Chapter 5

Later that afternoon, Alan and Cerl walked over to Kurt's house. It took him a long time to answer the door.

"Well, Alan my boy!" said the Doctor, "Who's your friend?"

"This is Cerl," said Alan.

"Nice to meet you Cerl," said Kurt with a faint smile, "Where are you from?"

"Tock," said Cerl flatly.

Kurt gave Alan a confused look.

"Maybe we should come in," suggested Alan.

They followed him in. Kurt sat in a large chair facing them, and lit a pipe.

"Now tell me what really happened Alan," he said.

Alan and Cerl sat side by side on the same bench. "Doc, I went into Tock."

"You bonehead!" snapped Kurt incredulously, "You could have been killed!"

"I almost was!" said Alan miserably, "Cerl saved me!"

"Alan save me first," said Cerl, taking his arm.

Alan's face turned red. "Well…Doc, I know it was dumb, but I wanted to see what was in there."

Kurt grimaced and sucked on the pipe moodily. "What did you find my boy?"

"Cerl," said Alan.

"Yes?" asked Cerl.

"No, I mean I found you in there," said Alan, pulling his arm away.

She nodded slowly.

"She was inside a glass ball," said Alan, "When the slime attacked me, I dropped it."

"Inside?" inquired the doctor, "How?"

"Well, this golden powder spilled out and killed the slime," said Alan, "Then she appeared as a slime."

"I want to find him," said Cerl, "So I follow him."

"She tried to eat me," began Alan, "When I woke up, she looked like this."

Kurt rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I'd say you found yourself a mimic."

Alan blinked. "You mean…?"

"She can assume the form of anything she touches," said Kurt.

"So how come she doesn't look like me then?" asked Alan.

"You want sister," said Cerl.

Alan stood up abruptly. "You read my mind!"

Cerl nodded.

"This is amazing!" said Kurt slapping his knee, "I've never seen anything like you before!"

"Is that bad?" asked Cerl uncertainly.

Kurt shook his head. "Not at all my dear."

"Doc, can she stay with you?" inquired Alan thoughtfully.

Kurt nodded. "How long?"

Alan cleared his throat. "Well, can you tell people she's your granddaughter?"

Kurt's pipe fell out of his mouth and hit the floor, spilling out glowing red ash.

"You don't want sister?" asked Cerl sadly.

"I do," said Alan, "But how would we convince my Mom?"

"Well, you'd better not tell anyone else," said Kurt, regaining his composure.

"You'll help us then?" asked Alan.

"If you don't mind being related to this old coot," said the Doctor with a grin.

Cerl smiled faintly.