said "I'm in Vietnam with Sergeant Plout and the guys you persuaded to bring you here."

"And the Doctor?"

"Two Doctors."

"Two?"

"Shirl, The Doctor can change his body when he dies. I'm with one of his former selves at the moment."

"Laverne, you and your fantasies."

"Shirl, we're coming to get you."

Shirley looked at Laverne and saw in her eyes that she was telling her the truth.

"Are you really coming, Vernie?"

"Yes, Shirl, I am," Laverne said "We will get you out. Just hold on."

THE AMBULANCE

Laverne opened her eyes and saw the Ninth Doctor and Plout. The Doctor was smiling at her.

"Well done, Laverne," The Doctor said.

Plout took Laverne's hand.

"I'm proud of you Private De Fazio," Plout said "I don't know what you just did, but, I'm proud of you."

The Doctor smiled that cheesy, all knowing grin that was a comfort at this moment.

"Okay," Hannibal announced from the drivers seat "Game on."

They had just arrived at the security gate of the prison complex, and they were being approached by a Vietcong soldier. The Fifth Doctor gave the soldier a pass which suggested that he was a representative of the United Nations.

"Medicine Sans Fronteries," The Fifth Doctor said "We're here to ensure the well being of the captives you have here under the Geneva Convention."

"All prisoners are being treated well," A Chief Security Guard who had joined the soldier.

"I want to see for myself," The Fifth Doctor said "That pass gives me the right to enter and to make examinations. Unless you want to take it up with the entire United Nations security council, and the Secretary General himself, you will let us in to carry out these inspections."

Both the Chief Security Guard and the soldier looked doubtful.

"Do you want to start another war with the entire world?" The Fifth Doctor asked "It's a war the Vietcong will not win."

The Chief Security Guard got onto his radio for instructions. The gate was then opened and Hannibal was allowed to drive on through.

"Nice job, Doc," Hannibal said "You even convinced me."

"Oh, I had the backing, Colonel Smith" The Fifth Doctor said "There would have been trouble if I hadn't been allowed to enter."

In the back of the Ambulance, the Ninth Doctor smirked. It was actually true. One phone call to Brigadier Aliaster Gordon Lethbridge Stewart and within the hour they would have been giving them all tea and crumpets after the Vietcong leader had been given an ear blasting by the Secretary General himself. Once they were out of sight, the Ambulance stopped for long enough so that The Ninth Doctor, Laverne, Plout and BA could get out.

"Good luck," The Fifth Doctor said.

"Just be at the rendezvous point," Laverne said "We're gonna have to get out of here fast."

Both the Fifth and the Ninth Doctor exchanged glances. They knew exactly what was going to happen. They knew that this was going to be last time they will see each other, for now that is.

"Stop the jabber and move," BA said.

The Doctor looked at BA and saw the serious look on his face. He, Laverne and Plout followed BA whilst, at the same time, the Ambulance moved off. The Docotr produced a map supplied to them by somebody who still American sympathies, somebody who informed them of Colonel Tiang's purge on the bar not long after the Doctor and Laverne left.

"Okay, where?" Plout asked.

"Over there," The Doctor said pointing in a westerly direction.

"You sure?" BA asked.

"The map is," The Doctor said.

"That poor guy went to a lot of trouble getting us that map," Laverne added.

With that, the quartet moved swiftly to the door. The Doctor produced his trusty sonic screwdriver and used it to open the door. Both BA and Plout were amazed when the door sprung open.

"I want one of those." Plout said.

The Doctor smiled and allowed both Plout and Laverne to enter before following with BA. He then used the sonic screwdriver to lock the door. They had entered what looked like the kitchens, if you could call it such. It wasn't very clean, and there were rats seemingly everywhere. Laverne had to stifle a scream when a rat seemingly crawled over her foot.

"I think we should get the health and safety people in here, pronto," The Doctor said with disgust.

"You don't say," Plout said "This place is a health hazard."

"I say that we stop the jabber and get moving," BA said.

"He wants us to stop the jabber, Doc," Laverne said.

"He's like a stuck record," The Doctor said.

That earned them both a glare from BA.

"Jabber stopped," Laverne said with a smile.

She pulled an imaginary zip across her mouth. The Doctor shook his head and started leading the team out of the kitchen. Within a minute they had found a flight of stairs. The Doctor looked at the map again.

"The high security detention area is on the third floor," The Doctor said "Shall we?"

BA pushed on past and went up.

"That guy has the manners of a pig," Plout suggested.

The Doctor shrugged and allowed both Plout and Laverne to follow. They had been lucky so far. He was hoping that his and their luck was going to hold. They soon found themselves on the third floor and faced with a problem, a locked door. BA looked at the Doctor. The Doctor smiled and produced his sonic screwdriver again. Within seconds the door sprung open.

"I love that sonic screwdriver," Laverne said.

"That's why I want one," Plout added.

"Map!" BA ordered.

The Doctor gave BA the map. BA opened it up and looked at it.

"This way," He said with supreme confidence.

