The chapter title gives it away a bit, doesn't it? I'm sure you'll enjoy the chapter anyway, dears. Also, I wrote so much yesterday that I already have the next chapter sitting in front of me. If I get enough reviews, I might be tempted to update tonight. If not, you'll have to wait until tomorrow.
Is this shameless bribery to get people to read my story? Why yes, I suppose it is. So go and tell your friends about it.
Chapter 4: Old Friends, New Enemies
Romana woke up the following morning (or at least, she assumed it was morning) with a splitting headache. Her vision was blurry and it hurt whenever she tried to think. When at last her eyes managed to focus on her surroundings, she realised she could no longer be on the Voidship, whichever way the walls might have been turned. The room she was in was rather different from anything she had seen before.
"I've redecorated." Romana looked to her left and realised someone was sitting there. Her immediate thoughts were that he looked fairly decent, with brown hair that stuck out at odd angles and blue eyes that twinkled mischievously. His dress sense could be better, as proved by the pinstripe suit he was wearing, but nobody was perfect. He grinned at her.
Romana's head swam for a moment, and again her vision went blurry. By the time it cleared, she was painfully aware of who the man sitting next to her was. "Doctor," she stated. "You're alive."
His grin widened. "Romana, so are you. Just about."
She frowned at him. "Whatever do you mean?"
"Well," he started, before getting distracted by a crash in another room. "I have to go, um, sort that out. Don't get up yet." She leaned on her elbows to try and sit up, but he pushed her gently back down again. "No really, don't. Just stay there until I get back." He dashed out of the room, leaving Romana feeling more than a little confused.
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The crash had been caused by a large heavy object falling from the shelf on which it had been placed long ago. The Doctor looked it over briefly to check for any damage. He was pleased to find there was none, although seeing as he had no clue what the object actually was, it was difficult to explain how he could know if it was broken or not. He placed it back on the shelf, a little further away from the edge this time, and returned to the room Romana was in.
When he returned, she was still lying down. He guessed by her mildly confused expression that she hadn't tried to get up again yet. "So," she asked, "why is it that I'm not allowed to get up, exactly?"
"Shock," the Doctor responded. "You've been unconscious for a while; let your body deal with that first."
Romana nodded, and as she did so noticed a flicker of black out of the corner of her eye. She went to touch her hair, but the Doctor pulled her hand gently away. "Just lie still," he instructed. "You can get up in a few minutes or so."
"Doctor, have I regenerated?" He avoided her eye. "Doctor! Have I regenerated or not?"
The Doctor pulled a face. "Well, um…yes, pretty much." He ran his fingers through his hair. "That's why you shouldn't get up yet, it'll come as a shock."
His words did nothing to ease Romana's mind. She hesitated for a moment. "I've got a really big nose now, haven't I?"
"No! It's fine."
She felt her nose with her fingers, running her hand over the smooth contours of her face. "It's huge!" she gasped. "I knew it!"
"It's smaller than your old one," the Doctor pointed out. It was the wrong thing to say, and he knew it immediately. "I mean, it's tiny. Really," he reassured her, "it's…it's cute."
"Cute?" she raised an eyebrow.
"What's cute?" Rydell asked, entering the room. He caught sight of Romana and froze. "President, you've…"
"She knows," the Doctor told him.
Romana nodded. "Is there a mirror anywhere, Doctor?"
"There's one in the next room." Romana left to see her latest incarnation for herself, leaving Rydell and the Doctor alone in the room.
Rydell glared at him. "I don't trust you, and I don't like you."
"The feeling's mutual," the Doctor shot back.
