Chapter 2
In the Doctor's quarters, Tegan and a stunned Doctor watched as the boy reached under seat cushions, checked behind chairs, searching for something. The eager boy was in mid-story… "…and then Mister Greenburg asked me about the Fornax Disaster, and I knew the TARDIS had saved all the colonists. But I didn't know… Here it is!" He pulled a school iPad out from under a pile of clutter on a table, and took it to the Doctor. "…But I didn't know the exact date their sun went nova. If you tell me, I'll write it down. That way I won't forget."
The Doctor stared at the iPad, then at the son he didn't know. And the boy realized it. His energy and excitement vanished, to be replaced by a quiet grief. "You don't remember me… do you?"
What else could he say? "I'm… sorry."
There was an awkward silence, which Tegan broke. "I need to talk to your father, Chris. Could you leave us alone… for just a moment?"
And as Chris returned to his room, the Doctor faced Tegan: "Why didn't you warn me?"
"Ace hoped that meeting Chris like this might have an impact… help you remember."
"It had an impact alright…" he shook his head.
"Give it time."
The Doctor was still getting used to this amazing concept. "Chris."
"He is a wonderful boy."
The next big question… "So, Nita's his mother?"
"No?"
"No? We were engaged last I remember."
"You never married her."
"Tegan… who is Chris's mother?"
Tegan had difficulty telling him. "She died two years ago… a shuttle accident. I'm sorry, Doc."
The Doctor didn't know how to react to this. At this point his wife was nothing more than a name to him. "I have absolutely no recollection of her… what was she like?"
"Mel was very beautiful, of course. And strong, intelligent, patient…"
"She had to be patient, if she was married to me."
Tegan smiled. "She was an excellent pilot's wife, and a very good companion."
"How did you end up travelling with my younger self?"
"Seven asked me to travel with him again. It was a tremendous opportunity… I couldn't refuse."
A quiet moment. Then… "Doc… What's important is that today, right now, you have a son who needs you. Spend time with him… you may find part of what you've lost."
Tegan left. The Doctor pondered her words for a moment. Then he jumped at the sound of someone playing the spoons and dropping them.
The Doctor entered Chris's room and found Chris sitting on a bed, playing the spoons… Chris stopped playing and smiled up at him. The Doctor couldn't help smiling back.
"Pretty bad, huh?"
"I've heard better."
"I've been practicing… but I still can't stop dropping them."
"You're putting too much pressure on them. Relax. Just use the muscles you need."
Chris held out the spoons. "Show me again."
The Doctor sat beside Chris, and took the spoons. He showed him how to hold them. "Okay. Left hand like this. Right hand… like this."
The Doctor ran through the moves. Chris smiled. The Doctor segued into a routine… the same routine he played before everything happened. He finished with a flourish – and dropped one again. Chris laughted. The Doctor frowned. "After sixteen years… you'd think I could get that right…"
Chris took back the spoons. "Come on, Dad… you always make that mistake."
Chris started playing again. And the Doctor thought about what the boy just said. Then he made a decision, which took him back into…
The Doctor returned to his living room and went to his desk, pondered the computer screen, and decided to ask a key question… "Computer. Summarize my history. Beginning with the Fornax Disaster."
Nothing appeared. There was a strange time lag. Then… "Please restate the question."
"History. The Doctor."
Another long pause… the Doctor lost patience… "Damn it."
Then he looked up to see… Chris watching him from the door of his room. "What's wrong, Dad?"
"The computer is time lagging."
And then a rush of data suddenly scrolled across the desk screen.
"Is that what you wanted?"
The Doctor frowned at the desk screen, his instincts screaming that something was very wrong here. And then…
"Seven to the Doctor. The Sontaran Ambassador is ready to transport over from the Decius."
The Doctor tapped a comm panel. "On my way. I've got to go, Chris."
"Sure. Dad…"
The Doctor stopped at the door as…
"Everything's going to be fine."
The Doctor wasn't so certain. But he managed a smile before he left.
The current Doctor, Tegan and Seven were walking down the corridor to the Control Room.
"Tegan tells me you met Chris. How is our son holding up to all this?"