He strode up the corridor. Laverne and Plout followed. The Doctor used his sonic screwdriver to ensure that the door was shut again and then followed. It seemed that BA was right. they had reached the entrance to the top security area without any problems. Now, they were face to face with a bigger problem, a locked door which could only be accesed with a combination lock.

"I suppose you don't have the combination?" The Doctor asked BA.

"That's your job, man," BA said.

"I had a feeling you were going to say that," The Doctor said.

He started to study the lock.

"Can you do it, Doc?" Laverne asked

"I have to," The Doctor said.

He produced his sonic screwdriver and set it to a lower harmonic range. He then got to work on the combination lock.

THE PRISON CELL

Shirley could hear footsteps which stopped outside her cell. She held her breath as the cell door was opened to reveal, to Shirley's disappointment, her chief tormenter, Ming Na. There was a man with her. He was wearing an Edwardian cricket outfit and was sporting a stick of celery on his lapel. It was the Fifth Doctor.

"Hello," The Doctor said with a smile that radiated confidence "My name is Doctor John Smith, I'm with the Unified Nations Intelligence Task Force and am temporarily connected to Medicine Sans Frontieres."

"Are you here to get me out of here?" Shirley asked.

"Sadly, no."

"They're going to execute me," Shirley said "I've done nothing wrong."

"Unfortunately, you were caught spying in enemy territory," The Doctor said "I can try to stop the execution using my contacts within the United Nations, but that will take longer than you have."

"Please try!" Shirley pleaded.

"I will certainly try," The Doctor said "But it could be out of my hands."

The Doctor turned to Ming Na.

"Mrs Meaney is due for execution at midday tomorrow," Ming Na said "The judgement has already been passed."

"Surely if an appeal was lodged," The Fifth Doctor said.

"I will be honest with you, Doctor Smith," Ming Na said with a mock sincerity that even the Doctor was seeing through "An appeal will be denied. You have to understand the situation in our country at the moment. We have just won a war which cost a lot of Vietnamesse lives. The people want blood, American blood. The rule of Ho Chi Minn's law is absolute. Mrs Meaney is a convicted American spy. To not execute her would be seen as a sign of weakness to which our enemies will soon exploit."

"You are showing your strength by committing an act of barbarism, to an American woman?"

"This American woman has been found guilty of espionage and sedition. there can be only one punishment," Ming Na said "A punishment which I do regret, Doctor."

Shirley cringed at the evil in the woman's attempt at sincerity. She could see that Ming Na was enjoying playing this game, as it was adding mental pressure to the torture that Shirley had already endured under her hands. It was subtle, but it was still torture. The one thing that helped Shirley at that moment was the look of anger on the Fifth Doctor's face.

"That, madam. is an act of murder for which your nation will be punished for," The Doctor said.

"Murder?"

"Yes," The Doctor said "Murder. You have already committed one murder. To kill this woman in cold blood for attempting to rescue somebody that was important to her would be seen as murder."

"She was caught in an act of espionage."

"Where?"

"In a hospital."

"In a hospital that she helped set up with her husband, hardly espionage."

"She was caught, sentence has been pronounced, end of story."

"Is it?" The Doctor said "History will soon say different."

"Is that a threat?"

"A warning," The Fifth Doctor answered "A warning which you cannot ignore."

"I can have you shot alongside Mrs Meaney, Doctor Smith."

"I am here under the flag of truce," The Doctor said "To do so will be an act of war. You've only just driven the Americans out of your country, and you took a lot of casualties in doing so. Another war with countries of the United Nations so soon afterwards would be an act of suicide."

"The United Nations?"

"It could be worse, a lot worse," The Doctor said "The rule of law works both ways, Madame Ming Na. Now, if you don't mind, I would like to examine Mrs Meaney, and I would suggest that you bear in mind what I've just said if you're thinking about locking me up in here and not letting me leave afterwards."

Shirley watched the Fifth Doctor and Ming Na stare each other out. This was the first time Ming Na had been bestd by anybody, and Shirley felt a sense of satisfaction at witnessing it.

"Knock when you want to leave, Doctor ," Ming Na said.

"Good decision."

Ming Na left. The Fifth Doctor waited until the door was shut before sitting next to Shirley.

"We're getting you out, Mrs Meaney," The Fifth Doctor said "There's a rescue team on its way as I speak. Just be ready."

"Thank you, Doctor Smith," Shirley said.

"Doctor, just Doctor," The Fifth Doctor said.

"Doctor?" Shirley said "Do you know a man with short hair and a leather jacket, tough looking, who calls himself The Doctor?"

"Intimately," The Fifth Doctor smiled "As you will very soon. If you haven't already."

"You mentioned that your death will start a war," Shirley pressed.

"That part is true," The Fifth Doctor said "My people will not stand for their President being executed for something that really has nothing to do with them."

"Your people being Time Lords?"

"You've heard of us?"

"Through Laverne De Fazio."

"Ah, your telepathic connection with Miss De Fazio," The Fifth Doctor smiled "That is actually quite strong. Something that my counterpart hopefully will explore to its full potential."

"Why haven't I noticed it before?"

