Charles and Rachel raised their hands in fear and betrayal. This was it! Rachel had literally just been freed from being kidnapped and tied up just to stare down the barrel of a gun in the end. Charles could have been safe. He could have never seen his wife again, but he chose to trust the Doctor to help him find her. Now he was going to die. If Charles was to be killed now he'd let the traitor know exactly how he felt. "I trusted you, Doctor, and this is how you repay me?"
Most middle men would look away, but the Doctor looked him dead in the eye with seriousness. "Charles, the Telemarvins are a cursed race and by rule of Galactic Law 262 F, any sentient, but Class Five individuals that learn of them need to be executed so their shame will stay a secret. I'm so sorry, but it's the law."
"But, we won't tell anybody. Neither of us will." Rachel nodded to show that she wholeheartedly agreed with Charles' statement. "Please, I don't want to die!"
The Doctor's almost depressed face gave way to a wide knowing grin. "Course the difference between this lot and myself is that I have control over timelines. One of the many benefits of being a Time Lord, last one or not." The Telemarvin still held his gun at the humans but turned his face in huge surprise at the Doctor. "The law states that the Telemarvins must remain a secret and believe me if any of their technology would leak to the human race now than there would be a whole heaping tower of bad. Course, I can read the timelines and can see that neither of you speak of this day ever again. And I really hate deaths." The Doctor pushed the Telemarvins hand gently gun to the side. "So, I order you to desist!"
The green alien reverently replied, "Time Lord."
The Doctor's grin grew as he repeated the alien and winked at Charles. "Time Lord."
The Telemarvin lowered his weapon as a couple other Telemarvins entered the room wielding guns. One of them commented, "Strut might be one of the most gullible of our band. Me, I'm not so easily fooled!" The Telemarvin wielded his weapon pointed at the humans and before anyone could say anything he squeezed the trigger.
Charles and Rachel covered their heads expecting death, but all they heard was a gentle whirling. Charles looked up and noticed the Doctor was proudly holding a very shiny blue screwdriver as the Telemarvins stared in shock from not being able to pull the trigger.
The Doctor confidently proclaimed, "Time Lord."
All the Telemarvins repeated in unison, "Time Lord."
"Get in your ship and do not land here for another hundred years."
"We obey."
Charles and Rachel could not believe it as they watched the Telemarvins leave the room and before they knew it engines were fired nearby before exploding into a loud bang. They were leaving.
The Doctor peeked around the corner grinning satisfactorily while noticing a new hole in the side of the building and a speck moving higher and higher in the sky. "Oh, that's going to leave a mark."
The Doctor, Charles, and Rachel left the building and walked away from it. Charles, who held Rachel's hand, asked curiously. "That bit about timelines. Was that true?"
The Doctor grinned cleverly. "Not exactly, but I have always been a rebel when I do not understand a law clearly."
Charles laughed, "Brilliant."
Rachel asked, "But, I don't understand something, Doctor. How come I couldn't understand them until you showed up. They began speaking English. What did you do?"
"That was my ship. She reaches out to everyone with me and helps translate for you."
"But I… I had never met you before today."
The Doctor smiled. "You mean something to Charles and I… well, I sort of bonded to you. Long story."
Charles replied, "He made out with your shoe."
Rachel mouth formed a very surprising 'O' as she vocalized the letter.
Charles let go of Rachel's hand and put his hand on the Doctor's shoulder. "There's still one more question you need to answer for me before you go. That Rose person, what does she mean to you?"
"I…" It was the biggest mystery he knew and every time it came up the Doctor felt more and more lost with what the answer was. He couldn't love another species, especially if she would die many centuries before him. Yet, he always thought what if. With the problems they had been going through it sounded like she was on the verge of leaving him. Did she still love him as she claimed and why did that statement even matter at all to him? Rose, was a puzzle more challenging than an Eight Star Cube or an explanation of why egos were more common than apologies in the universe. He didn't have an answer and chose for once in his life to be honest. "I don't know."
Rachel looked him in the eye hopefully. "Tell her that."
"When something is said it can't be returned. Words are a powerful force in the universe. I once saw a Shakespeare play almost end the world after all. It's something none of us can comprehend. There are some things that should never be said. Rose is one of those things."
Charles shook his head. "You're missing the point."
"I need to go."
Rachel gently warned him. "You can't run forever, Doctor. Eventually, you'll get tired."
The Doctor grinned brightly. "Who me? Nah, I have two hearts. More energy!" His smile died as the Doctor was lying to himself again. Charles moved to shake the alien's hand and gave him a hug which he returned as they broke. The Doctor muttered into his ear, "Thank you."
Charles stepped away shaking his head. "You saved my wife and my life. I should be thanking you."
The Doctor nodded. "That you should. Goodbye, Charles and Rachel Mayweather."
The alien walked away as Charles and Rachel moved to once again hold hands as they watched the Doctor's smaller and smaller body walk away underneath the now colorful and bleeding sunset of Venice…
