The Ribos Operation, Episode 1
The Fourth Doctor, stunned by a powerful white light shooting through the door of the TARDIS, tossed his scarf over his shoulder and marched ahead boldly. On the opposite end of the shaft of light, a bearded man rested on a patio chair, sipping a margarita.
"Who are you?" the Doctor inquired of the strange man. "Are you God?"
The man chuckled. "Not remotely. God lives in a mansion about five blocks from here. At least I think he does—no one's ever seen him. I," he said boomingly, "am the White Guardian."
The Doctor nodded reverently. "I'm honored. What do you want with me?"
"I need you," replied the White Guardian, "to seek out the pieces of the Key to Time, which are scattered throughout time and space."
"Oh, come now," said the Doctor incredulously. "Finding the missing pieces of an all-powerful ancient artifact? That's the oldest, stalest plot in the universe. I can't help you now; I'm busy rescuing some astronauts from a race of technologically advanced aliens who are trying to understand the human concept of love by forcing them to mate."
"Very well," said the White Guardian disappointedly. "I'll find another hero…Buck Rogers, perhaps."
The Doctor's jaw dropped. "Not him! He slept through 500 years of scientific advancements. What use is he to you? All right, I'm in."
"Excellent," said the White Guardian, tenting his fingers. "The task will be fraught with danger, so I've arranged to pair you up with a soulmate."
"A soul-what?" said the Doctor. "I'm not familiar with that term."
"And another thing," said the old man. "Beware the Black Guardian."
"There's a black Guardian?" said the Doctor with surprise. "What is this, Affirmative Action?"
"You will know him when you see him," said the White Guardian. "He wears a crow on his head."
"What if I meet him in Paris?" asked the Doctor.
He suddenly reappeared next to the TARDIS console, the words "Beware the Black Guardian" echoing in his head. "Beware the Black Guardian, eh?" he muttered to himself. "Why, pray tell, should a man's motives be called into question merely because of the color of his aura?"
A sweet voice called to him. "Hello, Doctor."
He whirled, and saw standing across the console a gorgeous woman with long blond hair, dressed in a white silk gown that reached to her sequined slippers and perfect feet. The Doctor knew instantly, without having to ask questions, that this woman was incomparably beautiful, incomparably amazing, and incomparably his soulmate.
"My name is Rosannadvoratrelundar," she told him.
"That's too long," remarked the Doctor. "By the time I say that, you'll already be in the arms of another man. I'll call you Rose."
To be continued