"Because you've never been in a position to use it before," The Doctor answered "Now that I've met you, I understand why my counterpart has been drawn to you and Miss De Fazio, and why you have to be rescued. You have a shared destiny with two other people that you will soon meet."

"You could rescue me," Shirley said.

"Sadly, again no," The Doctor said "I can't interfere with the flow of time. However, brave heart, Shirley Feeney, and I'm calling you by your maiden name for a reason, you will get out of here alive. Now, we need to conduct a little medical examination."

The Doctor produced a stethscope and started to examine Shirley.

OUTSIDE THE MAXIMUM SECURITY AREA

The Doctor was taking a great deal of care in his examination of the lock. It was a little more complicated than he thought. He could have opened it but it would have set off an alarm which would have brought every solidier in this complex running.

"Doctor!" Laverne urged.

"We will get there, Laverne."

He stopped for a moment and closed his eyes as if he was getting a telepathic communication from somebody.

"Doctor?" Plout said "What's happening?"

"Just finding out where Shirley Meaney is being kept," The Doctor said.

"Via a telepathic link with your former self?" Laverne asked.

"That's the one thing I like about you, Laverne De Fazio," The Doctor said "You learn fast."

"Stop the jabber and get on with it," BA said.

"Yes sir!" The Doctor said giving BA a salute.

He continued his examination of the lock.

THE PRISON CELL

The Fifth Doctor concluded his examination and got to his feet. He looked at Ming Na with brief contempt, but then nodded to confirm that he had finished.

"Excellent," Ming Na said.

"You are aware that you will be punished for this."

"By God?"

"By history."

"My dear Doctor Smith, don't you know that the victors in any conflict gets to write the history books."

"Sadly," The Fifth Doctor said "That is the truth."

He took Shirley by the hand.

"I'm so sorry, Mrs Meaney, there is nothing I can do to help you," He said "Brave heart."

Shirley squeezed the Fifth Doctors' hand.

"Thank you for trying," Shirley said.

The Fifth Doctor smiled briefly at Shirley and then let her go. He followed Ming Na out of the cell. Shirley slumped back onto the cot and burst into tears, and it wasn't tears in despair, it was tears of relief. Doctor John Smith had just given her hope.

OUTSIDE THE SECURITY COMPLEX

"Got you!" The Doctor said in triumph.

To prove it, they could hear the satisfying click of the door opening.

"I'm definitely getting one of those sonic screwdriver," Plout said.

The Doctor carefully pushed the door open and found that he had deactivated the alarm system.

"Ladies first," The Doctor said.

Both Laverne and Plout entered, followed by BA. The Doctor smiled at his handiwork and followed.

THE PRISON CELL

Shirley was little more expectant when she heard the key to her cell door turn again. She was hoping that that handsome Doctor in the Edwardian outfit was returning to whisk her out of here. What she saw was the smiling face of Ming Na.

"Enjoy that diversion, Shirley?" Ming Na "I know I did."

"Where is he?"

"Visiting the infirmary," Ming Na answered "There seems to be a boy there that he's interested in. One of Colonel Tiang's pet projects."

"A child?"

"Tiang's responsibility, not mine, I like them older."

"You sick bitch!"

A guard entered and hauled Shirley to her feet. Her hands were once again tied behind her back.

"You can't shoot me now while that Doctor's here," Shirley said.

"Who's shooting you?" Ming Na said "Colonel Tiang has his pet projects, I have mine. You are about to be introduced to one."

"Torture?"

"Could be an escape route?" Ming Na said "A chance for you to live. You would have to kill me to do so, but I suspect you wouldn't mind that."

Shirley looked defiantly at Ming Na.

"Of course you would," Ming Na smiled "Take her!"

The guard hauled Shirley out of the cell.

DOWN THE CORRIDOR

"Where is she, Doc?" Laverne said.

"Around the corner, third cell," The Doctor said.

"I hope you've got that sonic screwdriver ready," Laverne said "Because we are about to break her out."

Laverne almost turned the corner at a run. She stopped in shock as she saw Shirley being taken out of her cell by Ming Na and a guard.

"Shirl!"

Ming Na, Shirley and the guard turned to see Laverne running down the corridor towards them.

"Let her go, you bitch!" She was screaming as she ran towards them.

They could also see the Doctor, Plout and BA turn the corner, and could hear Plout shout.

"No, De Fazio!"

Everything seemed to go into slow motion. Laverne caught up with the guard and pushed him off. She took Shirley by the arm and started hauling her towards the Doctor, BA and Plout. More guards arrived. One struck Laverne around the head rendering her unconscious, others approached The Doctor, BA and Plout. BA took out a gun and shot two of them. The three of them took the opportunity to dive for cover.

"Run!" The Doctor ordered.

"What about De Fazio?" Plout said.

"Move!" BA shouted.

"We can't leave her and Feeney," Plout said.

"Trust me, it's in hand," The Doctor said "Go and find Hannibal and my former self, they need you."

Plout looked doubtful.

"Go!" The Doctor ordered.

