locker_monster | Doctor Who fic: Man's Best Friend (1/1)

Title: Man's Best Friend (1/1)
Rating: G
Word Count: 496
Characters: Professor Marius (from "The Invisible Enemy")
Timeline: Set post-"The Invisible Enemy".
Summary: Professor Marius receives a mysterious package.
Disclaimer: Doctor Who belongs to the BBC.
A/N: Entry for

who_contest's "Box" challenge.

There wasn't much need for mail service at the Bi-Al Foundation. Rocket weight restrictions - and a tedious application process - kept the sending and receiving of personal packages to a bare minimum. If you couldn't do it electronically or make or grow it yourself, then, in the eyes of station management, the object wasn't worth having or discussing.

So naturally, Professor Marius was quite surprised to see a small package addressed to him sitting on his desk when he entered his laboratory.

He eyed the object, as if expecting it to explode the moment he touched it. It wasn't a farfetched notion when one considered that he was surrounded by scientists who could easily come up with the chemicals to create a loud bang. After a few more moments, he finally decided that no bodily harm would come to him and he picked up the package.

It was a box no wider than his palm and it weighed only a few grams by his estimation. It was also wrapped in brown paper, which was a waste of good paper. His name was written across the top of the package in an untidy scrawl.

This seemed like a gift, but Marius couldn't think of anyone on the station, or on Earth for that matter, who would be sending him something. Despite the oddness of it all, his curiosity needed to be sated and he carefully pulled apart the tape holding the edges of the wrapping paper in place, freeing the box within.

The box itself was nothing spectacular, just a plain cardboard cube with a lid, but there was a folded up piece of paper affixed to the top. Marius tugged it off and he unfolded the paper to find that it was a note.

Professor Marius,

I never thanked you for giving me K9. He's been a remarkable asset and a dear friend to many. The enclosed will fill you in on what he's been up to since joining me in the TARDIS.

The Doctor

P.S. This shouldn't cause any problems with the weight restrictions when you return to Earth.

P.P.S. I've taken a few design liberties over the centuries. I hope you don't mind.

It had only been a few weeks since Marius had helped the Doctor to stop the Swarm, but it seemed that a great more deal of time had passed for the man and K9. Marius felt a sudden rush of emotion at the realization that his quirky little metal dog was far exceeding his conceived role as a mobile computer.

Suddenly remembering the box that he still held in his hand, Marius pulled off the lid. He couldn't help but laugh when he saw what was inside.

"Hello, old friend," he said.

"Hello, Master," replied the miniaturized K9 nestled inside of the box.

Marius lifted the tiny metal dog out of the box and cradled him in his palm. "I hear you have quite a few tales to tell me..."

Further A/N: Miniature K9s are totally a thing.