After waiting for Gilius for some time, Martha and the Doctor went to have a drink with the others. Martha noticed that the bloogs seemed to enjoy poking people, because they were now conducting a poking experiment on Bom, the man who walked on his sucker-like hands.

Lord Embreith and Lady Farina Kramisha Wotnot were thoroughly questioning the Doctor on what it was that he "did for a living".

"So you're not a man of medicine?" Lady Farina was saying, clearly confused.

"No." The Doctor said. "Well. I kind of am, but I also... fix things..."

"A mechanic? You don't look an awful lot like one."

"Well, I'm a bit of both really, and I travel around a lot."

The Lord and Lady exchanged a glance.

"A traveller?" Lord Embreith asked, immediately assuming a more arrogant prose. "Well. Back in the good old days, that never would have been excepted."

Martha decided to go over and save him. "Hey, I'm Martha."

"Good day."

"Martha travels around with me." The Doctor explained.

The Lord and Lady's faces lit up. "Oh really? What a delightful young companion you have, Doctor."

"Thanks." Martha said, her voice a little harder than it should have been. She was a little annoyed that they still seemed to be talking to the Doctor, even though she could clearly talk for herself.

"So where are you from?" Martha asked them.

"Oh." Said Lord Embreith. "Well. All over the place, really. I suppose..."

Martha felt her mind begin to wander, as rude as it was of her, as Embreith rambled on and on about his heritage. She really wished she hadn't asked.

"...of course, back in the good old days, we didn't have to watch our backs, us Lords. No, there were no people out to steal our fortunes. But now, of course, nothing like the good old days. Everyone's out to steal everyone's property, money..." he trailed off into a tut. "Back in the good old days-"

Martha and the Doctor exchanged a glance. Lord Embreith seemed to be talking more to Lady Farina, and didn't seem to notice as Martha muttered to the Doctor, "I'm counting how many times he says "the good old days"."

"What're we on?"

"Four, if we count the one earlier."

"... and everyone could have as many ships as they liked. I even owned a space port at one time, but of course, back in the good old days, that was still allowed. Now they're all publicly owned, the rotters..."

"Five." The Doctor murmured.

"...I miss the good old days..."

"Six." Martha mouthed.

Lady Farina had been smiling and nodding politely all the way through, but now jumped as Martha had done earlier, as the teleporter beam flashed and whooshed.

Everyone went quiet, including Lord Embreith, -finally- and looked to see who had arrived.

A man stood at the far end of the room.

"Hello." Said Gilius.

A/N: Thanks for reading!

Next chapter will be the antics of all the different aliens as they play a popular party game... which ends in disaster. Oh my goodness can we see the beginnings of a plot appearing? Intriguing? Yes? No? Maybe?

Also, I'd really really like it if you could review. I've looked at my traffic and it seems like quite a lot of people are reading my story, but just not reviewing. It would be great if I knew what you thought of it, what I need to improve, what I did well, etc. Thanks :)