Sorry if you got two alerts about this chapter. I realized I forgot a part, so I had to re-upload it.

On the bright side, I now have the chance to answer a reviewer who didn't have an account, so here's to Guest; Yes, I am back! And I'm so sorry I've been away. Things are really hectic and I'm trying to update and write as often as I can. The writing part is the biggest issue, but please do feel free to nag me. The motivation is helpful :) I promise I won't hate you forever ;)

And now, for Guest and everyone else who has been, reviewing, favoriting and keeping up with this story (you guys rock!) MY LATEST UPDATE! TA-DA! :D

The ride to the Shadow Proclamation was actually fairly pleasant. The Doctor and James spent their time getting to know the other passengers. They did two rounds of introducing each other so that they everyone would remember each other's names, then did another round saying their favorite kind of lasagna. When the shuttle landed and the Judoon opened the doors, they looked at one another at the odd site as all of their prisoners finished off a traveling song the Doctor had initiated.

The Doctor looked up and smiled cheerfully. "Hello! Is the trip already over?"

The Judoon didn't answer, but instead started to one by one unload the passengers, getting the fingerprints, eye-scans, and background checks on each before sending them off.

The Doctor and James were up next and carefully examined by the Judoon and although they surely knew who they were, they didn't treat them any differently until they were to be sent off with the other prisoners, most likely to holding cells.

A Judoon captain stopped the guards that were about to lead them off.

"The Shadow Architect wants to see these two," it stated.

The Doctor grimaced. "Actually, um, I think wherever the others are going would be much more comfortable. We don't really need to talk. Maybe another time though?"

The Judoon captain paid him no heed. Instead they were both dragged off to see the Shadow Architect.

The Doctor looked around the familiar room as they were brought none-too-gently into her office and it occurred to him that he had not been here since he had had James' face. It was a peculiar thought. Life could be strange sometimes.

The Shadow Architect was looking at the map of the universe, which flowed around her, revealing all of the planet (all restored to their original places thanks to the Doctor). She turned as they entered, her long, black, velvet dress draped over her matronly, pale form like a dying black rose. Her eyes fell on James first in a way that made James nervous. She looked angry. Very angry.

Her eyes past him and onto the Doctor and she looked impossibly angrier, yet her features remained steely. Her eyes, however, seemed redder than before.

"Doctor," she said to the Doctor.

This actually surprised the Doctor. He hadn't seen her since he regenerated, but he supposed the Judoon likely kept track of him as often as possible. And with all of his recent, very public activity before his 'death', he guessed she had likely recorded his new appearance.

Which, actually, was a problem.

"Two Doctors?" she asked, her voice icy and intimidating.

"Yes," the Doctor replied hastily, "I'm the Doctor, he's the Doctor, we're the Doctor. Long story. Very long and complicated. You wouldn't want to hear it, and frankly, I'm a bit tired. I could use some tea. I think the Doctor could too. Would you like some, Doctor?"

James nodded, quick to confirm the lie. "I would, actually. And maybe some cake with those little edible balls. I love those!"

"Oh, that sounds good!" the Doctor agreed, "I'd like one too!"

"Enough!" she snapped, then turned her attention to the Doctor. "Doctor, you are hereby charged with obstruction of justice, disturbance of the peace, theft, misuse of Shadow Proclamation property-"

The Doctor looked at the Shadow Architect. "Oh, come on. Really? Are you still in a huff about that? I saved the day, didn't I?"

"Some people just can't let go," James said with a shrug.

"We could have obliterated the Daleks then and there, Doctor. But because of your actions, they are still out there and everyone they kill from here forward will be on your head."

James' brow furrowed at that. "Excuse me, what? That's impossible. I killed the Daleks. Very big explosion. Hard to miss."

"Be quiet! We know you're not what you claim to be."

James' brow lowered in confusion. "What? What are you talking about?"

She gazed angrily at him through her blood red eyes. "Don't test me. What are you? A clone perhaps?"

The Doctor, a little confused and not wanting her to doubt James' identity, quickly rambled into an explanation, "Oh, no, no. It's not cloning. You see, Time Lords can regenerate, new face, same man, all that. Sometimes I run into myself- time travel can be quite messy sometimes- but not to worry. I have everything under-"

"I am well acquainted with Time Lord physiology, Doctor. I am not talking about that. That man there is not you. I am surprised it has managed to trick you so efficiently," she said, looking at the Doctor now with suspicion.

"Now hold on just a minute," the Doctor interjected, "Where did you get the ludicrous idea that he isn't me?"

"That is none of your concern," she stated.

"It is if he's being charged falsely! Now answer the question, where did you get that idea?" the Doctor said, taking a step forward and staring at her with that gaze that only the Doctor could give- it was commanding, fierce, unrelenting and in his eyes reflected all he had seen, all he had witnessed, all he had done. Few had stared at that gaze and not flinched.

