A/N I had intended the previous chapter to be the last one for this story, but I needed to say more about David. These last 10 chapters revolve around him as an adult. Hope you like it.

Chapter 67 Who I am

The sun was hot and bright as he squinted, looking down the empty street of a new town for the colony. Just cement roads and light posts, but soon there would be row upon row of houses and schools and markets. Humanity seemed to be coming here in droves, chasing their dreams. He had watched as the shuttles landed in New Phoenix to let the crowds of people come to this wilderness. They had little more than hope to their names. Hope that they could make a place for themselves in this unforgiving land. Hope that their children would have a better life.

I suppose the pioneers, who originally settled Phoenix on earth, had their backs against it too. Coming to a hot, dry, unfamiliar climate to make the desert bloom with irrigation canals. It would be mostly the same here. Very little rainfall, but the mountains above the city had annual snowfalls in the dozens of feet. All of which melted in the spring to create a large river that ran through the valley and out to sea. The city had sprouted up on both sides of that river. Canals and reservoirs had been dug and the first groves and crops planted.

The citrus trees were full of fruit and it was time for harvest. The Azutco company had purchased large tracts of land. They needed workers and had advertised on earth for anyone who would come. Like any large corporation they cared little for the voiceless hundreds who would answer the advertisement. Makeshift tent camps were set up to, "temporarily" house them. They had been promised a real home and plenty of work cultivating, planting and harvesting the crops. The majority of which would go to a dozen local worlds. A small portion of it would act as part of their pay. These sharecroppers would combine their portions to get the best price possible for planetary sale.

My job? My job was seeing to it that the company provided those workers with the basics, food, water, shelter. Schools for their children and hospitals for the sick and injured. I had been promised that the housing on this empty street would be done by the time they got here. Azutco had lots of excuses why I was standing in an unfinished lot. I was used to that. They all tend to underestimate me, to their peril. I have no real power to enforce the law on the company. All I can do is report to the Planetary Department of Public Services.

Of course, being my father's son, means that I tend to make what I want, happen. Azutco would find the fines we impose on any company who doesn't keep their promises, difficult, to say the least. The government will take those fines and build the homes themselves. With lots left over for other projects. If they don't pay them, the fine doubles, they lose their land, crops, etc and we go after assets back on earth. They have been given their one and only warning. If they don't at least start to build in the next two days, they're toast.

Who am I? 5' 11", 155 pounds, dark hair, brown eyes, bad temper. I was born David John Smith, a common enough name, but I quickly found that it was often followed by "Aren't you Dr. John Smiths son?" Not that I had ever asked dad for help getting a position. He was well connected in the government, and most people just assume. Much arguing with dad ensued over my decision to change my name to mom's, Dr. David Tyler. I told him I was not going to live my life as Dr. Smith Jr. I needed to make my own way, and Smith was not his real name anyway. My sister Alice had changed her name after her marriage. Now, Dr. Alice Hennig, why couldn't I?

Mom and I worked on him for a while, and he finally agreed. I know he still has some resentment. Mom told me about his first wife and son, who had denied his parents to get a position of power. But I wasn't denying anything, I just want a life of my own out of his shadow. The man has libraries named for him, school kids write essays! When I got this job at the PDPS, he began to understand I was doing good in the world and let up on me.

When my parents, John and Rose Smith landed on this planet it was a paradise. Completely devoid of people and even animals. It was a colony world ripe for the picking. Eventually a colony did arrive and spread across the face of the planet. Dad made sure things developed as they should, and now this world was known to half the galaxy as a place of peace, commerce, and education.

One of the finest universities anywhere is attended by nearly every sentient species in the area. I was a graduate, with several degrees in the geosciences and astrophysics, at the age of 15. It meant I wasn't taken seriously for quite a while. Hence my need to make my own mark on this world.

I love this world. I'm told it's very much like Earth, with climates ranging from deserts to rainforests. I like the deserts the best. Their stark beauty and vibrant sunsets are sometimes beyond description. My dad's planet was a desert world, so mom says it's in my blood. He, my sister and I are the last of our kind. Time Lords of Gallifrey. A grandiose title that really doesn't suit me, and is never discussed outside the family. Not that we're ashamed, just modest. My people were the stuff of legend and that can make for uncomfortable interactions with others. But enough about me.

There was obviously no building even getting started here and I decided to report into headquarters. The district supervisor, Lori Grey, is a beautiful, no-nonsense woman with an iron core. She was young for the job, but that only made her more determined. I could relate. She's incredible, neither of us willing to accept a lot of bull before we make things happen. She was going to love bringing down the hammer on Azutco for this.

The office was cool and dark compared to where I'd been all day. One of the problems, or rewards, depending on how you look at it, of being a field agent. You get used to the heat and the sun in your face. I'm sporting quite a tan.

Lori was sitting at her desk on the phone when David came in. She was making it clear to whoever it was, that she was in charge and not to be trifled with. The odd part is she could do that, without once raising her voice. She waved David in to sit while she finished up with her call. He sat and listened to her soft confident voice tell a company man what he could do with himself and his threats. If they didn't comply with the law he would have a lot of explaining to do to his bosses. She would make sure he would be personally responsible for the consequences.

When she hung up, she had a very satisfied look on her face. She knew she had them where she wanted them and not only would they comply, he would beg her forgiveness. "Sounds like you're having fun." David grinned. She rolled her eyes, "They take one look at my picture on the link, and think they can frighten me into doing what they want." She was quite disgusted.

"They don't know you like I do Lori. You have a hide like a rhinoceros." "When it comes to this, you bet. So how is the Azutco site coming?" "I saw a lot of empty street, not even a porta potty." Her eyes fired and narrowed. "All those people they shipped in are sitting around in tents, and it won't be long before they get angry with all those empty promises, and we'll have a riot on our hands. How much time is left on their warning?" David sighed, "Two days." Lori shook her head, picking up the phone. "Apparently they are looking at my picture again."

"You go get 'em." David laughed standing. "I'm done for today. Will I see you later?" he said softly. Lori smiled and crooked her head to the side, "I hope so. Depends on how this goes. Give you a call?" David nodded his head smiling and left her office as she was dialing. He almost wanted to stay and hear it, but he had a feeling it was going to get ugly. She did that best alone.

David was headed for his own office to finish up when he was stopped by an old friend from university, Christopher Bradley. He and Chris had done several study groups in celestial mechanics and astrophysics. Chris had always been a brilliant but shy quiet type, staring for hours on his own at a telescope screen was where he was happiest. David had tried to bring him out. Offering to take him along to the pub or parties, but he just wasn't into it. They had remained friends even after graduation when they went their separate ways.

Chris had one other quirk. He was always well groomed. Never a hair out of place or a button undone. Which made David very aware of the absolute mess that stood in front of him now. He looked like he hadn't slept in days, nor shaved in as many. There were food stains on his wrinkled shirt and expensive silk tie. But worst of all was the red rimmed haunted look in his eyes. Like he had seen the end of the world.

Chapter 68 End of the World