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Chapter 4 - Tony's Decision

Legate continued to hold the dirty napkin to his head. He had arrived, with Tony Tyler, Lartius and Poltious, to the med bay on the Doctor's new ship. Everything was bright and brushed white and blue inside of the large room.

The Doctor pointed at a table and Legate sat on top of it. It was clear he was still having trouble with his balance. As soon as he sat on the table, Poltious had to catch him from falling over the side. Both of them laughed.

"Why do I let you guys out?" The Doctor laughed.

Lartius sat on the chair. His ears were still smoking worst than anyone else's. "And this is my grandson!"

The Doctor nodded, "Yes, sir. I know that. He's one of the Quauthin that serve in the Prime Guard of Terra."

Lartius snapped his fingers. "Indeed he does, Primus. And from my understanding, there are two of them now."

The Doctor pulled the napkin from Legate's head to see the injury. "How in the hell are you still standing upright with this wound?"

Poltious grinned proudly at the Doctor's words. "He's my son."

"This goes to his skull. How did it even happen?" The Doctor asked as he cleaned the wound.

Tony, ears smoking, shook his head as he sat down on a rolling stool and nearly fell off of it. "It was a fight, John. People get hurt. We weren't using pillows."

"Indeed! A good fight." Lartius rubbed his hands together.

Legate grinned. "Lartius needed some excitement."

Poltious looked at Legate's wound closely as the Doctor treated him. "Yeah, so we started one. Damn, that is deep."

"You! Started one?" The Doctor insisted.

Lartius waved his hand. "Panel them if you want. Any punishment, I have already declared served."

The Doctor sighed. "Well, what's the point, then?"

"Exactly. It's necessary for a man….particularly a Quauhtin, to fight every so often."

"That's why you married Martiea, right?" Poltious grinned.

Lartius smiled. "Well. Yeah. And she really makes me feel like a man!"

"I'm too young to hear this." Legate shook his head. "Could you knock me out, John? Please? Something, really strong."

The Doctor laughed at Legate's moaning as he dug in his pockets for something.

Lartius crossed his arms and smiled at his grandson. "See, he's complaining now because he doesn't know what I'm talking about."

"Oh, I know what you are talking about, Lartius." Legate insisted.

Poltious smiled, looked back at his son and shook his head. "And, that's when you need to stop talking, Legate."

The Doctor looked surprised. "What is that about?"

Poltious shook his head. "Nothing. I don't want him to say something to Lartius that he might regret later. He does have a head injury, after all."

The Doctor found what he was looking for. It was a small dermal regenerator that he carried in his pocket. "And you're in luck, Legate."

"You're going to knock me out?"

The Doctor pulled the gauze away from Legate's head carefully and using the small tool began to heal the cut.

Lartius looked around. "This is a very nice ship, Primus Doctor Smith-"

"John. You can call me John. You came to my birthday party!" The Doctor told him as he worked on Legate's head.

Lartius smiled, "And met that beautiful creature, Jane. Damn. Where did Lance meet her?"

Legate sighed, "She's a photographer for Rose."

"What is that?"

"She takes photos. Like, for the media and such." Legate explained.

"And Lance likes that sort of thing?"

"She's not taking photos of him." Poltious laughed.

"I bet she is, and we just don't want to see them."

Legate closed his eyes and whispered, "John. Something really strong. I'm begging you."

The Doctor laughed under his breath. "Jane is an amazing photographer. She does some beautiful work."

Lartius crossed his arms and grinned, "She, herself, is some beautiful work. Where is she from?"

"Terra." Poltious told him.

"Nah. Surely not. She's…."

"What?" Legate asked.

"She doesn't look like them."

Tony laughed, "She's from South America, Lartius. What do you think people from Earth look like?"

"Well, not like her! I would think she's from…..I don't know. Someplace."

The Doctor laughed under his breath. "There are some lovely women from Terra."

Lartius nodded his head. "Hopefully, this girl Legate has-"

"Ah!" Poltious insisted.

Lartius looked surprised. "You hush the words of the King?"

"Yes! Shut up." Poltious told his friend.

Everyone in the room held their breath awaiting Lartius reaction. It wasn't what they expected at all.

Lartius laughed and nearly fell out of the chair he sat in. "Oh shit! That's-"

"Shut it!" Poltious insisted.

Lartius stopped laughing and shook his head. "Pardon my stupidity, John. I've had a bit to drink tonight. I'm not thinking too ….. clearly."

Poltious looked back at the Doctor. "Yeah, his ears are smoking enough to tell you his current state of mind."

Lartius crossed his arms and smiled proudly. "Indeed! Oh, that's great news. I need to chat with this grandson of mine."

Poltious pointed warningly to Lartius. "Shhh."

The Doctor knew that Poltious had told Lartius something through their telepathic connection.

"You have a girl, Legate?" The Doctor asked.

"No." Legate told him.

Tony shook his head. "I don't know where they are getting this, John. Poltious thinks Legate the Third has a girl. I would know if he did. He doesn't."

"He has Ginger. Maybe that's who-"

"We're just friends!" Legate insisted.

Poltious rubbed his eyebrow, "We probably shouldn't talk too much about this, John. What, with Legate here. No one should know too much about their own future."

The Doctor looked at Poltious. "You're right."

Tony held his hands out. "I'm telling you! Legate doesn't have a girl! Ugh!"

Lartius nodded his head and looked around. "Tuwo Wenck's old ship, huh?"

"That's right." The Doctor said as he finished up Legate's head.

Lartius nodded, "I've been in here before. I can't remember why."

Poltious rolled his eyes. "No, you haven't."

"I really think I have. It looks familiar."

The Doctor didn't pay Lartius any attention. "And you are sorted, Legate. Anyone else hurt?"

