The Companion

“Did you just land us in the middle of a war?” said Harry, once the TARDIS had stopped.

“Well… not in the middle of a war. Well maybe. Actually, in the middle of the London Blitz to be precise,” said the Doctor walking past Harry and I.

“The London Blitz? Are you trying to get us killed?” said Harry.

“No no, of course not. Technically we’re not right in the middle of it… well we are… what I mean to say is, we’re in the Cabinet War Rooms.”

“No way,” I said, in pure excitement. I knew exactly what this meant, for I was a self-confessed history geek.

“Yes, I think you’ll find just outside those doors is-“ the Doctor began but before he had even begun I was racing towards the doors to open them.

“Winston Churchill!” I exclaimed. For standing before me was none other than a rather flustered looking Winston Churchill who looked as if he’d run a mile.

“Winston! How are you keeping?” said the Doctor, inching past to get out the door and shake Mr. Churchill’s hand.

“Very well thank you, Doctor. I wasn’t expecting a return visit, especially not mere months since you told me you couldn’t help our efforts,” said Winston, a twinkle in his eye.

“Is that where we are? Still going strong, I see,” said the Doctor.

“Yes, still buggering on but I see you’ve-“

“Mr. Churchill, sorry sir, it’s a great honour, sir,” I said for I could barely contain myself as stepped out of the TARDIS to wring Winston Churchill’s hand. “I never thought, never dreamed I’d get the chance to meet you.”

“Uh, yes of course,” said Winston, looking slightly confused but shook my hand nevertheless.

“Sorry, newbie in the TARDIS. First time out,” said the Doctor, putting a hand on my shoulder and pulling me back into line.

“Rude,” I said, turning to him.

“Well he’s not wrong,” said Harry, amused at my slight humiliation.

“But I’m not the only ‘newbie’ here,” I protested.

“Yeah but at least I can play it cool,” said Harry.

“Oh shut up,” I said, giving him a shove.

“Ah of course, that brilliant machine of yours,” said Winston, looking up at the TARDIS, having ignored this last little exchange.

“Don’t even start,” said the Doctor chuckling.

“Well, I assume you have a reason for being here, Doctor. Did you decide to aid us after all?”

“No, sorry, only a short stop but I wouldn’t say no to some tea and a Jammie Dodger. Oh no wait, we’re a good twenty years too early. Might have some in the TARDIS, though.”

“Well of course, if you like,” said Winston, turning to lead us down the hall. “So who are these lively young people you have with you?”

“This is Kylie and this is Harry,” said the Doctor, gesturing to both of us respectively. “They travel with me. Well… since recently.”

“I see, well do make yourselves comfortable. I’ll ask Bracewell to join us, shall I?” said Winston as he opened a door to a room, which appeared to be his office. Oh, this was just too good. The Winston Churchill’s very own office!

“Of course, that would be splendid,” said the Doctor as Winston left us momentarily.

“That’s the actual Winston Churchill? You aren’t pulling my leg or something?” said Harry, following the Doctor and I into the office.

“Or something. You know, what I find interesting is that you chose to believe that we’re in deep space on a whale’s back and yet you’re struggling to believe we’re in Winston Churchill’s office?” said the Doctor grinning, plonking himself down at the desk.

“Well its history, isn’t it?” Harry replied, taking a look around the office as if looking for something that could be out of place. But deep down I knew he believed it as much as I did.

“Exactly, which is what should make it easier to believe, I should think,” the Doctor replied before turning to me and saying, “And when were you going to mention you were into my friend Winston?”

“Not into him, I’m just rather passionate about history,” I said, grinning.

“I wouldn’t have thought it was a young person thing,” said the Doctor jokingly.

“I think it’s adorable,” said Harry in my defense, smiling over at me.

“Of course you’d say that,” said the Doctor.

“Doctor, how nice to see you again,” said a voice from the doorway. We all turned to see a grey-haired, kindly looking man wearing a white lab coat and glasses.

“Ah, Edwin. Lovely to see you. Have you found your Dorabella yet?” said the Doctor, getting up and walking around the desk to shake the man’s hand.

