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Cafe Chat
By: NightCat
Second table to the right of the door. The Brigadier reminded himself of the simple instruction as he approached the caf�. It was a small and out of the way place stuck between an ancient pawn shop and an electronics store. If you weren�t looking for it your eyes would pass right over it.
It was the perfect place to meet someone if you didn�t want to be noticed.
With one hand deep inside his jacket pocket, the Brigadier entered the small shop. The first thing he noticed upon entering was that, despite the apparent deserted appearance on the outside, the caf� was bustling with chatty customers. The second thing he noticed was that the second table to the right was already occupied by a young blonde woman who was engrossed in the morning paper�s crossword puzzle.
The Brigadier hesitated. The name attached to the letter had been male but, as he had learned long ago, appearances can be deceiving.
As it turned out, he didn�t even need to take a chance. The woman looked up from her book and, upon seeing who had just entered, gave the Brigadier a friendly smile and nodded to the seat across from her. He took a hint and sat down, keeping a close eye on the woman�s every move. She didn�t look like a potential risk in her simple yellow sundress, he thought, but looks aren�t everything.
�Brigadier Alastair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart,� she said, laying down her pencil. Her voice was friendly, but had a tone of authority to it. �I�m glad to finally meet you.�
The Brigadier nodded. �You must be Fred,� he said.
�I am,� she said. �And I assume that is a gun you�re holding in your pocket?�
�One can never be too careful,� he responded, not removing his hand. �Especially concerning cryptic letters and liaisons with strangers.�
The woman nodded. �The Doctor did mention that you�re the suspicious type. Should I be expecting UNIT soldiers waiting outside to back you up as well?�
Lethbridge-Stewart shook his head. �No no, I�ve long since retired.� He paused as the waitress came over to refill the woman�s tea and to offer some to the Brigadier as well. Once she left he looked back at the woman. �Though I�m afraid to say that I can�t remember the Doctor mentioning anybody named �Fred�.�
�If he did,� the woman said, sipping her freshly brewed tea, �then I highly doubt he would have referred to me as Fred. Romana, perhaps.�
�Romana,� he repeated, trying to place the name. �Ah yes, I remember him mentioning you on occasion. Something about some Key to Time business. If I recall correctly, you�re a Time Lady as well.�
�You recall correctly,� Romana said. �I do apologize for the alias and secrecy. I�m not supposed to be here at all, you know. Well, at least as far as the rest of the High Council are concerned.�
�The Doctor has rubbed off on you,� the Brigadier murmured as he finally removed his hand from his pocket. �I�m not sure if I should feel encouraged or worried by that fact.�
If Romana heard that comment, she made no show of it. Instead she began looking around the caf� like a wide-eyed tourist. The Brigadier almost thought that she was ignoring him, but caught himself before he voiced that suspicion. It could be possible that this woman had also picked up the Doctor�s habit of looking distracted while his mind worked away. He waited and sipped at his tea as she took in their surroundings.
�The Doctor took me here once,� she said suddenly, causing the Brigadier to jump a little. �Quite the peaceful little place, don�t you think?�
The Brigadier took a quick glance around the place. To be totally honest he thought that it looked like the sort of place were people in black turtlenecks and French berets would sit around and recite nonsensical poetry. However, somehow he didn�t think that would be the wisest thing to say at this point.
�It has its charms,� he settled on saying. �Decent tea, for one.�
Romana smiled. �That�s what the Doctor said. We don�t have places like this on Gallifrey. Caf�s have no practical use as far that those in charge are concerned, so there�s no need for any. Pity, I think a lot of them could use a nice lunch and cup of tea.�
�Why did you want to see me?� The Brigadier was getting impatient.
�Would you believe that I just wanted to have a nice chat with someone that wasn�t always badgering on about Time Lord politics?�
The Brigadier cocked an eyebrow. �If I were to believe that, then I have to be oblivious enough to overlook the fact that you�re sneaking around behind your own people�s back just to sit around in some obscure caf� to talk with an old military man. Not only that, but somehow I doubt you�re the type to talk to someone like me without a better reason than a recommendation by the Doctor.�
Romana regarded the Brigadier carefully for a few minutes, making him feel like was being assessed by a tough but fair professor. She then put her arms up on the table and leaned forward slightly with a look that was all business. The Brigadier couldn�t be sure, but he thought he could also see a hint of sadness in her face. When she spoke her voice was low and solemn. �You assume correctly, Brigadier, though I must admit I wish that this were just a friendly visit.�
The Brigadier leaned forward as well. �Then why are you here? Is the Doctor in trouble?�
�In a way.� Her voice was steady and she met his gaze steadily, but he got the distinct impression that this young woman had a terrible weight on her shoulders. He couldn�t help but feel sorry for her, but held back from letting it show. �A better way to say it is that everyone is in trouble. Soon Gallifrey is going to need all of the allies as we can get, even if the rest of the High Council won�t believe it.�
�And why won�t they believe it?�
Romana gave him a humourless smile. �Probably because many of them flatly refuse to trust the President and are so stuck in their ways that they can�t comprehend the possibility that Gallifrey may need help.�
�Yes, the Doctor gave me the �Time Lord Arrogance� speech many times,� the Brigadier commented. �So you�re working for the President?�
�In a way,� her smile turned into a slightly smug one. �I�m working alone.�
The Brigadier took a few seconds to think about her rather vague remark. �Oh,� he said as realization kicked in. �You�re taking an awfully large risk in coming here.�
�I know,� Romana leaned back again. �But it�s necessary. I wouldn�t make a very good president if I just sat around and did nothing, now would I?�
�No, I suppose not,� Lethbridge-Stewart admitted. �So where do I fit into all of this?�
�I�m trying to enrol certain people to be liaisons between Gallifrey and worlds that could help us. The Doctor has always spoken highly of you, and according to him you have a certain amount of authority in this world.�
The Brigadier hesitated. �He may have been exaggerating on that part. There are plenty of other people better suited to this job than I. Someone in a government office, perhaps?�
Romana shook her head. �No, that�s not the type of help Gallifrey needs. The Doctor informed me that a group that you�re associated with called UNIT could help us.�
The Brigadier allowed a small humourless grin to show through. �I don�t have the influence I used to in UNIT, though I do have friends in high places that could help. In any case, what kind of help are you looking for exactly?�
�When I find out, I�ll let you know,� Romana said. �I just feel safer knowing that we have allies out there if we need them.�
They sat in silence for a few minutes while the Brigadier took in this information. When he finally felt ready, he nodded. �What kind of threat are we talking about?� the Brigadier asked.
Romana�s stance suddenly took a sombre turn, but kept her eyes locked with Lethbridge-Stewart�s. �There is a war coming, Brigadier��
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