They found themselves looking into the Council Chamber where six people, frozen with astonishment, stared at the TARDIS. The six were grouped around a table, and on the table the Doctor saw that which he had come for.
"Peri, that's my Temporal Regulator there on the table!"
Peri noted tartly that the TARDIS had done a better job of getting them where they were going than the Doctor ever had. "Maybe you should just leave everything up to her from now on." The Doctor stuck out his tongue childishly.
The Council had been discussing the Master's death sentence when the TARDIS materialized. Once the paralysis of surprise wore off, all six officials hurried to the TARDIS to await the Doctor's appearance. Morvva was composing his thoughts into a speech of welcome as the door opened.
"Doctor, we greet you ..." he began warmly, then stopped dead as an unfamiliar figure emerged. "Who are you?" he gasped. "How do you come to have the Doctor's TARDIS?"
"I'm the Doctor," replied the stranger. "And this is my current traveling companion, Miss Perpugilliam Brown."
"Quite a day, eh, fellow Councillors?" said Reserakk sarcastically. "First we get someone who claims to be a friend of the Doctor, and now here is someone claiming to be the Doctor himself."
Before the Doctor could ask the young Councillor what he was talking about, Morrva said "You are not the Doctor. That" - gesturing at the portrait - "is the Doctor."
Peri and the Doctor followed Morvva's pointing finger. The Doctor looked dispassionately at the likeness of his fourth incarnation, but Peri said "Gee, I guess you really can't control how your regenerations turn out, can you?" The Doctor ignored her and turned back to the indignant Councillor.
"I am the Doctor," the Doctor insisted, "but it is true that I have changed since then." He nodded his head at the portrait.
"Several times," Peri murmured ruefully. She often thought of the Doctor as he had been when they first met. She wasn't at all convinced this latest regeneration was an improvement.
The Doctor was having a problem persuading the Council members that he was who he claimed to be. "How can we take your word for this?" Lazarrn asked. The Councillors were still smarting from the Master's deception.
"Is there any way I can prove to you that I am who I say I am?" the Doctor asked.
Morvva regarded him levelly. "There is one way. It is a phrase - a hallowed phrase to us - that the Doctor used when he finally figured out how to help us. The phrase was written down in a book about the Doctor's visit, and no one is allowed to read the book but the current head of the Council. So if you can tell me what the Doctor said immediately before he helped us, I will know whether or not you are he."
Peri nearly groaned aloud. If everything depended on the Doctor's memory, they might as well leave now.
"Well, let me see," said the Doctor. "I remember that a small capsule from outer space had landed here, and the emanations coming from it were making your ancestors very sick indeed."
Morvva nodded, unimpressed. "But that much you could have culled from our history texts."
"Give me time," said the Doctor. "I had to open the capsule in order to stop the emissions. I tried to open it with my hands, but it was locked and I sprained my thumb. Then I tried the sonic screwdriver - you've never seen the sonic screwdriver, have you Peri? - but the power pack was run down. Then Romana made an incredibly lucky guess about the Temporal Regulator being the right shape to fit into the lock, so I went to the TARDIS spare parts locker to fetch it. And then I - yes, I remember now! I inserted the Temporal Regulator into the lock, and when I saw that it fit I said, 'Nothing can possibly go wrong this time.' And of course, nothing did.
The other five Councillors were looking at Morvva, who had turned very pale. "It is the Doctor!" he cried.
The Doctor was surrounded by delighted Yyrikkites, and no one but Peri saw Reserakk leave the room, slumping dejectedly.
"Doctor," Morvva asked, when things had quieted down, "why have you returned? It has been 150 years since you were last here; we never thought we would see you again."
"That can wait," said the Doctor. "First, please tell me about this person who says he is my friend. It's always nice to meet a friend unexpectedly."
"He calls himself 'the Master'," said Morvva distastefully, "and he seems to be a thoroughly unpleasant person. I would not be at all surprised if he is lying about being a friend of yours."
Peri's eyes widened. "Oh, no, Doctor; the M-umph!" She cried out as the Doctor stepped a bit too hard on her foot.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Peri," he said smoothly. Then he turned back to the Councillors. "This 'Master' — is he still on Yyrikk?"
"Yes, unfortunately," Lazarrn replied. "He is in the penal wing."
"The penal wing?" the Doctor echoed.
Morrva nodded. "Yes, Doctor; this man who claims to be your friend was caught trying to steal the Keepsake of Metal you left us. The penalty is death. The Master is in jail waiting for his sentence to be carried out." The Doctor and Peri exchanged glances.
"The 'Master'," the Doctor said thoughtfully. "Can't quite say that rings a bell." Peri turned amazed eyes in his direction. The Doctor winked at her. "Morvva, may I see this man?"
"Yes, of course, Doctor." Morvva and Lazarrn turned to lead the Doctor and Peri toward the door.
Rikkir, Lynedd and Orenn had been talking and gesturing together excitedly. "Excuse me, Morvva," said Orenn, "but Lynedd, Rikkir and I would prefer not to visit the jail block, if that is all right with you?"
Morvva nodded."As you wish." The two women eyed the Doctor and Peri from head to foot one last time, then left the room with Lynedd, looking very excited.
"And now, Doctor, shall we go?" Morvva gestured towards the doors.
"Yes, I shall be very interested to see this 'Master' person," said the Doctor. His face was unreadable, but Peri saw his eyes were twinkling.