CHAPTER ONE
As the TARDIS jerked and bounced through the galaxy, Rose Tyler was changing into Barcelonian clothes. The humanoid women in Barcelona wore pounds of jewelry made out of aphalyte (a shiny, lumiescent metal found on the planet). They also wore dresses best described as brightly colored, very loose saris. Men wore loose, baggy robes, too, but the Doctor didn't want to change. "They get visitors from all over the place- a suit and coat won't be that unusual. Any anyway, the locals know me. I'm the 'Blue Box Medicine Man!'"
The TARDIS landed just as Rose had tied the last knot in her sari. She and the Doctor stepped out of the TARDIS in to bright sunlight and a throng of noseless dogs and blue skinned people. Everyone was talking- some were asking them questions, some were telling them to leave, and yet more were inviting them to supper. The Doctor held up his hand for them to stop talking. "One at a time, please: humans and time lords can't differentiate when more than one person is talking at once. Mayor, would you like to speak first?"
One of the dogs stepped forward. He bowed, and said, "Blue Box Medicine Man, I welcome you on behalf of the city of Bakaar. We are honored that you have visited us once again. Who is your companion?"
Rose laughed and said, "I'm Rose Tyler. I'm his friend. I travel around with him. Save the universe. That sort of thing."
As the Doctor and Rose were shown around the city by the mayor, they were mobbed by people wanting to sell their wares to them. Rose bought a few things, but soon was weighed down by all her purchases. The city's main industry was tourism- people from all over the universe wanted to see the Barcelonian dogs, and for those rich enough to do so, Barcelona was a popular vacation spot.
There were plenty of hotels, but they were put up by the mayor in a suite in his mansion. When they were settled in their rooms, the Doctor told Rose about the planet.
"Barcelona is mostly desert, but nobody lives in the desert. Everybody lives in cities, and all of the cities are near either the ocean coast or in the rainforest. The entire planet is one country- Barcelona- but it doesn't have a main figure of power in the government. Instead, they have a parliament made up of all the mayors.
"Only the dogs can be in the government- Barcelona is terribly racist. The Afalaxor people came here from the planet Afalaxoria as slaves, and although slavery was outlawed a few decades ago, there's still plenty of discrimination."
"So it's just the dogs and the Afalaxors who live here, then?"
"Yes, but it's very popular to vacation here."
"How did they know it was you? I mean, you haven't been here in this incarnation, have you?"
"Nah, they saw the TARDIS! Pretty recognizable if you've seen it before, doncha think?"
Rose giggled. "One of the most recognizable things in the universe to me, Doctor."
The Doctor smiled and looked down at Rose. Rose smiled and looked up at the Doctor. When their eyes met, it felt to Rose as if time itself had stopped. Those big, chocolaty brown eyes... His cockeyed smile... The slightly hooked nose... She loved the way he looked. She loved him.