Eustatia Jordon
Exercise 54
Operation: Pet Shop
Alistair and Martha strode down the sidewalk towards Sam's Cute Cuddlers dressed in civilian clothing so as not to attract attention. To anyone watching they would simply see two friends on their way to buy a pet, and most would suspect said animal was going to be the latest craze pet, an albino chinchilla, but they would be wrong.
"Hello Brigadier, nice seeing you here," Martha said as she looked up from the paperwork piled up on her desk.
"Hello Martha, I wish I could be as happy about my visit, but I know why I'm here," he responded as he took a seat across from the young woman.
"Then why don't you tell me what brought you here Alistair?"
"Aliens Colonel Jones, aliens. I'm not sure yet whether they're hostile, but I'd rather not take any chances, lest we repeat the incident with the Adipose," he explained.
"Just how did you come by this information? It's supposed to be classified," she smiled at him, not at all concerned with him knowing.
"My daughter is UNIT's scientific advisor." He answered with a wink.
"Then you also know that these things look like normal chinchillas."
"Yes, but there are rarely, if ever so many albino chinchillas about. That's what got my attention and caused me to ask Kate."
She smiled and sighed. "Well come with me Alistair. I was going to call you to help anyway, but before we go investigate we need to clear you with the general."
As they walked into the pet shop they saw a plethora of people, or at least it seemed as such in the small store. Nine out of ten were holding a little ball of white fur.
"I must admit they're kind of cute," Martha admitted as she picked one up out of its case. "I do hope that these little darlings are harmless."
"Oh they are," a familiar voice came up behind Martha and Alistair. "These little balls of fluff are alien, technically." The pair of friends turned to see the Doctor holding one of the alien chinchillas.
"Technically?" they asked in unison.
"Yes, well, they are biologically identical to chinchillas here on earth, but they come from Albina. Every creature there is pure white, well there is the occasional genetic mutation that produces another color, but white is dominant," he explained.
"So they're harmless. Do they have another name on Albina?" Martha asked.
"No, they're called chinchillas there too," he smiled as he scratched the head of the one he was holding before handing it to Alistair. "I think that one likes you Martha." With that he left the shop.
Martha shook her head. "I'll never understand that man, but he's right, I think this little one likes me and is going to be mine," she smiled and looked at Alistair. "I'm sure Kate would appreciate a pet."
He sighed. "If so she can get her own, this one is coming home with me. Doris has been going on about how having a pet has been known to relieve stress anyhow."
The two then found what they'd need to care for their new furry friends and left the shop reminiscing about their adventures with the Doctor.