“No, unfortunately I haven’t had the chance given our current situation. Perhaps once the war is over,” said Edwin who I assumed was Bracewell.

“Yes, of course. Oh I should introduce you to my new friends. Edwin, this is Kylie and Harry. Kylie, Harry this is Edwin Bracewell, an advisor of Winston’s,” said the Doctor.

“Hello, sir,” I said, moving forward to shake his hand, Harry following after me.

“Let’s not block the door way gentlemen, lady,” said Winston from behind, carrying a tray of makings for tea. We all moved back inside the office and sat down. Due to the shortage of chairs I happily perched myself on Harry’s knee, still quivering with excitement.

“Down to business then, because I assume you have something to discuss, Doctor,” said Winston once he had sat down and started pouring the tea, passing it around.

“Yes, I have come about cracks,” said the Doctor.

“Cracks?”

“I don’t believe I mentioned it last time we met but I have encountered an old… error, shall we say. Last time I was here there were cracks appearing all across time and space and one has returned. Well there’s one to my knowledge. I haven’t managed to find any more, which is very unusual given the nature of the cracks.”

“I’m not quite sure I can help you, Doctor. I’m only a Prime Minister after all.”

“Maybe you can answer me this: Have there been any disappearances among the people down here in the Cabinet War Rooms?”

“No, there hasn’t been and believe me I would know.”

“Of course you would, although not entirely reliable in this case, sorry Winston.”

“Not reliable? What do you mean by that?”

“It can be difficult to trace these disappearances. But Edwin, you’re Dalek technology, which means you may have been able to detect it. Have you noticed anything?”

“No, I’m afraid I haven’t,” said Bracewell.

“I’m sorry, what technology?” I asked.

“I’m an android, dear,” said Bracewell. “But that doesn’t make me any less human than you are,” he finished kindly.

“Edwin here was led into believing that he was the inventor of a race known as the Daleks or the Ironsides as he knew then. In reality it was the other way round: they had invented him. It’s a long story,” said the Doctor.

“The Doctor was good enough to help me through that dreadful ordeal. He’s a very kind man,” said Bracewell.

“Ah it was no problem. I’m always here to help,” said the Doctor with a wave of his hand. “So no disappearances then?”

“No,” said Bracewell.

“How very peculiar,” said the Doctor.

“I’m not sure if it’s my place to say but you may be looking in the wrong place, Doctor,” said Winston.

“Well, maybe. But the thing is, if the same thing is happening again the cracks would be scattered all across time and space meaning they’d be cropping up every where,” said the Doctor.

“And there’s only one?” asked Bracewell.

“Yes, just the one,” said the Doctor, sipping his tea and frowning slightly.

“Well, I’m afraid we can’t help you, Doctor,” said Bracewell.

“Yes… well thank you for the tea, fellows. My companions and I should be off. We have some more crack hunting to do,” said the Doctor, getting up and rubbing his hands together.

“Crack hunting? Really?” I said quietly to the Doctor as both Harry and I stood up.

“Uh quite right, don’t let me say that again,” he replied.

“Well, Doctor, it was nice to have the pleasure of your company even if it was only for a short while,” said Winston, standing up to shake the Doctor’s hand.

“Not at all, Winston,” said the Doctor.

“And very nice to meet you young people,” said Winston, turning to Harry and I next.

“We should be off. Keep buggering on then, Winston… Edwin,” said the Doctor with a nod to each respectively.

“That’s the ticket,” said Winston.

“Nice to see you again, Doctor,” said Bracewell.

After that slightly extended good bye, the Doctor led us back down the hall to the TARDIS.

“You’re not getting too tired, are you?” said the Doctor.

“No, I suppose time travel keeps the brain well stimulated,” I said, skipping to a stop in front of the TARDIS doors.

“And you Harry?”

“Yeah, no I’m fine, ready for the next stop,” he said cheerfully.

“I’m not sure I am,” said the Doctor so quietly that I only just caught it before we walked inside.

Notes