A guard emerged from around the corner. The Doctor knocked him out with heavy punch, thus giving BA a chance to take Plout's hand and run down the corridor. Another guard trying to shoot BA and Plout but was brought down with a hefty rugby tackle from the Doctor. The Doctor could see Ming Na and other guards haul a sobbing Shirley and an unconscious Laverne down the corridor. He also could see more guards emerge to come after him. He smiled his cheesy smile, waved at them and started running in the opposite direction.

TWO HOURS LATER

The cell was totally different to the one Shirley had been in. For a start it was totally white and very, almost medically, clean. Secondly, she wasn't alone. She was cradling Laverne De Fazio's head. She gently stroked Laverne's mousey blonde hair whillst tears fell from her own eyes. She saw Laverne as her knight in shining armour. The Knight that would scoop her up and ride away like Prince Valiant, Robin Hood, or all those gallant heroes from the silver screen that would risk all to save the heroine. Okay, Laverne De Fazio was a woman, but, the same principle applied. Now, Laverne was as much a prisoner as she was, and as much in danger of being executed. Shirley looked around her new cell and wondered what she was doing here. Ming Na suggested that she had a special project. What was that project? What part would Laverne and Shirley play in it?

"Vernie, why did you do something so stupid?"

Shirley kissed the top of Laverne's head.

"Thanks for trying to be my knight in shining armour," Shirley said "It may have got you killed, but, it was appreciated."

She felt Laverne's head and was happy that the bump she felt was going down. Laverne would have a headache but nothing serious.

"I love you, Vernie," Shirley said "I suppose I always have done, but my dream of picket fences, collies called Dave, two children and a handsome, rich Doctor got in the way."

Laverne chose that moment to open her eyes. She winced as if feeling a blinding pain.

"Shirl?"

"It's okay, Vernie, I'm here."

Shirley massaged Laverne's head and was glad that she wasn't massaging the head of somebody in her imagination. The Laverne De Fazio she was holding was real.

"You do that good, Shirl," Laverne said.

With Shirley's help, Laverne sat up and looked around.

"Plout, BA, The Doctor, are they here?"

"Only you were stupid enough to charge down a corridor and attack the VC head on," Shirley said "You could have been shot."

"The Doctor got away, good."

"Laverne?"

"I allowed myself to be caught," Laverne said.

"Are you mad?!"

"Shirl, I have a trick up my sleeve," Laverne smiled.

"Sorry, De Fazio," Ming Na's voice boomed "That small bit of plastic explosives you had hidden has been found."

Laverne looked at Shirley. Shirley nodded.

"Not quite what I meant," Laverne whispered to Shirley.

She tried standing up but found that she was handcuffed to Shirley. Shirley smiled in resignation. They managed to haul themselves up together.

"Thank you for turning up. Laverne," Ming Na said "It makes what I had in mind for Shirley a little more enjoyable."

"Glad to oblige, bitch!" Laverne shouted "You gonna shoot us the way you shot Walter."

"Possibly," Ming Na said "Or maybe I'm going to give you and Shirley a fighting chance to live. But, as I told Shirley, you'll have to kill me first."

"That will be a pleasure, Ming Na," Laverne said "You hurt my best friend, you hurt me, now you gonna pay."

"Laverne?" Shirely sounded terrified.

This was not the Laverne De Fazio that she knew. This Laverne De Fazio was angrier, and lot more reckless than she ever was. Laverne must have sensed that Shirley was upset and worried sick because she suddenly pulled Shirley into a hug.

"It will be alright, Shirl," Laverne said "Trust me."

"Sweet," Ming Na said.

"Shall we get on with it," Laverne said.

"Eager for the execution, De Fazio?"

"Eager to kill you, Ming Na," Laverne said "Your history is already written. This is the day you die."

"Really," Ming Na said "Somebody else suggested that history will punish me. But then as I reminded Doctor Smith, the history books are always written by the victors."

"Trust me, Ming Na, your death is written in stone," Laverne said "This is the day you die."

There was silence.

"Cat got your tongue?" Shirley said "Maybe you can't escape history, Ming Na."

"Possibly," Ming Na finally said "But, I get to kill you two first."

"Sorry, bitch, it don't happen that way," Laverne said "I'm not here as your prisoner, I'm here as your executioner."

"We'll see who gets executed," Ming Na said "There's a door to your left."

Shirley looked puzzled.

"What's going on, Laverne?" Shirley said.

"The something I have up my sleeve," Laverne said "It isn't an object, it's an event."

"Don't understand."

"You will," Laverne said.

"If I'm destined to die, then so be it," Ming Na said "I will bring you down with me."

"Sorry, Ming Na, it wont happen," Laverne said "You should have had us shot. Because now you've sealed your own fate."

"Vernie!" Shirley said.

Laverne pulled Shirley closer to her.

"We are coming to execute you, bitch," Laverne said "So you'd better start running."

They went to the door and pulled it opened. They walked out into a long white corridor.

"Okay, which way, Ming Na?"

There was silence, not even a pin-prick could be heard.

"I think you got to her," Shirley said "Nice going, Vernie."

"I'm stating fact, Shirl," Laverne said "The Doctor told me everything that's going to happen. You and I will kill Ming Na today."

"Both of us?"

"Sorry, Shirl," Laverne said "We can't change history."

