Here we be once more. Does the Doctor find Peri? Does she scream and run away? Well, read and find out. We no own Sailor moon and/or Doctor Who.
Chapter 6: "There She Is!!!"
The Sailor Scouts followed the Doctor on a strangely short and quiet trip back towards the Console Room. The Doctor was still slightly in awe of Sailor Pluto, who apparently had been watching him come and go through the time stream all along. And here he thought he was the most advanced time traveler in this solar system. He frowned to himself as he realized that he may in fact have been wrong…
The trio rounded the corner to find Peri, still pretty in pink, sitting there at a table made for 4, eating. What she was eating, neither Sailor Mars nor Sailor Moon could tell.
"Here you are! I've been looking for you young lady. You run off in frustration during a delicate situation, leaving me to deal with these two," he gestured at Mars and her friend. "Have I taught you nothing about accepting diversity and adverse situations?" All this was said in English, but the two girls could tell by the sound of the Doctor's voice that Peri was being chastised.
Sailor Moon leaned over to Sailor Mars. "Chastising. That's up your alley. That sounds like you when you get mad at me."
Mars, insulted by the comparison to the Doctor replied back glibly, "Well that looks like you when I get mad, always stuffing your face."
The Time Lord heard this, evidently, because he turned slightly and said "Yes, stuffing her face, exactly, I told her earlier…" but he received looks of incomprehension on the Sailors' parts. "Oh never mind" he said in Japanese, switching back over to English to talk to Peri.
The Sailors took seats across from Peri and asked her politely enough. "Food?"
Peri finished swallowing a mouthful and said "Yes, food. Food comes from that machine." She pointed at a large rectangular machine standing up next to the wall. The Doctor illustrated by putting in a square chip and pushing a button. The machine made a few strange beeps and clicks, then a panel opened to reveal… Beef Stroganoff. Grinning, the Doctor sat next to Peri and proceeded to nibble on his meal.
Rei stood up to get some food, but Usagi shoved her out of the way, inserting a chip and hitting about 7 different buttons.
"What's wrong with this thing, it's so slow, doesn't it know that I'm HUNGRY?" she complained loudly, hitting the machine on its top repeatedly.
After many sputters, a whisper of smoke came from the back and the panel opened to reveal…. 10 plates of food, all of which was unidentifiable. But that didn't stop Sailor Moon.
"WOW!" she screamed as she grabbed the plates and sat down at the table, taking a pair of chopsticks to her bountiful food.
Rei put in a different chip and hit a button, receiving a bowl of rice and dumplings. She got herself and Sailor Moon a glass of water each. Now everyone was eating, Usagi with more gusto than most.
Peri said in English "I don't see how she can eat like that and still fit into her Sailor suit. I mean, even *I* don't eat that much." From the Doctor's look, her jaw dropped. "Do I?" she asked in horror.
The Doctor immediately realized his mistake. "Oh, no no, not at all, you eat a relative pittance compared to her." He starting turning red. "Right, you eat nothing. Not much. Comparatively."
"Okay, zip it Porky. You're digging yourself a hole and soon I may push you in."
At this comment, the Doctor looked perplexed. "I fail to see the point of a figurative hole and why you would want to push me into it."
Peri smacked her forehead. "It's a saying Doctor, just a saying."
Sailor Mars had finished her bowl of dumplings and now directed her attention back onto the Doctor. "You said earlier that if I asked Peri about you that she would say you were 'perfectly safe and trustworthy'. Well, I would like to ask her." At the Doctor's hurt look, she amended, "Just for the records you know…"
The Doctor turned to Peri. "Peri, Sailor Mars here would like to know what you think of me. Am I kind? Safe? Trustworthy?" He grinned for the "you know I'm your friend, don't let me down" effect, but it didn't work.
Peri coughed hard, breaking into laughter, and shook her head at the red scout. "Doctor, tell her I say that you're as crazy as they come, on the verge of psychotic at times and dangerous to all sentient life-forms."
Refusing to translate this, he pouted. "No I'm not! I'm nice, and gentle!"
"Oh no you're not! Have you forgotten that you tried to strangle me?"
Rei said a few words in Japanese which the Doctor caught but Peri missed.
"Strangle," she said to Rei. "Strangle!" she said as she acted out, putting her hands around her neck, sticking out her tongue and gagging, then mock-dying.
Sailor Mars's eyes went wide as she realized that the pink wonder meant that the Doctor killed people.
"You're a killer?" she asked him.
"See, Peri, now you have her all concerned and frightened again. After all my work to make them comfortable here. Now they'll never trust me!" he said to her as he turned to Rei. "No, no not a killer, Peri's just talking about earlier, right after my regeneration, when I had some… trauma… and was confused about who my friends and enemies were. As soon as I realized that Peri was my friend, I took care of her. She must not think too badly of me, because she has been traveling with me for quite some time. And I have a feeling it's not just for the free food and shelter." He softened his eyes and looked forlornly at Peri for a moment. In English he said "You don't want to leave me do you?"
"Oh no! I don't, I was just kidding about you being crazy. Your spontaneity is what makes me want to stay with you! So much better than boring old Howard." Upon saying Howard, she shivered, but kept going. "I like you a lot Doctor, you're like a father to me. Don't take what I say seriously," she said, poking him in the side playfully and repeatedly.
He grinned and tweaked the end of her nose. "See?" he asked Rei. "She and I are best of friends. Just two travelers in space and time."
Sailor Mars understood, seeing the look that passed between the two TARDIS-dwellers. The Doctor and his companion were on good terms, borne seemingly of the same battlefield that welded Sailor Mars and Sailor Moon together. Going through harrowing adventures tended to solidify friendships that would otherwise not be tested. The two had been through a lot together, Rei mused. oO Just like me and buns-head here… Oo
Sailor Moon hadn't paid attention to this touching moment, due to the fact that she was still stuffing her face, making grunting noises every so often, and even less often taking a moment to breathe. As soon as she was done she stretched, yawned, burped and downed her glass of water.
"So when can we go?" she asked the Time Lord, oblivious to the previous conversation and the moment of compassion that had passed.
"Soon," he responded. "I just have a few more questions about your adventures, and particularly about this Sailor Pluto. I need to get something first though… I'll be right back." The Doctor rose and said to Peri, "Please look after them. Take them to your room and let them look around. Do some female bonding. I won't be long."
Peri opened her mouth at "female bonding" but closed it again. She had, for a long long time, wished that there was another girl on board the TARDIS. Now that she had them, they only spoke Japanese. oO But I won't let that stop me! Oo she thought.
"Follow me!" she said, motioning to the both of them. "Let me formally introduce myself. I am Perpeguilliam Brown. Peri for short." She held out her hand.
Slowly and haltingly, Usagi said her name and held out her hand. "I... am... Sailor Moon. Usagi!"
Rei, somewhat faster, did the same. "I am Sailor Mars. Rei!"
The three shook hands and made their way to Peri's room.
oO I can do this! Oo she confidently concluded, judging by the success of their introductions. oO Yes, I can do this. Oo she repeated, leading them down the long white corridors, past dozens of doors.
They came to one door in particular, and Peri opened it up, revealing a very messy room.
Motioning them in, she entered and closed the door after her, and very soon echoes of giggles plagued the hallways of the time-traveling blue police box.
To be continued…
What are they laughing at? Each other???? And do the Scouts EVER get out of the TARDIS?? We do not know ^_^_^! But we hope they do! YAY!!