The Doctor and the Time War

Chapter 2

The Doctor strode into the Arkadian Spaceport, looking around for the Commandant. threading his way through throngs of Time Lords, Sontarans, and various other races, he glanced around. But he never actually looked in front of him.

Suddenly he ran into a Sontaran, a humanoid clone bred for combat. The Sontaran spun around, looking for his aggressor, then noticed the Doctor on the ground. Fixing his gaze upon the Doctor, the Sontaran drew himself up to his full height, which wasn't all that impressive, as Sontarans were generally very short. This one was no exception.

"Watch it, boy! If you were my subordinate, I'd have you executed for lack of respect for a superior!" The Sontaran glared at him, attempting to appear mighty in his four-foot stature.

The Doctor stood, brushed himself off, and responded with as much patience as he could. "My apologies, Sontaran. I was looking for my own commanding officer, Lord Commandant. I didn't think to look in front of me and failed to adjust my course to avoid a collision with a respected officer. If you could point me towards the Time Lord Commandant, officer...?"

The Sontaran relaxed. "Captain Vrax of the Second Sontaran Battle Fleet. Tell me, boy, have you been in your first battle yet? Ah, the glories of combat! Er... What did you say your name was?"

"Ah, the Doctor. I have been in no battles as of yet, I'm not really in the Gallifreyan Military, but I am Lord Commandants companion."

"Doctor. Interesting name for a soldier. Anyway, Time Lord, your Lord Commandant is across the spaceport that way!" Captain Vrax stated, jerking his thumb on his three-fingered hand over his shoulder to point. "Made quite a stir when he came in. I don't see why the reverence to this man. He hasn't seen war in a century!"

"Uh... Thanks, Vrax. I'll be on my way, then."

"That's Captain Vrax. I'll have no disrespect." With that the Sontaran turned and walked away.

The Doctor watched him walk away. What a strange race. Then he spun on his heel and sprinted to the location indicated. Along the way, he noticed the Commandants ship, The Monument. A massive vessel, built before the rise of bigger-on-the-inside-technology but extremely well-maintained, it looked magnificent glinting in the suns.

The Commandant noticed the Doctor running up. He grinned and motioned the Doctor forward. He ran straight into the ship, the Commandant vaulting up after him while the ramp was lifting. When the ramp closed, he turned and smiled at the Doctor. "Well, Doctor, shall we be off?"

The Doctor was flushed with excitement. He nodded. "Certainly, Commandant. I'm ready to go."

The Commandant turned and looked at the Doctor with a grim look on his face. He stood there, looking the Doctor up and down until the Doctor started to feel uncomfortable. Then he smiled. "No, you're not, Doctor. You're never ready for the universe."