Doctor Who: Veiled Memories - The History of the Doctor

Chris McKeon
DOCTOR WHO: VEILED MEMORIES
‘My dear, if there’s one thing I’ve learned about middle men is they always keep their
opinions neutral. Wouldn’t you agree, Brigadier’
The Doctor tucked his hands into the pockets of his dark grey trousers and threw a
wry smile over at the lean, beige-uniformed figure of Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-
Stewart, head of the British arm of the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce, standing
stiffly a few feet away with his hands behind his back. The Brigadier lifted his eyebrows at
the Doctor’s comment, assumed it was meant to be humorous, and permitted himself a halfsmile.
‘I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.’
‘My dear fellow, that’s the whole point.’
The Brigadier was unsure how to respond to this, so he decided to change the
subject.
‘Right then. I’d better get on the line to Ashbridge Hospital to inquire after returning
the vehicle you ‘borrowed’ from that specialist meant to examine you, Doctor; the sooner we
deal with him, the better.’
Lethbridge-Stewart nodded a brief farewell to both the Doctor and Liz, before
navigating his way through the crowded laboratory and exiting through the far wall door.
The Doctor turned around and walked to the Police Box standing tall in the centre of the
room. He reached out one hand, touched one of the battered box’s doors, and sighed.
‘Poor old girl. After so long together only to end up like this…’
Liz stepped over to the box and let her fingertips brush along its surface, which felt
just like regular painted wood to her touch. And yet only a short time ago this eccentric man
in velvet and ruffles had claimed it was his spacecraft, and had even stepped inside to fly it
away. Liz Shaw had always prided herself on being the least gullible person she knew, but
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