Footprints in the Sands of Time.

A Fourth Doctor story by Clive May - clive@cj4386.demon.co.uk


-----------------------------------------------------------------------


The copy right of all things pertaining to the concept and characters
of Dr Who is the property of the BBC.  This story is a work of fan
fiction; it has been written simply for the pleasure it gave me in
writing it; and no money has or will change hands with respect to the
story.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------


With grave solemnity, the Fourth Doctor marched to the doors of the
Console Room.  The Solar Topi perched on his explosion of brown curls
was adjusted to a very "proper" angle, and the multi-coloured scarf
wound into position.  He struck an heroic pose, and glanced at Romana.

The petite blond stood near the console.  The Doctor scowled at her
mode of dress.  She was got up like a school girl; and the Doctor did
not consider it was quite the "thing" for this grand gesture.  Still,
he had to admit, the flowing gaudy robes of a Time Lord's formal dress
wouldn't have been exactly appropriate either.

He gave her the signal.  Romana flipped a switch.  Softly the theme
music to Star Trek rose in the shining air.  The TARDIS hum took on a
note of portentousness.  The Doctor re-assumed his heroic explorer pose
and began to declaim.

"To boldly go..."

"Doctor?  Is all this really necessary?  I mean to say, is it so
important to be first?" Romana interrupted him, pouting ever so cutely.

The Doctor displayed a dramatically over done dismay at her attitude.
"Some times, young lady, I despair of you, Romana!" he exclaimed.
"It's time to shake off the stay-at-home attitude of Gallifrey.  It's
time to go forth into the unknown and explore.  Doesn't the
excitement of being the first to do a deed never before done stir your
blood?...  oh!  Just imagine!  Our feet will be the very first...
ever...  to be left in this place?  It's right at the very farthest
point of space and time.  There's nowhere or no-when beyond this point.
It's the farther shore of the multiverse...  and only a Time Lord could
have reached this beginning point, except, of course, they hardly stir
from the Capital these days."

"Actually, no," Romana replied, still pouting.  "I thought we were off
for an evening in Paris to see the dancers at the Moulin Rouge and then
off to a nice posh restaurant along the Champs Elysee for dinner?"

The Doctor looked askance.  "Not dressed like that, young lady," he
observed in a mildly scandalised tone.  "...Now...  To boldly go where
no man, or anyone else for that matter, has gone before....  Romana,
open the doors...  It's time to blase a trail into the unknown, to
leave the very first footprints ever in this virginal stretch of the
Sands of Time."

Romana, who was becoming just a tad peeved with all this foolish
fol-de-rol, made a very vexed sound which might have been a
long-suffering sigh.  She pressed the door button as the Star Trek
theme music swelled to its grand finale.

The hum of the TARDIs resumed it portentous note.

The doors opened.  With a grand flourish, the Doctor made to step
through...  and stopped dead.  The expression of puzzlement on his face
travelled through annoyance to the precursor of what Romana knew was
going to be a major sulk.  He spun about from the doors.  He shot a
withering glance at Romana, as though whatever had gone wrong with his
grand expedition to explore where no man's foot had ever trod, was
somehow her fault.  Then, without a word, he pulled off the Solar Topi
and regarded it gloomily before slouching out of the Console Room.

The note of the TARDIS grew forlorn.

Bemused, Romana went to the open doors.  She peered out.  She frowned.
Turning around to address the empty Console Room, she asked of no one
in particular, "Hmmm.  I wonder who Kilroy was?"


The end