Disclaimer: The characters specific to "The Sentinel" belong to Bilson, DeMeo and UPN. The characters specific to "Dr. Who" belong to Sydney Newman, Donald Wilson, the BBC and all the writers and producers involved over the last 40+ years. No profit is made on my part.
Spoilers: For "The Sentinel," anything S2 or before. For "Dr. Who," anything before the last regeneration.
Author's Note: I'd like to blame this on my beta, since she'd brought up the possibility of including the DW universe in a future crossover, but this just sprang up on its own while I was laid up with a sore knee.
Beta'd: Yes, and I highly recommend it. Computer spell-checkers don't watch TV.
Feedback or questions: jassmoris@yahoo.com
Linda Stoops
The man known to the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce, his homeworld of Gallifrey and various pockets of the galaxy as The Doctor set his mug of coffee and a frosted cake on his desk, then powered up the woefully primitive -- to him -- computer workstation assigned for his daily use in the Cascade Police Department's Major Crimes Division. He would have much preferred a nice cuppa, a pair of fresh scones slathered with clotted cream and a seat in front of the TARDIS' library computer, but for this special mission, he had learned to adapt.
On the heels of his latest regeneration, UNIT UK's Science Department had discovered the possible existance of a modern Sentinel, the name given to a genetically-enhanced tribal guardian by explorer Sir Richard Burton, thought to be nearly extinct. Unfortunately, all of Burton's notes on the subject had been burned by his wife Isabel after his death, leaving only references to the subject in other publications and writings. As luck would have it, The Doctor had a monograph on Burton's preliminary works in his private collection, one of the few that had survived time and skepticism.
UNIT's decision on the matter was that this guardian needed to be studied, trained if necessary, on the chance that he might be the precursor to more Sentinels, a possible evolutionary signal of a preemptory response to an invasion of Earth. An average Time Lord would have had serious doubts about this hypothesis, but as someone who'd learned to believe at least three impossible things before breakfast, The Doctor felt it was better to be safe than incinerated. Besides, he was never one to allow another to suffer if he could prevent it.
So, the necessary arrangements were made, and he prepared himself for his new role with a care to detail that Henry Irving would have approved. His character's background was intentionally vague, with gaps that could be filled with whatever suited the moment. This bit of smoke-and-mirrors gave him the opportunity to focus on acquiring an American accent and a set of habits that would let him blend in with the local culture. His normal attire and personality would not have raised more than a temporary ruffle in his usual ports-of-call, but in the United States -- especially within military and law enforcement circles -- such eccentricity would have slammed too many doors in his face. A challenge was one thing; acts of futility were another.
He didn't go completely undercover, however. The requirements of the assignment permitted a little flamboyance as a way of distracting the others from his real purpose. If he'd taught Houdini nothing else, it was that.
Non-Earth technology helped as well: a combination of white-noise generator and adjustable biotransmitter hid the sound of his two hearts and mimicked a single beat cycle, and he had paperwork filed to allow him to use his own "physician" when the periodic checkup rolled around. As for the drug tests, well, he found ways of handling that, too.
No, the hardest part was keeping his distance from the subject, pretending ignorance of the man's abilities while subtly laying clues and nudging where he dared. He was tempted more than once to "blow his cover," the most recent occurrence being the one at Rainier's fountain. If he'd believed in divine beings, he'd have thanked them for whatever intervened that day.
Perhaps there was something to this Gaia theory, after all...
"Hey, partner, ready to go?"
The Doctor turned from his ponderings and looked up at his most recent companion. While not as adventuresome as, say, Leela, Ace or Jamie, this one wasn't quite the stiff that Harry or Romana's first personality had been. In fact, the young detective reminded him a lot of Susan and Sarah Jane.
"Yeah." With a impish smile that belied his age, the man known to the Cascade P.D. as Det. Henri Brown logged off his terminal and grabbed his jacket as he stood.
"Let's go catch some bad guys."
The End