When Penelope arrived at the office on Thursday morning, she could tell that something was up. Her co-workers kept shooting looks her way, and they stopped talking when she came into ear shot, then resumed their whispers as she got farther away. Some of them had half grins plastered on their faces, as though they were waiting for some big surprise.

After the usual check-in with Mr. Lessman, Penelope stepped into her office to find a package on her desk. It was odd, because she made certain to never have things delivered to her desk. There wasn't even a proper return address on it, just a phone number that was like none she'd ever seen before, having eight numbers, one of which was an infinity symbol.

Shooting a glance out at her co-workers caused them all to look back down at their desks. Penelope closed the door to afford herself some privacy. Whatever this thing was, it would likely be embarrassing.

Pulling out her scissors and opening them, she used one side like a knife to cut the tape and open the box. Reaching in past the packing peanuts she produced…

A small, blue box. Judging by the words around the top, it was a model of a "Police Call Box." Penelope had seen one once, on a business trip to London. It was obviously from Dr. Jones, a not-so-subtle hint for her to call.

What made the knick-knack interesting though, and very, very nearly worth keeping, was the way that it kept fading in and out, as though it wasn't sure whether or not it ought to exist, and in time with the disappearing act was a noise that—if she'd been a person of fancy—Penelope would have described as that of a machine breathing. Being Penelope Starling however, it sounded more like a razor being scraped along a piano wire.

She debated keeping it for a full five seconds before opening her office door. "Janet," she said to a nearby woman. "Does your cousin still collect oddities?"

Susan glanced at the clock, keeping her smile well hidden. It was nearly lunch, and also time for the next trick the Doctor would send. She had no idea how the people would react to it, or really what to expect. The Doctor had only told her enough to insure her winnings for that round. Whatever happened, some people would go home a little richer, and others with empty pockets.

Penelope had thrown out the last gift: a compact that was really a holographic image of the Doctor trying to explain himself. She probably would have sent it away to a reverse engineer if her pride wasn't on the line. Susan couldn't understand why the woman was so…stuck up. If a good looking English guy like the Doctor asked Susan out, she'd accept in a heartbeat.

The elevator gave a small ding and opened. Susan turned, and could do little but stare at what came out.

The thing resembled an upside down trashcan, its body made of panels, what could be considered the head a half sphere. Two ear-like lights sat on top of the head, and a large…was it an eyestalk? came out from the head. The arms, much too small for the body, were made of an old-fashioned egg beater and a plunger. It turned its head slowly, surveying the room before gliding smoothly forward.

One by one, people in the area started noticing the thing. At first, interest and confusion won out, but as it progressed through the office, snickers could be heard. While the remote controlled robot—it couldn't be anything else—had the potential to be menacing, it wasn't doing a very good job at the moment.

The panels were certainly created out of whatever the Doctor had managed to find. One was shrink wrap over mahogany, one looked like crushed soup cans, another was certainly a sheet of gold, and there was one Susan would swear was made of tinfoil. The head was made of the same brass metal as two of the panels, but one ear was a large Christmas light, and the eyestalk was plastic PVC pipe with a video camera lens as the eye itself. It was positively pathetic, but somehow so cute Susan wanted to take it home.

The robot continued to glide down the hall, unaware of the giggling humans. By now even Mr. Lessman had come out of his office, and was watching the thing in amusement. Susan was certain that had the robot been for anyone other than Penelope, he would have had it removed, but even Mr. Lessman risked upsetting his P.A. on occasion if it really ruffled her feathers.

The robot stopped in front of Penelope's closed office door and reached out with the egg-beater, tapping on the door three times before waiting patiently. A few seconds later the door swung open to reveal Penelope. She blinked at the thing as it extended its plunger. Resting on top was a pizza box.

In a metallic, grating voice, it very politely said, "COMPLIMENTS OF THE DOCTOR. HE REQUESTS THAT YOU RECONIDER HIS PROPOSAL."

Penelope closed her eyes, inhaling deeply as everyone unsuccessfully stifled a fresh round of laughter. She pinched the bridge of her nose. Susan raised her eyebrows and nodded, impressed. The Doctor had really managed to get a reaction from the woman, and only the second day. This was extremely promising.

Penelope turned to a nearby security guard. "Please have this thing removed." She stepped back into her office and shut the door quietly as the guard did as she requested. The robot looked incredibly pathetic and rather adorable as its eyestalk drooped in disappointment.

