Escape

It was morning and the Doctor had worked through the night as usual.  He had to get his 
de-materialization circuit working again.  If he didn’t, he would be stuck on this backwater
planet forever.  He hated it.  Being trapped on a single planet was almost worse than death.  
Then he remembered it was death.  The Time Lords had taken away his second life along with his 
freedom.  A pity, he rather enjoyed that life.  Always full of monsters to fight and people
to amuse with his recorder.  And he did miss Jamie, his longest running companion, except
for dear Susan of course.  But poor Jamie, he had his life taken away too.  Well, his life 
with the Doctor anyway, all five years of it.


It was unfair, this exile.  He had done his service for the High Council, being their messenger 
and diplomat.  Imagine, him, being a diplomat.  He’d even been good then, not making side trips 
to fight wrong-doings and evil.  If he came across injustice on a trip, he’d certainly put 
things right, but he wouldn’t go out of his way.  And the Time Lords recognized his good 
behavior by allowing Jamie and Victoria to return to him for several years.  Meeting his 
future selves was interesting, including his current persona.  Unfortunately, space and time 
always had to be threatened for him to see them, although that may be a blessing in 
disguise.  He had seen his current self a few years in the future, still trapped in misery
here.  He couldn’t remember most of his meeting with himself during the Borusa affair in the
Death Zone.  Could that be why the Time Lords stole his memory, life, and freedom?  Because
of his unofficial involvement for Gallifrey?  To cover their own tracks they imprisoned him 
on Earth?  That was his last adventure in his second body, took place right after he met 
his Sixth self, as the Doctor recalled.  Yes, that must be it.  To save their sorry hides, 
the Celestial Intervention Agency abandoned him on Earth.  But why here and now?  The Doctor 
knew in his studies of Earth many alien races tried to invade during this time.  Perhaps he
did have a purpose here.  He had to help the Brigadier and UNIT repel these invaders.


Ah, the Brigadier.  The Doctor’s closest thing to a friend right now. Good old chap, Alastair. 
But still, the Brig didn’t quite understand what the Doctor was going through.  No one could, 
not even his latest assistant, Liz.  It was his weight to bear, alone.  Utterly and completely 
alone.  The Doctor had to get off Earth, no matter what the cost.  He would be UNIT’s advisor 
now. But as soon as he could, he would leave.  Yes, he would get as far away from this 
insignificant speck as he could.  Maybe even a trip on Metebelis III or the Eye of Orion.  
He had to get out of here.  He just had to…