Shirley looked down the white corridor. They say that silence can be deafening. It could also be terrifying as you know you were one step from danger, and if Laverne was right, one step from destiny, one step from being an executioner. Shirley Feeney wasn't sure she liked that idea.

"I don't either, Shirl," Laverne said "It's the way it has to be."

Shirley took Laverne's hand, and was relieved to feel that it was clammy. She was also relieved and a little puzzled about how Laverne could read her mind.

"I've always been able to, Shirley Feeney," Laverne smiled "The Doctor unlocked the door and showed me how to, as he will show you how to read my mind."

And Shirley certainly didn't like that idea.

"Which way?" Shirley asked.

Laverne squeezed Shirley's hand and closed her eyes as if to get inspiration. Something entered both their heads, a voice, the voice of the Doctor. Laverne opened her eyes and saw Shirley looking at her in surprise.

"What was that?"

"What was what?"

"That voice in my head?"

"That was proof that you have similar abilities to me," Laverne said "That was the Doctor telling us to go east."

Shirley closed her eyes this time.

"Go east, Shirley," The Doctor telepathed "Trust me."

"I hope you're right, Doc," Laverne thought.

"Vernie?"

"Nice to hear you, Shirl," Laverne thought.

"Go east, Laverne, Shirley," The Doctor said "Trust me, trust yourselves."

They started to head east.

THE TARDIS

The Doctor opened hs eyes and went to the console. The telepathic contact with the Fifth Doctor just before he linked with Laverne and Shirley had told him that he had found Peri and Erimem and now knew where Tiang was holding Frederick, the Duke of Ragussa. It was now time to perform his part of the plan.

"Don't let me down, old girl," The Doctor said "Lives are at stake, important lives."

He activated the demateralization circuit.

OUTSIDE THE TARDIS

He was just in time. A small battalion of VC soldiers entered the alleyway in order to seize the TARDIS. It disappeared right in front of their surprised eyes.

THE WHITE CORRIDOR

Both Laverne and Shirley carefully walked down the corridor. There was total silence. The only sound they could hear in fact was both of their hearts beating just a little faster with each step they made. Laverne closed her eyes again, more out of hope than expectation, in an attempt to connect with the Doctor again.

"Doc?"

Nothing. As expected, even the Doctor was silent.

"He did say that we should trust ourselves," Shirley said.

Laverne sighed. She knew that she was destined to kill Ming Na, the Doctor had told her so. But, she couldn't help feeling that the fates were closing in on her, and on Shirley. The last thing she wanted to was to kill anybody. She had never killed before, to kill somebody under normal circumstances was bad enough, but to kill someone because you were destined to do so made it worse. Conversely it also made it better because Laverne knew that she would get away with killing somebody who hurt her best friend in many ways. Nobody did that, nobody! Shirley put her handcuffed arm around Laverne. It caused Laverne a little pain but it was worth it.

"Thanks."

"For what?"

"For what you just thought."

Laverne put her free arm around Shirley and pulled her into hug. She would have to be careful from now onwards about what she thought.

"Nobody hurts my best friend, I meant that."

"That's why I said thanks," Shirley said "And thanks for risking your life to come and rescue me."

The two of them touched heads affectionately for a moment. They then walked up to a door and tried to open it. It was locked.

"Not good," Shirley said.

"There are more doors down the corridor," Laverne suggested.

Shirley looked down the corridor and saw the line of doors before her.

"Don't think we have much of a choice."

They started down the corridor trying each door as they came to it and finding them frustratingly locked until, when all hoped seemed to be ebbing away, one opened and they found themselves in a room full of swords. The opening of the door also triggered another event, a screen came down and the features of Ming Na flickered into view. Laverne held onto Shirley.

"You've found my weapons room, good," Ming Na smiled "Chose your weapons carefully, you will not get another opportunity to do so."

Before either Laverne or Shirley could react, Ming Na's image flickered off.

"Pre-recorded," Laverne said "I think that was meant for you, Shirl."

Shirley squeezed Laverne's hand.

"Choose our weapons carefully, she said," Shirley said "I'd rather not choose any weapon at all."

"We don't have much of a choice, Shirl," Laverne said "We are fighting this on her terms, and she means to win."

"I know, Vernie, I know."

Laverne took a rapier from it's holder and swirled it around the way she had seen in the movies.

"Just like Errol Flynn, Vernie," Shirley said.

"I feel like Errol Flynn," Laverne agreed.

She put the sword back and picked up something a little heavier, a broadsword.

"That should do it," Laverne said "Light enough to handle, heavy enough to cut that bitch's head off."

Shirley squeezed Laverne's hand again.

"You are aware that this is murder that we're contemplating."

"We're defending ourselves, Shirl," Laverne said "Anyways, we have no choice. Ming Na must die by my hand, it has already been ordained."

"Why?"

Laverne thought for a moment. The Doctor never explained that part to her. He only said that it was her destiny to kill Ming Na. Maybe the Doctor would explain why Ming Na had to die by her hand at some point, but, until then, she had to trust the Doctor's word.