"Better than I am."
"We did our best to prepare him."
The current Doctor sighed. "I'm trying to catch up with all this. I've still got a long way to go. A long way."
"Just follow my lead with the Ambassador. You'll do fine."
They entered the Control Room. Nita stood at the console.
"The Decius reports the Ambassador is waiting to transport."
Seven glanced at the current Doctor, ready?
"Tell him he can beam aboard, Nita."
"TARDIS to Decius… you may transport." As she lowered the shields to allow transport.
A uniformed Sontaran materialized. It was Stike, the arrogant Group Marshal who confronted the TARDIS at Galorndon Core and Nelvana Three… Fourteen years before.
"Doctors… it's good to see you again."
A stunned current Doctor responded with a polite nod as Seven approached the Sontaran. "Ambassador Stike… Welcome aboard the TARDIS."
Stike stepped towards Seven and smiled ingratiatingly at him. "Thank you, Doctor. It is an honour to be the first Sontaran to freely walk about a Gallifreyan Timeship."
The Doctor hung back a moment with Tegan. "What is this? Ambassador… Stike? At Nelvana Three, he threatened to take the hull of the TARDIS home as a war trophy!"
"That was a long time ago. Many things have changed. Including Stike."
The Sontaran was cheerful and charming. The current Doctor was tense and watchful.
"As soon as we arrive at Outpost Twenty-Three, the final negotiations should go quickly."
The current Doctor reacted to this, and looked to Seven and Tegan… But they seemed oblivious to his concern.
"I agree, Ambassador. All of the difficult issues have been resolved."
Stike smiled cordially. "After much debate. Your current self is the kind of negotiator even the Zygons should avoid."
"But we have come to an agreement both sides can live with. Thanks largely to my current self."
Stike smiled at the current Doctor. "And we are grateful, Doctor. The new alliance will greatly benefit my people."
The current Doctor chose his words carefully. "As I hope it will benefit others."
"It will, Doctor. It will."
The Doctor was not sure about this at all. Stike eyed the Doctor and seemed to pick up on the other man's uneasiness. "The virus you contracted, Doctor. You have fully recovered?"
The question threw the Doctor for just a moment. Which was long enough for Seven to step in… "I assure you the Doctor is quite well. He's looking forward to attending the final negotiations… as planned."
Stike smiled. "Excellent. The signing of this treaty will be an historic occasion. You, of all people, deserve to be there."
The Doctor was still not convinced. His response was cool but polite. "Thank you… Ambassador."
Stike took a long look around the Control Room, impressed. "So… this is the Control Room of the TARDIS."
He approached the console and peered over the startled Nita's shoulder. "And this, I assume, is your Tactical position. Impressive."
The Doctor had had enough. He turned to Seven and Tegan. "Doctor, Tegan… I need a moment with you… Ace, if you will, please accompany the Ambassador on his… tour."
"Ok, Doctor."
"Excuse us, Ambassador."
Stike nodded, then continued his persual of tactical as Ace moved up beside him. As the Doctors and Tegan headed for the Study…
"You may find this of interest, Ambassador…" Ace pointed at a tactical board. "These newly refined sensors are capable of pinpointing the power emissions of…."
In the Study, a tense Doctor faced the others. "Are you telling me you trust Stike?"
"I trust the process we have built with the Sontarans over the past four years. They have nothing to gain by betrayal."
"Are you sure? You yourself have said it's always like a chess game with the Sontarans. Move and counter-move, guile and deceit-"
Tegan gently cut in. "I sense no such dishonesty in Stike. He is sincere in his desire for peace. He wants this alliance. There is no cause for concern."
The Doctor was not convinced. "No cause for concern? We're talking about revealing the location of Outpost Twenty-Three, the key to all Alliance defenses."
"Pardon my bluntness, Doctor, but your information is out of date. The strategic importance of Outpost Twenty-Three is minimal. And has been for years."
The Doctor still wasn't sure. But before he could say more…
"Ace to the Doctor. Are you there, Doctor?"
The Doctor pressed a comm panel. "What is it, Ace?"
"Your son has been injured. He's been taken to Sickbay. You better come down here right away."