A/N: Yo. So finals are coming up in two weeks, and I just wanted to warn you that I might not be able to post at all when they're going down. This is why I'm trying to cram as many updates in as I can in the time before. Apart from this chapter, one more chapter will be going up today, but none tomorrow, as I have homework to focus on. Anyway, have fun reading!
Chapter 11 – Many Meetings
Standing outside of the Tardis were a dozen beret-clad UNIT soldiers, all with their guns aimed at the travelers.
"Okay," said the Doctor, "Bit of a surprise. Though, in fairness, we must've given you quite a shock as well."
Suddenly, a woman made her way through the soldiers. She had short blonde hair and wore black, shoes, dress pants, a black shirt, and to top it all off, a black trench coat.
The Doctor's face broke into a wide grin. "Ha-ha!" he exclaimed, "Kate Stewart!"
Kate smiled and gestured to the soldiers to lower their guns. "Hello Doctor. You never do social visits, so I assume there's something important you have to discuss." She looked around at the others. "And you brought friends. Well, the meeting room is right this way. If you'd all just follow me."
The group proceeded to follow Kate and her soldiers below decks and through many corridors.
When they got to the meeting room, most of them were quite impressed. The room was large and modern-looking. It had an elevator at one end and a balcony at the other. Between the two was a long oval-shaped glass table surrounded by twelve black chairs.
However, there were three people in the room who were not glad to be there. Jack and both Doctors looked around with apprehension. They all still clearly remembered the Year That Never Was and did not view the room with much fondness.
Kate sat at the head of the table and motioned for the others to take a seat.
The Doctor, Aliea, Jack, Sherlock, and John sat on one side. And on the other sat Sam, Dean, Castiel, Rose, and the Other Doctor.
"Right," said Kate, getting straight to business, "Obviously, I know who the Doctor and Mr. Harkness are, but I've no recollection of the rest of you."
"Right! Introductions!" said the Doctor. He leapt to his feet and pointed at each person. "That's Aliea. She's Jack's sister. She's clever, immortal, and can beat me at Just Dance 4, which speaks for itself. That's Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson. One solves crimes, the other blogs about it. That's Dean Winchester and his brother Sam. They hunt demons in America and carry lots of weapons. And that's Castiel. He's and angel of the Lord who rebelled and helped stop the Apocalypse. He also wears a trench coat all the time, not sure why. That's Rose Tyler. She used to hold the power of the Time Vortex, but up until now she lived in a parallel universe with her mom, dad, and their dog, whose name is also Rose. Don't ask. Finally, that is the human-living-in-a-parallel-universe-me-but-not-me. Now…are we all acquainted?"
Kate looked taken aback, to say the least. "Well...That was certainly…something. I think I heard an apocalypse mentioned in there?"
The group nodded.
"Well, in that case, I may have some of you logged into the UNIT archives. Let me see…Osgood!"
A moment later, another woman entered the room. She had long brown hair tied back in a ponytail and wore a pair of black-rimmed glasses. She was dressed in sneakers, jeans, a light-colored dress shirt with a bow tie, a lab coat, and a long multi-colored scarf. "Yes ma'am?"
"Could you search the database for anything out-of-the-ordinary that might have happened last year?"
"Absolutely. Um, anything else?"
"No, I think that will be all."
Osgood turned and started walking away. She was on her way out the door, when she caught sight of the Doctor. Her face flushed a light pink and she seemed to struggle for breath.
"Inhaler," said Kate.
Osgood fumbled in her pocket for a few seconds before withdrawing a bright red inhaler. She put it up to her mouth and sucked in a deep breath as she made her way out of the room.
"She shouldn't be too long," said Kate. She turned towards the Doctor. "Doctor, how long has it been since the slow invasion?"
"A couple months."
"Still traveling I suppose?"
"Of course."
"And the Ponds?"
"Still with me. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to take them on the latest trip to the French Revolution. I'll have to make it up to them by taking them somewhere exciting when this is all over. New York, perhaps?"
Just then, Osgood came back into the room carrying a laptop. "The search came up positive. Something big definitely happened last year. Unfortunately, the records are incomplete."
"Incomplete how?" asked Kate.
"Well, they're not clear on what exactly happened. Also, uh, the only people mentioned are the Doctor and a 'Captain Jack Harkness.'"
"That'd be me," said Jack, giving her a smile and a wink.
She blushed and wheezed before pulling out her inhaler once more.
"Well, Doctor, it seems we need your help," said Kate.
"With what?"
"Setting the record straight, so to speak. We'd like to know what happened last year."
"Very well. But it's quite a long story."
