The Loop: Chapter 5
Ghost pushed open the door and staggered out.
"Bloody hell!" he said. He'd hit the floor heavily as the ship lurched, landing painful on his side and then sliding with the new inclined floor until he stuck against the railings. The impact had wrenched his shoulder and it ached. "I wish you'd tell me before you did things like that."
The light was blinding after the dull interior of the TARDIS. He shaded his eyes with his hands as he walked forward, and found himself looking down the barrel of a gun.
"Ah! Captain Bambera!" He heard the Doctor behind him. "Such a pleasure to see you again! Don't worry about him, he's with us."
Ghost looked along the barrel to where a man no older than his new self stared down the sights. He was dressed in dark camouflage fatigues with a blue beret. Ghost squinted at the badge. He didn't recognise it: a gridded globe with two wings. Ghost looked the soldier up and down: he was young, but he wasn't nervous, even faced with the appearance of three strangers. Ghost was impressed.
The Doctor strode passed him, stopping to give a foppish salute to a woman in a captains uniform with the same blue beret. She was tall, with dark skin and hair neatly pulled back into a tight bun.
"Stand down!" she barked. The gun was removed and the soldier stood aside to let him pass, but still stared at him, wary. Ghost skirted round to stand beside the Doctor.
"I've brought you a present!" said the Doctor "Didn't have time to wrap it properly, I'm afraid!" He grabbed Ghost by the arms and pushed him towards the woman.
The Captain looked at him, completely bewildered. "I beg your pardon, Doctor?"
"Ta da!" He gestured at Ghost, as if he'd just pulled him out of a top hat. The Captain squinted at him, her eyes scanned his face.
"Ma'am." He nodded, feeling embarrassed.
"I don't see..." she started.
"Yes, well, it's all a bit complicated. Terribly long story. Got caught up in a bit of bother on our way to see the Summer solstice and ended up saving one of your brave boys."
"One of mine?" Bambera looked perplexed. "I've never seen him before in my life! You must be mistaken."
"Not yours, personally, but more in a generically army sort of way." He slung an arm around Ghost's shoulder and leant on him. "Anyway! Probably best if we can have a word with the Brigadier. It's very twisty-turny timey-wimey. Probably best explained over tea."
"Tea?" said Bambera, looking from the Doctor to Ghost with increasing confusion.
"Ooh! Tea!" said River, walking past them all. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "I love England in the summer." She kicked off her sandals and started to swing them around on her finger. "All that fresh air! Can't wait until you get the turbines in, they really make it look more modern. Two sugars for me please!" She called back.
Bambera stared after her, open mouthed. She blinked, twice and seemed to come to her senses.
"Tea." This seemed to be something she could make sense of. Ghost recognised something of his own plight and felt for her. "Follow me please!" she turned on her heel and began to march towards the buildings in the distance.
"So, let me get this straight, The Doctor stumbles onto a deniable operation, in the future, which he can't disclose the details of and finds you." Brigadier Crichton gestured at Ghost with a butter knife.
Ghost nodded. "Yes, sir." He took a scone from the plate offered to him.
"And according to him, and you, you spent four years with the Paras before moving joining our boys in balaclavas, where you spent another six years, and then you "died" in 2016." He gestured with bent fingers as he said the last word.
"Yes, sir."
"Well, it's all highly irregular. I mean, I trust you implicitly Doctor; our survival has often depended on your judgement and knowledge. If he comes with your recommendation, I don't see the harm in seeing whether you really are who you say you are. If what you say about yourself is true, you should do well. We could trial you out tomorrow!"
"Yes, sir. If you don't mind me asking, what does your command actually do? I mean, I've heard whispers, but..."
"That's because we take the secret part very seriously indeed! Naturally, there's some crossover between terrestrial Special Forces and our little lot, it's always useful to get new blood and have people out there we can rely on if need be, say in the event of a major attack." The Brigadier tapped the side of his nose, in a knowing fashion. "We're a very select group, handpicked to deal with a very specific problem, namely defending Britain against extraterrestrial threat."
Ghost choked on his scone.