“Scarlett trust me, the catacombs of Rome are marvelous, what better way to understand your own faith than to see it at its darkest hour, Rome on their backs, no mainstream, religious leader in a fancy bullet proof car with too much money and still doesn’t help others with it,” the Doctor said twisting a knob.
“Won’t Nero try to burn me, while playing the fiddle?” Scarlett said with sarcasm. Scarlett was the Doctor’s young companion from the American South’s 21st Century she wore a blue tunic.
“Nonsense, he would never do that!” The Doctor said flipping a switch.
“That is a relief,” Scarlett said scratching her head.
“He never played the fiddle, it was invented 10th Century and we are going to the early Christian church, Peter is a wonderful lad, a bit hot tempered, but a wonderful lad,” the Doctor said.
“So what would Nero play while I burned?” Scarlett asked.
“He liked to pull different sized macaques by the feet, it’s like scratching a chalkboard to you, stop worrying about Nero, you probably would never run into him,” the Doctor said as the TARDIS landed and opened the door. Outside was the middle of the 3rd Legion’s barracks.
“Who are you? Where are you from? What are you doing here? How did you get here? Why are you here?” a Roman solider said with his spear at the Doctor’s tie, but he was not alone.
“You forgot When, one must never forget to ask a When,” the Doctor said.
“You didn’t answer my questions!” the Soldier said.
“Ah, yes, I am the Doctor, this young woman is my companion, we are from places you never heard of so, let’s say, we are tourists, and got in here by accident,” the Doctor said.
“An accidental tourist?” the Soldier said.
“Wonderful story,” the Doctor said brushing aside the spears.
“You are under arrest,” the soldier said shoving his spear back at the Doctor.
The Doctor and Scarlett were escorted to Nero’s court.
“What, do we have here?” Nero said with a grin.
“I am a musician of sorts, but mainly a tourist,” The Doctor said pulling out his harmonica.
The Doctor played a song.
“Are you playing Cat Scratch Fever, on an instrument more current than the fiddle?” Scarlett whispered to the Doctor.
“It’s a good song,” the Doctor said quickly and continued to play.
“What a wonderful music! Kill them,” Nero said.
“What?” Scarlett asked.
“Let us at least show you a great magic trick, be a good lad and fetch me the cabinet you found me in,” the Doctor said to a soldier.
“Ooo, I love magic,” Nero said as the TARDIS was brought in.
“First, my assistant and I shall walk into the cabinet,” the Doctor said ushering Scarlett into the TARDIS as he waved his hands wildly before entering.
He then moved the TARDIS to the catacombs of Rome.
“Wonderful magic trick, now, bring them back, Bring Them Back, BRING THEM BACK!” Nero said going from joyous to infuriated.
“Doctor let’s go somewhere else,” Scarlett said.
“Don’t you want to meet Peter?” the Doctor asked.
“Not with every Roman solider looking for me,” Scarlett said.
“I thought you wanted every Roman soldier looking for you, or was that Amy,” the Doctor said thinking.
“Not with the intent of killing me!” Scarlett said while the Doctor was studying a wall.
“Ah, yes, I found an Ichthys,” the Doctor said.
“Looks like the car magnets,” Scarlett said as the Doctor scanned the fish design with his sonic screwdriver.
“These people had it first, the scratching is fresh,” the Doctor said looking up and down the catacombs and walked in a direction, then the other.
“What’s wrong with that way?” Scarlett said.
“Romans,” the Doctor said as Scarlett followed.
They found a fork in the catacombs and examined the two, and went to the left one, which had an Ichthys.
“Welcome brother,” a bearded man said welcoming the Doctor and Scarlett.
“Thank you, my friend wanted to meet you, Scarlett, meet Peter, Peter meet Scarlett,” the Doctor said with a grin.
“Oh my, there are so many questions I have for you,” Scarlett started.
“He prefers, Peter, everyone asks that,” the Doctor said.
“Why did you deny Christ?” Scarlett asked, Peter sighed.
“I was scared for my life, sometimes you have to face your fears for what is right,” Peter said as he heard footsteps. Peter snuck out and drew the Roman’s attention they attacked him, scratched him several places before hauling his body to prison.
While the Doctor and Scarlett watched he held her tight and quiet.
“He just met us, and he surrendered himself to save us,” Scarlett cried.
“That is the true point, in my opinion of the Christian Bible,” the Doctor said.
“He’s going to be executed,” Scarlett said in tears.
“I know, but he knew deep down, he had to sacrifice himself, what better way than for strangers?” the Doctor said.
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