The Shadow Architect was no exception. She withdrew, but just barely and regained her composure quickly. "The Shadow Proclamation has many ways of gathering intelligence, and we have plenty of informants."

"Excuse me, hello," James said, waving a hand, his other hand hanging limply in the other cuff around his hand, "Hi. I'm still here, in case you haven't noticed."

The Shadow Architect regarded him with irritation and opened her mouth to speak when a loud clatter suddenly drew everyone's attention to the stairs.

The Doctor recognized the servant from the last time he'd been here. She'd attended to Donna while he had been busy with the the Shadow Architect's universal map. She was standing at the stairs now, having dropped a platter and a cup presumably filled with something the Shadow Architect was going to drink, but now lay in a small light brown pool at the foot of the stairs. The servants eyes were completely locked onto James.

"Born of Nobles and Lords," she muttered, then crossed the room with surprising speed until she was standing a few inches away from a very befuddled James.

The servant touched her hand tentatively to the side of his face, then sharply pulled away as though she'd been burned, taking several steps back. "You're something new..."

James blinked at her, looking not only confused, but a little perturbed. She knew what he was. How could she possibly know that?

The Shadow Architect looked between the servant and James, then spoke, "Leave us. And clean up that mess you made."

For the first time since entering the room, the servant finally broke her gaze from James, looked at the Shadow Architect, and nodded, lowering her eyes to the floor and quickly scurrying out of the room.

James stared after her, quite bewildered and frankly a little irritated at being ignored. "Okay, not to sound like a broken record player, but can someone please explain why I'm being accused of not being me?"

The Shadow Architect turned her attention now to James, stating, "You are not a Time Lord. You are an imposter. And with reasonable suspicion, I am allowed to do whatever I deem necessary to determine your true nature. I think a mind probe should do well in that capacity."

The Doctor's face drained of color, and James' eyes widened in fresh alarm.

"What?!" they both said in unison.

"It's the most efficient way to discover what he is."

"Oh, wizard. Whatever happened to DNA testing? We're just going to skip all that?!" James protested as two Judoon guards came up on either side of him, taking hold of his arms.

"Our DNA testing protocols have been fooled in the past and I want to be absolutely certain of what you are," the Shadow Architect said, watching James struggle vainly in the Judoon's arms.

"Wait, wait, wait, wait," the Doctor pleaded. He started forward, wanting to free James' from the arms of the Judoon, but was held at bay by two Judoon guards of his own. "You can't do that! A mind probe would kill him!"

"Nonsense. If he's a Time Lord, he should come out of it fine. If not, well, I have my answer and have done away with a criminal simultaneously."

"Please, wait, I know you're mad at me, but take it out on me, not on him. I'm the one who you're angry at. Just let him go," the Doctor again pleaded desperately.

Another Judoon guard appeared from one of the doors opposite them, carrying what appeared to be a sleeker version of a chameleon arch. At the sight of it, James' struggling grew in intensity, eyes widened in panic. "Hold on, wait, just listen to me," James said, trying to maneuver his body away from the device. The Judoon carrying the mind probe walked up to him. One of the guards holding his arm grabbed hold of a handful of hair from the back of his neck and yanked his head back roughly, keeping him from struggling as the other Judoon put the device on his head. "Ack! Doctor!"

"You can't do that to him just on conjecture! Please, even my brain would turn to mush. He won't survive it!"

"But you would?" the Shadow Architect inquired, holding up her hand to stop the Judoon from switching it on.

James remained frozen, hair still in the tight grip of the Judoon behind him, afraid to move for the fear that he might accidentally cause the mind probe to turn on. He looked over at the Doctor and they both shared an unspoken conversation.

Don't tell her, James told him.

Have you got a death wish? the Doctor replied. What else am I supposed to do? She's about to kill you!

Please. For Rose's sake and mine, please don't tell her. Find another way.

I'm sorry. There isn't one.

The Doctor sighed, then looked at an impatiently waiting Shadow Architect. "Listen... you're right. He's not me. He's not the Doctor. Or... he isn't anymore. He was, sort of. He was my hand. It's very complicated. Please, just, let him go and I'll explain it all to you."

The Shadow Architect regarded him thoughtfully, then nodded. "Very well," she agreed, then looked at the Judoon soldiers. "Detain him for now. The Doctor and I will discuss his fate later."

The Judoon took the mind probe off of James' head and released his hair, and he gratefully stretched his neck in circles. Before he could say a word, he was led out of the room by the two rhinoceros-looking aliens, leaving the Doctor and the Shadow Architect alone.

She waited until they left before taking a seat at her glass desk and offering the seat opposite her to the Doctor. "Now," she said, "Explain."

More to come soon. Thank you so much for all of the support thus far!