3
Tegan frowned. The idea that the Doctor would have regenerated since she had last seen him had occurred to her more than once. A few times she had wondered if she would even recognise him should they ever cross paths in the future. The idea that the Doctor would change gender hadn't been something she had even considered.
"The Professor." Ace folded her arms, suddenly sounding like her teenage self once more. "You said they were in trouble."
"Yes." Kate nodded, looking genuinely worried. "Yes, I believe she is."
"In what way?" Tegan collected herself enough to be able to deal with the matter at hand.
Kate led them into another office at the end of the corridor. Ace ushered her along.
"The Master."
"Is dead. There was all that stuff in the Time War."
"Daleks survived." Ace shrugged.
"Don't they always?" Tegan huffed. Kate nodded.
"Yes, they seem to. The Master survived the Time War. Has also regenerated a number of times since then." She frowned. "Look, I know the Doctor refers to the Master as her best enemy but this time he really has become dangerous. We thought he was contained. A threat but one to just keep an eye on. Then there was the Flux."
"The what now?"
"Oh, yes. You've been freelancers for a long time." Kate smiled. "I think, before we go any further we need to get you both up to speed."
xxxxxxxxx
Yaz stared out of the TARDIS window holding a mug of coffee in one hand. She knew that things were changing, the Doctor had been more secretive than ever.
"Yas? You ok?"
"Um, yeah." Yaz turned to see the blonde woman disappear under the console of the TARDIS as she set about fixing something. "You?"
"Never better."
"Right." She sighed, turning back to the view of the Nebula outside the windows.
"Was thinking, could go see Graham and Ryan. Not been to 21st century earth for a while. Would be good to catch up."
"You want to see them? Really?"
"Still Fam."
"True."
"Yaz, what is it?"
Yaz walked over to where the Doctor was working. She crouched down to see what the Time Lord was doing.
"Just thinking, that's all. The Weeping Angels, the Flux, Dan."
"We could see him too. Liverpool isn't far from Sheffield. Is it?" She dropped the mallet she had been holding as Yaz shrugged. "Could see if he finally got Diane to go out with him properly."
"He is nuts about her."
"Love a good romance me."
"Really." Yaz shrugged before standing up. "Ok, Earth. 21st Century. England, preferably Sheffield area."
"Well, if you are going to be that precise." The Doctor jumped up. "Not entirely up to me, is it Old Girl?" She brushed her hand over the console. "But I can see if that's where she wants to take us." She pulled the golden lever hoping that her ancient companion would oblige.