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Chapter 8 - Peducko

Shakes took Pete and the Doctor to a room inside the ship. It opened into a large room with a small sofa and fluffy chairs. The entire wall was a huge window where you could see the planet of Plentitude. The room was flanked with a bedroom to either side with a double bed inside of each. There was red carpet on the floors, and the walls were silver.

"If you want to lie down and sleep, you can rest here. There's a bathroom over there as well. Would this be alright for the pair of you?" Shakes asked.

Pete and the Doctor agreed that it would be.

Pete was still in awe of being on a space ship. "This is brilliant. This is yours, Summus?"

Shakes smiled, "Yes. I'm thrilled it is all in one piece. My men took excellent care of it for me."

Pete smiled and put his hands on his hips. "Wait, we were in a hanger. Why is there stars outside these windows?"

The Doctor sat down their suitcase in the corner of the room, "This is a long ship, Pete. We're in the part that was hanging outside of the hanger."

The Doctor turned and smiled at Shakes. "No wonder your men respect you, Summus. You're a good man."

Shakes waved his hand, "Nah, I just do what has to be done. We're all going to be out here in the common room if you would like to join us. I'm sure there will a game of Peducko. Do you play?"

The Doctor smiled and dropped his head, "Oh man. Peducko. I've not played that in years! Do you know that game, Pete?"

Pete looked back at them in surprise. "Never heard of it."

The Doctor explained. "It's a card game. It's like…..poker. Man, I've lost countless things in that game. I'm up for it. Come on, Pete. I'll show you how to play!"

Pete shrugged his shoulders. "Sure."

Shakes patted the doorway as he turned to led them into the main room. As Shakes walked down the hallway, his men greeted him in Quauhtin, then greeted Pete and the Doctor. Shakes stopped and introduced them as they met each one.

They stepped into a large meeting room. It had silver walls and a blue, metal floor. Tables and blue, cozy arm chairs were everywhere. The room was the shape of an octagon, with each side the containing a large window. As soon as Shakes walked in, the men stood up.

Shakes walked over and introduced Lewis' brother, Lance and Poltoius' son, Legate to Pete. Pete was very happy to meet everyone, but especially them.

They all sat down at a table together. Lance shuffled some cards.

"Poltoius guards my son! He's great with him!" Pete told Legate.

Legate smiled, "Yes, my Father was always a lot of fun. The one all of the children ran to when a game began."

"Poltouis was probably the one that started it, right?" the Doctor asked.

Legate nodded, "Yes, that's him! I can't wait to see him! I didn't know he survived the invasion. We all thought Summus and the Prime Guard had died in the fight."

"Prime Guard?" Pete asked.

The Doctor smiled, "Yes. The Quauhtin have several divisions of their guards. The Prime Guard is made of the best Quauhtin have to offer. They are meant for protection of Royal families. They work in units all over the universe. The Prime is the best of the best, though. I'm amazed we have them. It's a very unlikely thing to have happened."

Pete looked curious around, "But, why all over the universe? Why not just guard your own Royal family? I don't understand that."

Shakes nodded his head and smiled, "It is our way. If the Royal families of the universe have this one thing in common and feel safe, it leads to peace between each world. Stops wars before they even begin. The Tyler family is a very influential family for the planet you reside on. It only made sense for us to stay. Especially now with the Doctor's ideas of where he's taking Torchwood. Woo. It's going to be an exciting few years."

Pete looked at the Doctor. "What? What is this?"

The Doctor smiled and rubbed his face. "Ah, we'll talk about it later, Pete. I'm worried we are overwhelming you with information all in one day."

Shakes crossed his arms and laughed at the Doctor. "He doesn't know?"

The Doctor shook his head. "No. I'll talk to him about it later. I want to make sure he's completely fine before I even bring that up."

Shakes laughed and shook his head. "Oh, this is great."

The Doctor looked at Pete, "So, the Prime Guard. Anymore questions? I'm glad you asked about that. I don't think it's ever been completely understood just who they were."

