"Have a nice day," the clerk spoke to the old gentleman with the politeness he was paid to show.
The man sighed, wondering where the usual clerk was, the one with a good, old-fashioned, personality. "Thank you," he replied with the same level of courtesy as he took his purchases and left the bookstore.
He walked down the street as he carried his stack of new reference materials, heading for where he had parked his car. He stopped, however, when someone called his name.
"Maximillian Price?"
Maximillian turned and examined the man who had addressed him.
He looked very young, but something about him spoke of great wisdom. A prodigy, perhaps. His clothing was the strangest thing about him. Black slacks, dress shoes, a not quite white shirt, a brown tweed jacket, and a dark red bow tie.
The odd style didn't look bad by any means, but a man that young ought to be wearing jeans and a hoodie.
Maximillian nodded in acknowledgement of the strange lad. "Yes, I'm Professor Price," he said. "What can I do for you, young man?"
The stranger smiled for some reason. "Not exactly young," he said.
His gaze turned serious, and very, very sad. "I'm here to tell you about someone you should know, but you don't," he told Maximillian.
"I see," Maximillian said, even though he didn't. He lifted his stack of books. "I need to put these in my car, do you mind?"
"No, not at all," the man said politely, and it was genuine. He fell into step beside Maximillian as the older man resumed his walk.
"I don't know your name," Maximillian said.
"I'm The Doctor," the man told him.
"Thank you." Is that even a proper name?
They reached Maximillian's car, and the professor struggled to balance his books and pull out his keys at the same time.
The Doctor took a strange rod out of his jacket and pointed it at the lock on Price's door. With a loud buzz, the doors all unlocked.
The Doctor nodded to himself with an expression of satisfaction as he placed the device back in his pocket.
Maximillian stared at him.
"Are you in the habit of unlocking old mens' cars with newfangled gadgetry?" he asked.
The Doctor chuckled. "It's a sonic screwdriver. And no, I'm not in the habit of unlocking old mens' cars with newfangled gadgetry. Do you want your books in the front or back?"
"Front."
The Doctor opened the back door of Maximillian's car, and the man deposited his books. After locking his car again, (but not entirely sure that made any difference now) Maximillian and The Doctor turned and began to walk.
"So, who is it that you want to tell me about?" Maximillian asked, regarding the strange man with a mixture of curiosity and wariness.
"Your older brother, General Wesley Price," The Doctor replied.
Maximillian froze and stared at the man. "I beg your pardon; my what?"
"He allowed himself to be completely erased from history in order to save the universe," The Doctor explained. "He wanted me to tell you about him."
Maximillian stood stunned. "I have an older brother?"
"Never had," The Doctor corrected. "But… if you remember him, he can come back. Though there are risks. For one, you could end up dying, but if I can convince the younger version of himself to allow you to pursue an academic career instead of joining the military, that shouldn't happen."
"Dying?"
"Yes. Before he flew up there to save the universe, you were dead. Had been for a long time. Actually refused to let me do it because he thought it could save you."
"Really."
"Really." The Doctor nodded. "But the truth is, more people die with Wesley gone than with him alive. The universe needs him back. But I can't do that without you."
Maximillian said nothing, trying to process what he was hearing.
"I have a whole life, you know."
"I know."
"A wife."
"I know."
"Sons and daughters."
"I know."
"Grandchildren."
"I know. I met one of them: Higgie, marvelous chap. Irish, as I recall."
Maximillian sighed. "You're asking me to give up everything," he said.
"Not everything," The Doctor replied. "Even in the reality where you… died… you still had that wife, you still had sons and daughters, you still had grandchildren-well, Higgie, anyway. The only thing that was really different was that you were a part of the military, and that you were, well, dead."
"Obviously." Maximillian shook his head. "I cannot believe I am having this conversation. If I could hear myself-which I can-I would say that I had gone insane."
"...But?"
"But…" Maximillian fell silent, blue eyes pensive as he looked down at the cobblestone road. For a long time neither he nor The Doctor spoke.
Then, at last, "Tell me about him."
The Doctor smiled, and Maximillian did not fail to catch the hint of admiration in his eyes. "Wesley was a leader," he began, "fiercely loyal to his men, and apparently a man no Training Instructor could hold a candle to…"
.
~!~!~!
A/N: Meet Maximillian Price, a man whose world is about to turn itself on its ear. What will happen of it? No one knows.