Chapter 13
"New Vegas?" Buffy asked, arching an eyebrow.
The sixth Doctor smiled as he began lecturing, one of his favorite hobbies. "Actually, it's New New New New New New Las Vegas, but humans have a tendency of shorting it," he said. "This version was constructed only a year after the planet New New New New New Las Vegas was destroyed in an interstellar mafia war," the sixth Doctor explained.
"New new…ah screw it," Faith swore. "The last New Vegas took up an entire planet?" she asked. Faith could only imagine a planet devoted to vice, her favorite pastime.
"Technically it was a just a small moon, but you know how PR people exaggerate," the tenth Doctor told Faith. "After the moon was destroyed, the refugees were able to construct a huge drift station and set up shop again," he said.
Peri was almost as excited as Faith. She had visited the original Las Vegas with her father and was looking forward to seeing what the shows were like in the 51st century. Her curiosity was peeked even more when the tenth Doctor referred to the place as a "drift station." Perry looked over at the taller, skinnier version of her friend. "Is a drift station anything like a space station, Doctor?" she asked.
The sixth Doctor answered before his older self could. "Yes, technically a drift station is a space station, but they are usually much larger than the normal space station you would find in a solar system," he said.
"They get their name from the fact that they steer away from gravity wells and drift in the space between stars," the tenth Doctor said, cutting in.
"How big is this place?" Spike asked.
The sixth Doctor acted like Spike had never spoken. The tenth Doctor gave his younger self a disapproving look. He looked back at Spike and smiled as a plan started to form in his mind. "I believe at this point in time the station is roughly the size of Greenland," the tenth Doctor said. He turned his back on Spike and Buffy and began typing away frantically on the old typewriter under the monitor. Spike blinked as he tried to imagine Las Vegas on a super-sized scale.
Faith read what the tenth Doctor was typing on the screen, her ability to read Gallifreyan having becoming quite good recently. Her sentimental old alien was asking the TARDIS to hack into the station's computers the instant they arrived and set up a honeymoon suite for Buffy and Spike. Faith wrapped her arms around the tenth Doctor's waist and kissed his cheek. "You're sweet," she whispered.
The materialization noises started and the Doctors raced around the center control consoles in opposite directions. They flipped switches and looked at readouts. The sixth Doctor was standing in front of the panel that showed where they were in relation to the station. "What section did we end up in?" the tenth Doctor asked.
The sixth Doctor read the coordinates and leaned around the Time Rotor to look at his older self. "High Rollers area on the New Strip," he replied. The sixth Doctor scowled at the tenth Doctor's clothing. "You're going to want to change," he suggested to his drab self.
The tenth Doctor looked down at his suit and smiled. "So I am," he said. The tenth Doctor motioned towards the Companions. "Come along, you lot, off to the wardrobe room. The High Rollers district is formal attire only," he said. The tenth Doctor paused and then asked the sixth Doctor, "Which hotel did we land in?"
The sixth Doctor scooted over to the next console and checked the small monitor. "It would appear as though we landed at the New Excalibur," he said. He cocked an eyebrow at the smile Spike and the tenth Doctor gave each other. The sixth Doctor started tapping his foot expectantly, waiting for the rest of them to go change. He didn't notice the quick wink his older self gave the Time Rotor or the quick flash of color the TARDIS sent back in reply.
Buffy squeezed Spike's hand. "I got to go out on the last field trip, it's your turn now," she offered her husband.
"Actually, Buffy, I think we are going to need to have both of you along for this jaunt," the tenth Doctor said. "The TARDIS is monitoring Dawn's condition and she will text you if your sister gets any worse," he said.
The sixth Doctor walked around to the monitor the tenth Doctor had been working at. He didn't think the station's security forces would be too much of a chore. The sixth Doctor read the instructions he had given the TARDIS and rolled his eyes. "Vortex, I've gone soft," he muttered softly enough that the tenth Doctor couldn't hear him. The older Time Lord walked through the door that led to the interior of the TARDIS and the Companions, including Peri, followed him to the vast wardrobe room.
