Chapter One

She first met him when she was 16. He had appeared in her yard and knocked on her door. When she let him in, he scanned the room with a small light and started searching through the house. She didn't ask his name or why he was there. She felt he was someone she could trust.

"What's your name?" asked the strange man of the young girl.

"Charlotte," she said.

"Ah. Free," he said as he continued to scan the room with the small device.

"Free?" asked Charlotte with a look of confusion on her face.

"Your name," he said.

"What about my name?"

"It means free. English origin I believe," he said, "You can call me the Doctor."

"The Doctor?" she asked, "seriously? Doctor who?"

"That, my dear, is not important," he said as he turned back to face the young girl, "What is important is that you have got a nasty Gerleonan invasion. That is going to need taking care of immediately."

"What the bloody hell is a Gerleonan?" asked Charlotte as the Doctor walked toward the door.

He turned and with a look of utmost seriousness said, "Gerleonans are pesky creatures that are almost invisible to the naked eye. They look a bit like fruit flys but are much more deadly. They live mainly in a galaxy across the universe so it is a bit weird that they would be here in the first place. Why are they here? It couldn't be... Could it?"

"Could be what, Doctor?"

"Charlotte, have you seen any strange doglike creatures about lately? This is very important, Charlotte and I need you to answer me completely honestly. There may be lives on the line here," said the strange Doctor.

"I've seen some odd looking strays around I suppose."

He grabbed her shoulders and said, "What do they look like, Charlotte? Give me as much detail as possible! Everything from colour to what sort of sounds they make. This is very important, Charlotte."

"Well," said Charlotte, "They're all white with brown ears and noses. They are all very, very skinny and have visible ribs that stick out at odd angles like spikes. They don't bark either. They make dolphin like noises..."

"Why?" said the Doctor, "Why of all things did it have to be the Zithurgs? Those 'dogs' are called Zithurgs and the Gerleonans are attracted to their scent. The Zithurgs tried to take over about fifty years ago and I managed to put a stop to it then but they've gotten more powerful since."

"Fifty years ago? But you look so young!" said Charlotte with a look of curiosity. However this thought quickly vanished from her mind.

"Yes, time travel does that to you."

The Doctor began pondering ways to stop the Zithurgs, so Charlotte decided to take a moment to study the man that stood before her. He was very tall. He had large, brown eyes and short brown hair that was done up in the front. He was very handsome. He wore a blue suit with red converse and a brown trench coat.

Suddenly the Doctor grabbed her hand and led her outside to a blue police box and they went inside.