Susan had to send the Doctor a text. He'd not only gotten a reaction from her, but had also managed to put her off her schedule. This was the first time Susan could remember in her three years of working at World Maps Inc. that Penelope hadn't left for lunch.

But first to collect her winnings.

A few hours later, Penelope sat in her office, thinking as she stared at the small jewelry box on her desk. This particular…gift, had literally appeared on her desk a few minutes ago. No grand fanfare, no spectacular arrival, not even a noise. It had just appeared. Out of curiosity Penelope had opened it to reveal an earring and necklace set unlike any she'd ever seen.

The design was triangular in shape, and made of what looked like sterling silver except that it was extremely lightweight. There seemed to be a letter on it that reminded her simultaneously of a two and a Celtic knot. At the top of the triangle was a smooth round stone that was a swirl of purple and yellow.

This man—the Doctor Jones—was very confusing, and Penelope was both intrigued and annoyed at that. She liked things clean cut and understandable, and most people were, even those who considered themselves mysterious and unreadable.

She thought of what she did know about the man. He knew technology that was a certainty. Unless you were incredibly knowledgeable about computers and circuits you couldn't build holograms with no mirrors, boxes that faded in and out of reality, robots that delivered pizza, or make jewelry inexplicably appear.

Penelope nearly snickered remembering that ridiculous robot before collecting herself and re-boarding her train of thought.

He was old fashioned, or at least his clothes were, but he held some major sway among higher ups in Chicago. Without connections, he couldn't have had road construction suddenly decide to work on her route to the office. But if he was connected, why hadn't she heard of him? Or ever seen him before Monday evening?

Why was he so obsessed about Mr. Snow, and what gave him the idea that Mr. Snow was a Drast, whatever that was? The man was a recluse, not an alien. Though whatever had attacked her hadn't really seemed human. And then there was that stuff that had been all over her clothes. She'd discreetly sent it off to a lab and had them put a rush on it, getting the results in her e-mail. While all of the components seemed natural, none of them came from Earth.

This Doctor Jones was determined, though whether it was to embarrass her into helping him or seduce her into assisting his cause, she wasn't sure. The hologram and the robot thing were more embarrassing than intriguing, but the fading phone box and now the jewelry suggested he was just trying to get her help and not cause other problems.

Penelope made the decision to keep the jewelry, if only so she could return it in person on the certainty that the Doctor Jones would appear in her path again.

The Doctor's pocket let out a quick beep. He pulled out the modified GPS and looked at the small dot on it. Sounds of her car radio filtered through the speaker. It seemed as though she had taken the jewelry after all. Checking the street name, he decided that she had put it in after leaving the office. That was the only way to activate the nano-recorders he'd coated the earrings in. He suspected that the Drast would take another stab at Penelope Starling, and he wanted to be in on the conversation when it happened.

Penelope pulled into the lot near her apartment building. She locked her car, mentally going over what she needed to do tonight to be ready for tomorrow. Among other things, she still had some people to call in other time zones while it was appropriate.

She headed for the front door, her mind humming so busily that she nearly didn't hear the person behind her.

Turning swiftly, she was hard put not pull back in shock. The thing was nearly six feet tall, covered in blue armor with light showing through different chinks, and wearing a helmet shaped like a bird's head. Its proportions were a bit off, the body parts not quite fitting together.

"May I help you?" Penelope asked, the question automatic.

"Miss Penelope Starling," the thing said, its voice strangely low and whispery.

"I am she."

"I am one of the Drast."

"I've heard the name."

"I would speak with you in private."

Penelope looked at the huge, glowing man. It would be a little difficult to have a confidential chat with him. "Was there a particular meeting place you had in mind?"

The Drast was silent for a moment. "Your choice."

Penelope had to admire the way the Drast had simultaneously put the control and the problem in her court. Most would choose a place where they felt the safest and most confident. You could find out a lot doing that. Penelope stared coolly at the blue-plated creature. "No one is here at the moment. What was it you wanted?"

The Doctor watched the impromptu meeting, listening in with modified GPS. The information was certainly revealing. He decided that he would step up his act tomorrow to get on Penelope's good side. He could see he needed her help more than ever now.

*Constructive critisisim welcome, praise happily accepted, flames not wanted*