30 minutes after they had left, the Companions and the tenth Doctor returned. Buffy was wearing a silver gown made of thousands of tiny beads. Peri had chosen a nearly see through, extremely low cut white gown. Spike was doing his best not to look and failing miserably. He had chosen to wear his Victorian black tuxedo. Faith was wearing a strapless, black leather dress. The top of the dress resembled a corset. A shiny, black leather duster that just barely missed sweeping the floor finished out her outfit.
Faith grinned and her heart started beating faster when she turned around to watch her boyfriend enter the room. The tenth Doctor had put on a perfectly tailored tuxedo that would have been in style no matter what time period he wore it in. He had even put on a black bow tie, quite an accomplishment considering how much he hated the things. The tenth Doctor adjusted his TARDIS shaped cuff links and gave Faith a winning smile. Peri walked over to the tenth Doctor and straightened his tie. "I haven't seen that tuxedo since our visit to Monaco," she said, remembering her time traveling with the fifth Doctor. Faith looked at her boyfriend with questions in her eyes.
"Five was fond of this tuxedo, even though it does seem to be rather unlucky at times," the tenth Doctor explained.
Faith looked over at Peri. "Did he look as good as I imagine he did?" she asked the buxom Companion.
"Better," Peri said as she walked back to her Doctor.
Faith stood on her tip toes and whispered into the tenth Doctor's ears while squeezing his hand tightly. "Are you sure you hadn't had sex with anyone since Romana?" she asked, squeezing his hand even tighter.
The tenth Doctor fought to keep a smile on his face through the pain. "Yes, you were the first woman that I had been with after Romana. There were only the occasional snogs during those four hundred years," he assured Faith.
Faith took another look at how sexy Peri was. "Are you sure Six was straight?" she asked in astonishment.
Cocking his head to the side and shrugging his shoulders, the tenth Doctor replied, "I thought I was, but looking at Peri now, I'm not so certain."
Faith chuckled but then became serious. "What did you mean when you said that tux was unlucky?" she asked the tenth Doctor.
The tenth Doctor ran his hand through his already messy hair. "I was wearing it when both Titanics had their disasters," he admitted.
Spike couldn't help but overhear. "Both Titanics?" he asked.
"Long story," the tenth Doctor replied.
Buffy noticed that the sixth Doctor was still wearing his gaudy, multi-colored coat. "You staying here?" she asked him.
"Whatever gave you that impression?" the sixth Doctor asked, confused.
"You haven't changed," Buffy told the sixth Doctor.
The tenth Doctor rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Here we go," he whispered to Faith.
The sixth Doctor looked very cross. "I'll have you know that this suit is the highest fashion on some of the outer worlds," he said, defending his choice in clothes. Buffy looked at the tenth Doctor for confirmation.
"Well…" the tenth Doctor said, tilting his head. "Considering I have access to all planets that ever existed and all of time, statistically at least one of them had to have developed a civilization where that suit doesn't make the population nauseas," he admitted. The tenth Doctor had a sudden thoughtful look on his face. "You know, I was certain I would have found at least one of those planets by now," he said.
"I hope we never do," Faith said under her breath.
"What was that?" the sixth Doctor asked, not quite hearing what she said.
Faith linked her arm with the tenth Doctor's. "Nothing," she lied. Faith led her boyfriend out of the TARDIS and the others followed.
The TARDIS had landed in the lobby of the posh hotel. The carpet was a dark gray with a pattern resembling paving stones. The walls were a lighter gray and made up to look like the stone walls of a castle. Real stone columns were scattered around the huge room. A long marble counter sat next to the far wall. The clerks behind the counter were red skinned humanoids dressed in gray suits. Several humans were dressed in dark formal attire and were scattered around the room.
The tenth Doctor raced forward and stopped when he was in line to speak with one of the clerks. Everyone but the sixth Doctor and Faith looked confused as to what he was doing. When it was finally his turn, the tenth Doctor whipped out his slightly psychic paper and held it for the clerk to see. "Mr. John Smith of the TARDIS, Corporation," he lied. "I was told that a honeymoon suite had been reserved for one of our VPs and her husband. I think the reservation should be under a Mrs. And Mr. Buffy Summers," the tenth Doctor said loud enough for his Companions to hear.
