Just who is the ‘Doctor’ character, and what does he want with Cathy?

Simon asked, “Help with what? The dormouse survey?”

“In a manner of speaking,” replied the Doctor.

“I still have no idea what you’re on about,” stated a rather confused Cathy.

The Doctor headed toward the police box and said, “Come with me. All will be revealed.”

He got to the open door and walked into the box. Our trio watched as he did this and stood around looking at the police box wondering what they should do.

Their dilemma was resolved when the Doctor poked his head back out the door and said, “Well, aren’t you coming?” He then returned inside but left the door ajar.

Cathy was the first to comment, “I think he’s expecting us to go in there with him.”

“That’s absurd,” whined Stella. “We’d be packed in there like sardines.”

“Besides,” Simon added. “Why?”

Cathy looked at the siblings, sighed, and then said, “Well, I have no idea either. But there’s something about him…” She left the thought unfinished, but decided to go ahead and see what was inside the box.

After walking into the police box, she poked her head back out and with a stunned look on her face beckoned to the others, “This sounds strange, but come in. You’re going to want to see this.” She then returned inside to wait for the others.

Simon and Stella looked at each other and shrugged, then they made their way to the door. After a momentary pause, they decided to poke their heads inside. What they found could not have been a bigger surprise.

The sight that greeted the Camerons upon entering the police box was unlike anything they had ever experienced. Inside, the box was much larger than it appeared from the outside, not to mention that it obviously featured technology far more advanced than anything any of them had ever seen or even dreamt of.

Stella found her voice first, “Wha…?”

“This is the Tardis,” stated the Doctor as if it were the most normal thing in the world for them to be seeing what was now before them. “Now to business. Your mammal survey is of far greater importance than you could possibly imagine.”

“I’m not sure I understand?” asked Cathy.

“It’s been a very long time coming, but if done correctly the outcome of these surveys could shape the way humans interact with other species. Is it not true that a number of these species are rather endangered?”

“Well, yes.”

Stella jumped in, “What does that have to do with anything?”

The Doctor smiled benevolently and replied, “Handled properly, young Lady Catherine here could prove to be a powerful voice for this planet and all it’s creatures.”

“But how…?” Cathy began.

“You could say I know things. I’m a scientist.”

Simon interjected, “Come off it! What is all this?”

“I’m just a field scientist. I don’t even have my PhD yet. What can I do?”

“You’re far more than you let on,” the Doctor began.

“You can say that again,” add Stella dryly.

The Doctor continued unfazed, “You were approached about working on a nature show with the BBC?”

“How do you know about that?” Cathy asked.

“Has Des said something to you?” Simon chipped in.

“No, no. Nothing like that.”

Cathy continued to look confused as she said, “I still don’t understand. I told Des no. Or hadn’t you heard that part?”

“There will be other opportunities. You must take advantage of them.”

“I don’t think I want to…”

Stella interrupted, “I’ve been telling you. The camera loves you. People love you. You can use that to advance your message.”

Cathy looked at Stella somewhat perturbed, then turned back to the Doctor, “But what have you to do with any of this?”

“I want to make sure you follow through with your work.”

“I’m sure there are others just as qualified,” Cathy started. “I don’t have anything special.”

“I wouldn’t say that,” Simon added with a wink.

“I think you’re biased.”

“Perhaps,” he grinned. “But I’m correct nonetheless.”

Cathy grew frustrated, “I have no credibility.”

“No one has more credibility in this area than you,” the Doctor countered.

“Oh?” she retorted. “Think I’ll still be that credible when it gets out about me being a transsexual?”

“That, my dear,” said the Doctor. “Will be little more than a momentary blip. Newsworthy for a few days, then it’ll blow over. The fact is, the notoriety might even help spread the message.”

Cathy began feeling sick, “I don’t like any of this.”

“Through that door,” said the Doctor, pointing across the control room of the Tardis.

“What?” asked Cathy still feeling rather nauseous.

“The loo,” replied the Doctor.

Cathy headed toward the door he had just indicated and made her way to the facilities. In her absence, the Doctor addressed the siblings.

“I had hoped she’d be more receptive to the idea, but it appears that was not to be. We need to convince her that this is the right thing to do,” he said to Simon.

“You obviously know very little about women if you think we have a chance of convincing Cathy Watts to do something she doesn’t want to do.”

The Doctor took his place beside the console and said, “I had hoped it wouldn’t have taken this, but…” he reached out and flicked a couple of switches and pushed a few buttons, which caused the light column in the center of the console to begin moving up and down while a sound unlike anything Cathy, Simon, or Stella had ever heard before.

When the sound started, Cathy came rushing back into the control room asking, “What is that noise?”

The Doctor looked at her and said, “Take a peek out the door. Tell me what you see.”

Cathy went to the door and opened it, revealing what appeared to be a vast nebula so close she could almost touch it. “What? How?”

“Do I have your full attention now?” asked the Doctor.

To be Continued…