"I don't know, Shirl," Laverne admitted "All I know is that I have to do it."

"Then..."

Shirley picked up a small dagger and slipped it under her belt. Laverne looked at her quizzically.

"I'm not going to let you do it alone," Shirley said "You did say that I would be holding her down while you killed her."

"You sure?"

"It has to be done, we have to trust the Doctor's word."

"Thanks, Shirl," Laverne said "You're a corker."

At that moment another door opened, followed by echoing laughter from through that door.

"Ya think she's trying to tell us something, Shirl."

Shirley gulped. Together, they went through the door.

THE TARDIS

The Doctor brought the TARDIS into land with pinpoint accuracy and saw, through the TARDIS view screen, a courtyard with two stakes in the middle. The first was meant for Shirley. The second, obviously meant for Laverne, was being hastily erected by VC soldiers. He could also see Tiang emerging from the shadows and looking at the work with satisfaction.

"Have I got a surprise for you, my friend," The Doctor grinned.

He closed his eyes and linked with the Fifth Doctor again. All the Fifth Doctor was waiting for was the signal was the signal to put their part of the plan in motion. It was a signal that he was now in a position to give. He was in that position because Tiang was in the courtyard and away from the Infirmary where they were keeping the Duke of Ragossa. All the Doctor had to do now was to keep him there and the Fifth Doctor would be home free. Seeing Tiang leave the courtyard, the Doctor opened the door and slipped out in order to follow Tiang. Now was the time for strong nerves, and a great deal of luck, and for history to take shape as it was meant.

ANOTHER ROOM

Laverne and Shirley entered what could only be described as a throne room. It was tastefully decorated with the most expensive art that money could buy. A person with alleged Communist leanings, as Ming Na claimed, could not have acquired this luxury. The furniture was tasteful and grand and was topped with a throne fit for a Queen. It sat perched on a podium at the far end of the room. All it needed was for Queen Ming Na to sit on it and the illusion would be complete. It was the dream James Bond villian's boudoir, a place where Auric Goldfinger or Ernst Stavros Blofield would have felt right at home in. It needed Sean Connery or Roger Moore, playing James Bond, to enter and to challenge the bad guy. However, it was Laverne De Fazio and Shirley Feeney playing James Bond, or Laverne playing Bond, and Shirley playing Bond's Damsel in Distress. That fact was that both of them were female, both of them were the total opposite to Connery or Moore, and both was pissed off with this game.

"Okay, Ming Na," Shirley said in the top of her voice "We're here. We're where you want us to be. Let's get this over with."

"Yeah." Laverne echoed "We've got things to do, people to see. We've got no time for playing games with a sick, twisted bitch like you. Let's end this."

The sound of a gong echoed through the room, causing both Laverne and Shirley to jump. Ming Na entered. She was dressed in an outfit fitting for a Kung Fu Princess, a white silk dress, and a head-dress.

"I was hoping you'd like the art, the luxury, the decadence," Ming Na half mocked "It has taken me years to acquire this."

"So you're the typical James Bond villian," Laverne said "Big deal."

"James Bond villian? Interesting concept, Miss De Fazio," Ming Na shrugged "I suppose I am in a way. But to my people and to my culture, you are the villians and I am James Bond. It really depends on how you look at it."

"Look at it any way you like, bitch," Laverne said "As I said, I am not your prisoner, I am your executioner."

"Considering you are handcuffed to Shirley, and I'm free to do what I like, I would say that's a moot point."

Laverne held the sword in her free hand in a fighting position. Ming Na smiled and produced a similar sword.

"I'm at a disadvantage," Ming Na said "Two against one."

Laverne and Shirley held up the handcuffs that linked them together.

"As you said, we're handcuffed together, and you're free to do what you like," Shirley said "I think things are in your favour."

"Maybe."

Ming Na suddenly lunged at Shirley ready to cut her head off. Laverne manged to block the attack with her sword and push Ming Na back. The fight was on.

OUTSIDE THE THRONE ROOM

The Doctor could see Tiang use a key to open a door. The door revealed a flight of stairs which lead to a gantry which overlooked the Throne Room itself. It seemed that Tiang liked to watch his wife fight and used the gantry to endulge his pleasures, probably with the full knowledge of Ming Na. A sense of perversion? Probably. He saw a smile of satisfaction on Tiang's face before heading up the stairs. Fortunately for the Doctor, he hadn't shut the door behind him. That mistake allowed the Doctor leave his hiding place and follow Tiang up the stairs to the gantry.

THE THRONE ROOM

Ming Na, as both Laverne and Shirley had suggested, had a massive advantage. Because she was handcuffed to Laverne, Shirley had become a hindrance to Laverne rather than a help. She was slowing Laverne down, thus putting her on the back foot fending off every attack that Ming Na. It may have been a hastily adjusted plan on Ming Na's part, after all, she wasn't expecting to face Laverne De Fazio and well as Shirley Feeney, but it was working a treat. Whereas Ming Na was free to move around and attack at will, Laverne was having to drag Shirley around, and most of the attacks that Laverne was fending off was aimed at Shirley, thus putting Laverne in an enforced defensive mode. As Laverne fended off another attack from the increasingly confident Ming Na, she could feel herself tiring, and that was becoming increasingly noticable to Ming Na.