Pete looked impressed. "Sounds like I need to pay them more."

The Doctor laughed, "I need to find a place for all of them to live. Lucky you."

Pete laughed.

Lance spoke, "So, you know my brother?"

The Doctor smiled, "Your brother has been dating a beautiful woman back on Earth. You'd be proud."

Lance looked surprised. "Lewis? Nah. He's never been lucky in love. You have to be mistaken."

Pete shook his head and laughed, "Oh yes! Lewis and the German woman you told me about, right, Doc?"

The Doctor smiled. "The same. I'm sure alcohol was involved, Lance. You know how Lewis is."

Lance laughed, "Yes, that's Lewis! That's how he got that tattoo!"

Pete looked surprised, "Tattoo? I've never noticed that?"

The Doctor chuckled, "Yeah, he has one that runs all the way up his arm and to his neck. I've never seen the entire thing, but you can see bits of it."

Lance smiled, "Yes. That's him. It's even on his neck. I couldn't believe he did that."

Pete smiled, "What is it of?"

Lance leaned on the table. "It's a creature like a...hmm..." He looked at the Doctor and said something in Quauhtin.

The Doctor smiled, "Oh! A dragon! Probably from the Quauhtin legend of the dragon killer. Nearly the same story as the Dragon and Saint George from Earth's history."

Pete shook his head as he leaned back in the chair and crossed his arms. "I will admit, I don't know that story."

The Doctor tossed his hands in the air. "An Englishman who doesn't know that story? Geez. Well, I suppose stranger things have happened. There was a village being tormented by a dragon, so they would offer it two sheep to keep it from harming anyone. Over time, they ran out of sheep. So, they held a lottery and would feed children to it."

Lance nodded his head. "Yes. This is the same, except in our legend, the child chosen was determined by their age."

The Doctor pointed at him, "Right. One day, in the English version, the princess won the lottery and had to be fed to the dragon. The king begged the people of this place to spare his daughter. He offered them all of his gold and silver. They refused. So, she was dressed in a white, wedding gown and went to the dragon. George rode by the lake and the princess tried to send him away. But, he refused."

Lance smiled, "Yes. In our version, the hero goes to rescue her. He meant to go. He was incredibility brave."

The Doctor nodded, "Indeed. George ended up slaying the dragon, of course, using his sword he called Ascalon. Winston Churchhill used this name for his personal ship, in this Dimension, during World War II. Saint George is the Patron Saint of England. That's why I thought it was so strange you have never heard of this legend, Pete."

Pete tossed up his hand, "It sounds familiar. Ah, you can't know everything."

Lance nodded and laughed, "That's very true. Lewis got the tattoo when he was asked to join the Prime Guard. He saw himself as a hero to protect the Royalty who needed his help. It was his childhood ambition to join the Prime Guard. He was the first of our family to join. We were so proud of him. Then, I was asked to join. He will be so happy I'm now in the Prime Guard. He always encouraged me so much."

Shakes, Lance, Legate, Pete, Timon and The Doctor played a hand of Peducko. They showed the Doctor and Pete how to play. The Doctor remembered how to play after seeing the men explain the first game to him and Pete. So, he helped Pete along with the second hand. By the third hand, Pete had won the game.

Pete laughed, "Wow! I love this. Way better than poker! Let's start betting. What shall we bet?"

The Doctor smiled, "Most players bet money."

Pete smiled, "Let's do it!"

The Doctor was happy Pete was enjoying himself. Shakes patted him on the back and told them he was about to launch the ship. "If you need anything, just ask the crew." He told them.

The Doctor's phone beeped. "Oh! I need to go get the tablet and call Rose. I'm going to try to speak to the children. Come on Pete, maybe we can get Jackie on as well."

Lance smiled and looked up at them both. "Come on back once you are done! We'll play some more. I've not won all of your money yet!"

Pete laughed, "Yes, let's go talk to the children. Then we'll come back and play."

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