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Five-Zero Room

Tegan and Nyssa were trying to help to get the Doctor to Zero Room in the TARDIS, the room which according to the Doctor will help him to go through regeneration. When they got inside the Doctor relaxed a bit.

- Thank you. You must be Tegan. – the Doctor addressed a young woman with bright red hair and sharp eyes. - Works even better if you close the doors, Nyssa. – said the Doctor to a woman in a princess like dress, he tried to fight nothingness but couldn't.

- It smells like roses. – said one of his companions, he couldn't tell which one. And yes, this room always smelled like roses he couldn't understand why, but the TARDIS must have chosen it for a reason.

-Yes. – the Doctor answered - I've never quite understood why. It's quite peaceful, isn't it.

- Peaceful. Doctor it's like…-Tegan started and looked at Nyssa

- Like Traken used to be. – finished Nyssa with a quiet voice. She had to be strong in spite of everything that happened to her and her father.

- Will you have to stay here long? – asked Tegan the Doctor

- Oh, just until my dendrites heal. – the Doctor tapped his head - The nervous system's a very delicate network of logic junctions.

- The synapses, yes. – added Nyssa

- Oh, yes, I was forgetting, Nyssa, bioelectronics is your strong point. Yes, well, my tussle with the Master came at precisely the wrong moment. When the synapses are weak they're like radio receivers, picking up all sorts of jumbled signals.

- I get it. – said Tegan harshly - The Zero Room cuts out all interference.

- Completely! Even the gravity's only local. Goodness me, I'm tired.

- But there isn't even a bed. – noted Nyssa, the room was completely empty.

- Bed? Oh, I don't need a bed. Not in the Zero Room.

The Doctor put his fingers to his temples, then slowly rotated in the thin air as if he was lying. Tegan and Nyssa looked at him with huge eyes.

-One of the advantages of stark simplicity. – he explained

- Can anybody do that? – asked Tegan

- Oh, you don't do it. It just sort of comes to you, like sleep. Very like sleep. We only just made it to the Zero Room in time.

- This regeneration is going to be difficult, and I shall need you all, every one of you. You, Tegan, you have it in you to be a fine coordinator, keeping us all together during the healing time. Nyssa, of course, has the technical skill and understanding. All the information you need is in the TARDIS databank. I'm sure you can find your way to it…

- We already have, Doctor. –interrupted Tegan

- Good, good. – the Doctor tried to concentrate but his strength was fading away. - Of course you have. And Adric, Adric with his badge for mathematical excellence. Adric is the navigator. He knows the way. He knows me, my old self. Adric, you must help me heal the disconnection. Your role is very crucial.

- Adric. – someone yelled, but the Doctor couldn't hear them anymore.

The Doctor just regenerated again. This time he looked really young, he had blond hair and big blue eyes, he looked like he could be in his 20th. His body was aching from regeneration energy, but something went wrong, really wrong even for him, the Time Lord who can't regenerate without a fuss. He scared his friends to death Tegan, Nyssa and Adric are out there trying to fight things they can't possibly fight while he is stuck here for God knows how long. The last thing the Doctor could remember properly was the conversation he had with Tegan and than…The Master! Yes, someone said something about the Master! Oh, my head….The Doctor drifted off to deep sleep again, he could see faces of his current companions, he could see Romana and Susan…Why this had to happen to him? Why couldn't he regenerate like a normal Time Lord?

-Because you are not…-the quiet voice said. The Doctor opened his eyes, OK, that was his consciousness he could feel that, everything was weird, he found himself standing on a beach, it could be one of the Earth's beaches, the weather looked like mid-spring. But who was talking to him? Was that the TARDIS? Well, his ship was amazing, if it's her how cool that would be? They could really chat for once, the Doctor looked around but saw no one, he found a big rock and set himself there comfortably. Well, maybe it was his imagination, whatever. He can wait here in this lovely spot until he gets better and will kick one's Master's ass. Damn it! This man always turned everything upside down, but if it wasn't for him on the other hand, I wouldn't see the stars and meet so many wonderful people, the Doctor thought. Sometimes he wished that they could restore their friendship but after everything…It was impossible. While sitting in solitude The Doctor wondered why his mind chose this place out of all, this beach doesn't seem remarkable or even familiar, he never visited it…Hmm, perhaps it was from his future, sometimes when his mind and TARDIS's consciousness merged he could see the echoes of what could be, perhaps it's one of them.