"This is my day to die is it?" Ming Na gloated.

She launched another attack in Shirley's direction which again Laverne was forced to block.

"Nearly," Ming Na said "I nearly got through there. I suggest that you give up, Laverne, you can't keep protecting Shirley forever and when I get through, and I will, she'll be dead, and you'll be mine."

"Give it your best shot," Laverne said

Ming Na launched another attack which Laverne parried. This time it provoked Laverne's first attack in Ming Na's direction. It caught Ming Na momentarily by surprise, but she managed to block it.

"Nearly," Shirley said for Laverne "You're getting sloppy, Ming Na."

"That's better," Ming Na said.

She circled Laverne and Shirley again, readying herself to attack Shirley again. Laverne glanced at Shirley and saw the look of fear on Shirley's face. Laverne gripped Shirley's hand and gave it a squeeze before fending another attack from Ming Na. This time, it was frenzied and constant. It was forcing both Laverne and Shirley back.

THE GANTRY

The Doctor could see what was going on. He could see that Laverne and Shirley were handcuffed and had a massive disadvantage. He could also see that Ming Na had launched a frenzied attack, that Tiang, sitting in an observation area, was enjoying immensely. He had to do something before Laverne and Shirley crashed into the throne that they were being backed into, and were at the mercy of Ming Na. He took out his sonic screwdriver and adjusted it to full power. Then he aimed it at the handcuffs that was linking Laverne and Shirley together. The handcuffs fell to the ground, and that forced Tiang to stand up and look in his direction.

"Doctor?"

"Hello, Tiang."

Tiang launched himself in the Doctor's direction.

THE THRONE ROOM

The moments surprise was all Laverne needed. Now free of her handcuffs, she was able to go on a frenzied attack of her own. It was forcing Ming Na back, and for the first time, she saw fear in Ming Na's eyes, as well as the anger in Laverne's whole body. Looking up, she could also see that the Doctor and Tiang were grappling with each other, trading blows as they fought. She produced the knife from her belt and readied herself to use it in case she needed to. Laverne was now smashing up furniture trying to get Ming Na, her anger growing with every stroke. Ming Na's defense was now getting desperate, but she was starting to counter attack and was pushing Laverne back a little. It was now stalemate, and Laverne was showing visible signs of tiring. Shirley fingered the knife.

"Please Lord, make this work."

She adopted a throwing position and waited for a chance to throw it at Ming Na. It came just as Tiang, attempting to push the Doctor over the balcony, crashed from the gantry into the throne.

"No!" Ming Na screamed.

Shirley threw the knife and it hit Ming Na in the arm forcing her to drop the sword. At the same time Laverne thrusted the fatal blow into Ming Na's heart.

"Shirley!" The Doctor shouted.

Tiang had somehow survived the fall and was making for Shirley. Shirley found a heavy object, a bust of Ho Chi Minn himself, and sent it crashing down on Tiang's head. It turned out to be hard enough to break Tiang's skull, killing him almost instantly.

"Oh my god!" Shirley said.

She burst into shocked tears. Laverne threw away her sword and went over to hug Shirley. At that moment, the klaxons of hell echoed through the building. The Fifth Doctor, Hannibal, BA, Murdock, Templeton Peck and Plout was obviously breaking Peri, Erimem and Frederick out at that moment.

"We have to get out of here, now!" The Doctor said.

Laverne took Shirley's hand and ran to where Ming Na entered, The Doctor broke into a run in order to leave the Gantry in a hurry. A few seconds later VC soldiers burst into the room and saw both their leaders dead. A group went after Laverne, Shirley and the Doctor.

OUTSIDE THE THRONE ROOM

Laverne and Shirley ran into the Doctor as he exited.

"Doc, you are a sight for sore eyes," Laverne said.

Laverne hugged the Doctor. The Doctor pushed her away.

"We don't have time for that," The Doctor said "We need to run."

The Doctor took Shirley's hand and started to run. At first, he was dragging Shirley a little, but then soldiers crashed out of the room and was firing at them. That forced all three of them to hurry up. A few seconds later, they burst into the courtyard and saw the two stakes in the centre of the yard. The Doctor slammed the door and bolted it.

"Shirl!" Laverne said "That was meant for us."

"It still could be," The Doctor said.

To prove the Doctor's point, the door was starting to splinter as the soldiers were trying to batter the door down.

"The TARDIS is this way."

"TARDIS?" Shirley said doubtfully.

"We don't have a choice," The Doctor said "They're going to be through that door any minute."

"It'll be fun, Shirl."

The Doctor held out his hand. Shirley could see that the door was about to go. It was either journey into the unknown or die in this courtyard. Not much of a choice. She took The Doctor's hand and headed towards the blue police box standing in the shadows of the courtyard. They got to the TARDIS just as the door burst opened. The Doctor opened the door and pushed them in, and then with a cheeky wave at the advancing soldiers, got into the TARDIS and shut the door.