No one else was.

The Doctor looked back at Legate. "How does that feel?"

"Now, it hurts. Like a headache."

"Sobering up." The Doctor reached around, took out some medicine and sprayed it into the side of Legate's neck. "That, might make you sleep."

"I could have used this ten minutes ago." Legate leaned against the wall beside of him and closed his eyes.

The Doctor smiled, "Go to sleep and we'll talk about this girl."

"There's no girl!" Tony insisted.

The Doctor grinned at him. "Right then. Tell me about Arles."

Tony shook his head. "You're still on about this?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "Just curious-"

"Well, I'm not telling you anything about that. John, some things….just have to happen. You told me that."

The Doctor dropped his head dramatically. "You are so much like your sister."

Tony looked surprised. "How do you figure that?"

"She won't tell me anything I want to know either!"

Tony grinned. "Well. There you have it. Stop being so damn nosey."

"Nosey?"

Poltious laughed.

The Doctor looked back at Legate and pat his knee. "How is the head?"

Legate was almost asleep. "Feels as though it's floating down the hall."

The Doctor chuckled, "Yeah, that's the best stuff I have."

The Doctor put the device back in his pocket. "Well, that's sorted. I imagine you all want to get out of here rather soon before anyone realizes you are missing."

Lartius smiled proudly. "And they still haven't noticed! My family is the best of the Quauhtin!"

Poltious smiled back at his friend. "My ship is still on Lartius' ship."

Legate spoke without opening his eyes, "Mine is, too."

"You, aren't flying anything for a while." The Doctor insisted.

Legate groaned and opened his eyes. "Well, I have to get it back-"

"I can tow it back, Legate." Poltious told him. "Or, I like Tony's idea."

"What is Tony's idea?" The Doctor asked.

"He wants to go to Venniz-Beal. Meet up with someone there." Poltious told him.

The Doctor looked shocked back at Tony. "Venniz-Beal?"

Tony nodded his head. "Absolutely, John. I'm going."

"You are not-"

"I'm 24! I'm old enough to make my own decisions-"

"Your Dad would never approve of this-"

"He absolutely would-"

"Well, maybe we should ring him and see-"

"Well, that would be great. You go right ahead!"

The Doctor pulled out his phone and started to dial Pete's number. He glanced back at Legate, who had leaned against the wall and fallen asleep.

"You have a direct line to the after life there, mate? Because the Pete you're calling, is not the one I even want the opinion of."

The Doctor ended the call and slipped the phone back in his pocket. "You're right. This decision is mine, then."

"Like hell it is!" Tony shouted.

"You want to explain to me how it's not?"

"I can keep him from being killed this way!" Tony shouted. "We killed those Vesuos but, we know where the transmission went."

"They believe Soli is dead."

"But they could find out he's not just as fast, and they will return. We know where they are! We know who they are! I still remember it happening! It hasn't changed."

The Doctor sighed and put his hand on his hip as he leaned on the table that Legate still sat on. "Tony. It will never change for you. You are at the center of it happening. Even if and when it changes, you'll still remember it happening."

"And I won't allow it to happen. John. I'm going."

Lartius stood up, "And I'll give him a ship to go!"

"Thanks, Lartius. But, I have a ship." Tony shook his head.

"You, stay out of this-" The Doctor snapped at Lartius.

"You are a Primus with the Quauhtin." Lartius stated. "I am your King."

"I'm the Doctor-"

Lartius ran his hand through his hair. "Am I to be impressed?"

The Doctor threw his hand up. "Ugh! I hate this!"

Lartius shook his head. "I don't understand why you don't approve of his decision to go."

"He's a child!"

"He's a man." Lartius told the Doctor seriously. "A man who should have became a Quauthin as much as I can see. In the event of his father's death, he becomes the patriarch of the family. Not only can he decide what is in the best interests for the family, but also for himself."

"Don't encourage this!"

"Why wouldn't I help a man save his family?" Lartius told him flatly. "I'm making sure he has what he needs to complete his mission. First of all, I am making him a Quauhtin Warrior with the rank of Praetor. That will allow him access to whatever he needs in order to save his father."

The Doctor groaned and dropped his head.

Poltious stood up and guided Legate's sleeping body to lie down on a pillow on the table, "Tony Tyler has been my primary for years. I'll help him with this."

The Doctor threw his hand out. "You need to go help Lenox-"

"Lenox has managed to get so many of those children home already on his own with the Quauthin who serve with him. This won't take very long. And, Tony will need my help."

Tony grinned as he shook Poltious' hand. "Cheers, mate."

"Always there for you." Poltious told him.

The Doctor sighed. "There's no talking you out of this-"

"Have you ever been able to talk a Tyler out of anything?" Tony asked.

The Doctor grinned at the thought. "Never."

"I'm not asking you to go, John. In fact, if I'm asking you to do anything, please return home and patch up this with Rose-"

"Don't-"

"I know. Don't get involved. But, I need you there. I need to know they have someone looking out for the family. I need to know that everyone is safe. Promise me."

The Doctor looked back at Tony. "Of course."

Tony nodded. "There. Sorted."

The Doctor smiled proudly at Tony. "And just like that, he grew up. My little brother."

Poltious smiled, "It happens in a blink, doesn't it?"

The Doctor walked over and embraced Tony tightly. "Please bring yourself home. In one piece."

Tony pat the Doctor's back. "I will, John. But, not until I'm completely sure."

The Doctor smiled back at his brother. "If you think I'm in trouble with your sister now, how will I explain this to Jackie? Don't put me in a bad position, man."

Tony laughed. "I'll come back. That's my promise. You just keep yours."

"I always do." He told him as he hugged him again.

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