The Doctor considered taking an imaginary nap but suddenly he saw something. In a distance there was a figure that was approaching him, the Doctor stood on his feet, the person was getting closer and closer, he could distinguish now that she was humanoid and blonde, just like himself. He wasn't afraid of her, after all it was his head, but the situation was intriguing. The woman was very pretty, beautiful even, she was wearing a TARDIS-blue dress and no shoes. She had long blonde hair and big brown eyes and she was smiling at him with warmth. His imaginary hearts jumped in his chest, that was new…

-Hello, Doctor. – said the same voice as earlier. It was gentle and sweet, the sweetest voice he ever heard.

-Hello…are you my TARDIS? – he asked the first question that popped into his head.

-No – she smiled slightly – I am not the TARDIS, I am someone from your future, quite a distant one. Of course I am not really here, just an image the TARDIS and your timeline projected for you.

-Why are you here? – the Doctor asked, so she was his future. Why the TARDIS allowed her to be here it's dangerous. – You know, it's not the best idea to see someone from the future.

-Don't ask me – she laughed – You called, I came, that's it and don't forget we are in your newly regenerated head as soon you heal you will forget everything that happened here, because nothing had. It's just your thick imagination.

-Thick imagination? You quite a cheek! – he said with a smile. He liked this woman whoever she was, maybe it was a good idea she came here, but what did she mean when she said he called for her? He hasn't even met her yet.

-You look so young now – she said without a smile this time. Her brown eyes became sad somehow.

-Well, regeneration is a lottery, you never know…

-Yeah, sometimes you appear with no head at all. But that's not what I meant – she looked into his eyes –Your look, your expression, how you talk…You must be centuries and centuries years older when I met you.

The Doctor looked into her face, why she was so familiar to him? And why he was drowned to her? He thought of kissing her…What? No! She is just an imagination, you idiot! And where all that coming from? You are not that kind of guy, when was the last time you had a date? Centuries ago? What was her name…? Cameka, right and still nothing happened. So why he feels an attraction now, to this imaginary woman from the future that is always in the flux?

-Well, - he stuttered – It's good to know I have such a long life.

-It's not the years that matters, it's the person – she said.

-Indeed – he smiled again – very wise words.

They looked at each other's eyes again, the Doctor felt a sudden urge to take her hand. What is wrong with him? Who is she?

-So where are we, Doctor –asked the woman suddenly and looked around. The Doctor felt a sudden warmth when she called his name. – Oh my dear God! – she exclaimed – Yes, mind of the Time lord is a funny thing.

-You recognize this place? – he asked his wonderful stranger, well, if this place somehow connected to her than it's more than fine.

-Oh, yes, now I do. – she looked at him with one of her eyebrows up- I'll have to ask you someday why you chose this place of all we visited.

-Well, maybe it was or will, in my case, be an important place. Don't you like it here? – he asked the woman. It was such an insane conversation, basically he was talking to himself and the image of his future…friend that was extracted by the TARDIS from his timeline. It could only happen to him.

-Well, depends – the woman answered – This beach associates with the worst and the best days of my life but I have no idea why you chose this scenery.

-Well, I quite like beaches and if we visited it I might like it a bit more than I said. Or maybe – he looked at her again – this place associates with you.

-I wish it wasn't, really. I like New Earth better. – she smiled sadly again and looked away.

-New Earth?...Well, maybe if you visit me the next time I lie in coma I'll chose New Earth – the Doctor joked.

-I won't visit you again like this, Doctor. I am here now because you for once used the Zero Room – she teased him a bit – You've always been rubbish with regenerations.

-When shall I meet you, then? I mean in real life.

-Depends…-she answered mysteriously

-On what?

-On what you mean under "meet". In a way you already met me.

-You mean now? Well, I don't even know your name.

-No, I don't mean now, you've met long before this – she gestured around – And I won't tell you my name, not until the time is right.

-I am most definitely sure I would have remembered you – the Doctor said confidently

-It's time to get back, Doctor, your friends need you – was all she said – See you around.

Everything was starting to fade in a white fog but the Doctor wanted to know at least something, he had so many questions!

-Wait… - he called into nothingness and then opened his eyes.