THE TARDIS

Shirley couldn't believe what she was looking at. There was no way that something this size could get into a box the size of a large crate.

"I had the same problem, Shirl," Laverne said.

"Same problem," Shirley said "Vernie, this is a physical impossibility."

They could hear the soldiers outside trying to batter down the door. They even heard somebody firing at the door.

"I really wish they wouldn't do that," The Doctor said "It'll cost a fortune to repair."

"Doc, can they get in?" Laverne asked.

"No chance," The Doctor said "There will be a few holes to patch up, but they wont be able to get in."

The Doctor started to manipulate the controls on the gothic looking console. The central part of the console started to oscilate. Then both Laverne and Shirley felt the shudder of something lifting off.

"Vernie!" Shirley said taking Laverne's hand.

"It's okay, Shirl," Laverne said "Just settle back and enjoy the ride."

"Ride?" Shirley said "Where are we going?"

Laverne looked at the Doctor. The Doctor shrugged.

"Away from Vietnam in 1975."

"What about Plout, Hannibal, Peck, BA, Murdock?" Shirley asked.

"They'll be fine," The Doctor said "My former self will be able to get them out without too much trouble."

The Doctor held out his hand.

"Welcome aboard the TARDIS, Shirley Feeney."

Shirley looked at the outstretched hand.

"Are you taking us home?" Shirley asked.

"In a round about way," The Doctor said.

"I have a daughter, Doctor," Shirley said "With my husband, her father dead, she needs me."

"She'll be fine, Shirley," The Doctor said "Trust me. However, Ming Na and Tiang's death is going to cause a stink. It might be best if you stayed away from her for a while."

"It was self defence," Shirley protested.

"I know," The Doctor said "But, the Vietnamese leadership are going to be baying for blood. Both you and Laverne are going to be accused of working for a covert CIA assassination squad. It'll be safer for your daughter if you stayed away from her."

"Who's going to look after her?"

"Carmine," The Doctor said "He's more than capable."

"She'll be fine, Shirl," Laverne said "And you will be seeing her again."

Shirley looked at the Doctor. The Doctor nodded.

"I've got no choice, haven't I?"

"It'll be fun, Shirl," Laverne said "Laverne and Shirley go to the stars together."

Shirley placed her head on Laverne's shoulder.

"Okay!" Shirley said in resignation.

Shirley accepted The Doctor's hand.

TRITON MAGNA

The TARDIS materialised in the market square. The area was festooned with bunting, and stalls selling goods. It was like Triton Magna the day the First Doctor, Ian Chesterton, Barbara Wright and Susan left, except possibly for the stall that Barbara and Donna Preator busted up whilst having a brawl. What made the Doctor and Laverne sure that this was the Triton Magna they had just left was the Judoon troopers on patrol, and the fact that Donna, Margaret, Penny and Cindy were waiting on a podium for their arrival. Shirley looked at Penny and Cindy through the viewscreen and was amazed how like Laverne and Shirley herself they looked. Laverne smiled at Shirley and put her arm around her best friend.

"This, Shirl, is Triton Magna," Laverne said.

"The same Triton Magna involved in that silly war?" Shirley said.

"Precisely," The Doctor said.

He opened the door.

"Shall we go?"

Laverne took Shirley's hand and guided her out of the TARDIS, followed closely by the Doctor. Everybody in the square greeted them with a round of applause that they probably could have heard on Earth.

"I think the war is over," Laverne suggested.

"Seems that way," The Doctor said.

The Doctor and Laverne were greeted by both Donna and Margaret with Penny and Cindy hanging back a little.

"This is Shirley Feeney?" Donna asked.

"Indeed it is," The Doctor said.

Donna shook Shirley by the hand.

"You are most welcome, Shirley Feeney," Donna said.

"If it wasn't for you," Margaret said "We would still be at war over nothing. Laverne's love for you, and her determination to get to you whatever the cost, showed us the way forward. I am so glad that she made it."

Shirley looked at Laverne and saw the smile on Laverne's face.

"So she did go face to face with a man with a gun?"

"Yes," Donna said.

"For me?"

"In a round about way, yes," Donna said "That is why we owe you as much as we owe the Doctor and Laverne De Fazio, and that is why we're prepared to give you, Laverne De Fazio and for the second time, The Doctor, the freedom of Triton Magna, our highest award."

Both Penny and Cindy stepped forward. Both of them were carrying cushions with medals on. Penny took a medal off the cushion she was carrying and hung around the Doctor's neck. Cindy approached Laverne and hung her medal around Laverne's neck. Penny then approached Shirley.

"I really don't deserve this," Shirley said "It was my blindness that nearly cost Laverne her life."

"But it was your love that spurred her on," Penny said "For that, we owe you our thanks. You stopped a war because somebody loved you enough to risk her life."

Shirley looked at Laverne. Laverne smiled and nodded. Shirley took a deep breath and allowed Penny to hang the medal around her neck.

"Doctor, Laverne De Fazio, Shirley Feeney, you are companions of order and have total freedom of Triton Magna," Donna said.

"Thank you for showing us the way."

With that, the celebrations began, and Shirley Feeney was fully integrated into the TARDIS.