The red skinned clerk moved its fingers over the glass keyboard and looked down at the results. "That is correct, sir," the clerk told him. He reached under the counter, pulled out two key cards, and handed them to the tenth Doctor. "Honeymoon suite on level 3. All nourishments and intoxicating substances are on the house. Also, 50,000 credits have been transferred to the account in case the happy couple, group, or recently split asexual entity would like to try their hands, or respective appendages, at the numerous games of chance on the New Strip," the clerk said.
The tenth Doctor put away his psychic paper and took the two key cards. "Thank you," he said. The tenth Doctor walked back to the Companions, smiling like a schoolboy. The sixth Doctor rolled his eyes in annoyance. The tenth Doctor handed a card to both Buffy and Spike.
"Doc,…" Buffy started to say. She was thankful for the offering, but she wanted to find the segment as quickly as possible.
The tenth Doctor raised his hand to cut Buffy off. "Buffy, it will probably take us at least a day and a half to find the segment on a station this big. Faith, Peri, myself, and I should be more than enough to handle whatever comes our way," he said. "Consider this a small wedding gift from the TARDIS," the tenth Doctor suggested. "And like I said, if Dawn's condition changes, the TARDIS knows to send you a text message," he reminded her.
Buffy thought for a moment and looked up at her new husband. The look that Spike gave her told her he was eager to take advantage of the gift, but he would be fine with whatever she decided. Buffy squeezed Spike's hand and then hugged her alien friend. "Thanks, Doc," she said warmly. Buffy stepped back and poked the tall alien in the chest. "If anything happens, I want you to promise me that you'll get a hold of us so we can help out," she ordered.
The tenth Doctor held up three fingers on his right hand while he held up that hand like he was swearing in. "Scout's honor," the tenth Doctor pledged.
Buffy was appeased and led Spike off to the nearest elevator. When the doors shut behind the happy couple, the sixth Doctor looked at his older self in a bit of confusion. "I don't remember ever being a scout," he said.
"Me neither," the tenth Doctor replied, his manic grin firmly plastered on his face. He had no intention of interrupting the quality time he had arranged for his friends. The tenth Doctor reached into the larger on the inside pocket he had added to the tuxedo and pulled out the segment tracer. He took a reading and put the tracer back. The tenth Doctor offered his arm to his girlfriend and gestured to the blast doors that led to the rest of the New Strip. "Allons-y," he said. The tenth Doctor left the hotel arm in arm with Faith while Peri and the sixth Doctor followed quickly behind them.
Right after the Doctors and their Companions left the hotel, a glowing white and orange mist began to form in one of the alcoves. The mist and the light began to coalesce. Two men stepped out of the mist and the orange and white light receded back into nothing. One of the men was tall with dark hair. He had blue eyes and a dashing smile. He was dressed in a black tuxedo similar to the Doctor's. The other man was slightly shorter and had curly, brown hair. He was dressed in a tuxedo that looked like it came from the late Victorian age.
The taller man took in a deep breath as he checked the readout on the Vortex manipulator strapped to his wrist. "Ah…it's good to be back in the good old 51st century," Jack said to his friend.
The other man looked at the differences between his tuxedo and his friends. "I think the wardrobe guys made a mistake again," John said.
"I don't know, I think you look pretty good in it," Jack said, with only a small amount of sexual undertones in his voice.
John kissed his Time Agency partner on the lips. "That's one of the reasons I love you. You always know what to say," he told his friend / lover.
Jack continued to look at his manipulator for a moment longer and then closed the protective leather covering. "Ok, let's go over our cover names again so we don't forget them and look stupid like we did on our last gig," Jack suggested. "I'm Jack Martin and you're John Lewis," he said.
John cocked his head to the side. "Did you ever figure out why the Deputy Director kept giggling when she assigned us our names?" he asked.
"All she would say is that Martin and Lewis were a famous pair from the 20th century and that the names fit us perfectly," Jack replied.
John still didn't look like he was satisfied. "OK, then why was she giggling?" he insisted.
Jack shrugged his shoulders. "Who knows? You never can tell with archeologists," he said with a shrug. The two Time Agents walked out from the alcove and made their way to the New Strip in search of the object they had been ordered to "liberate" for their boss.