(AUTHOR'S NOTE: I must be out of my mind, but I guess I don't got forsetting myself small challenges. I hope I've done everything here to form - if not, folks, please let me know. As always, read and reviews are welcome.) TTR: A Preponderance of Ponderings By Daniel Ben-Zvi He couldn't exactly remember the first time he'd ventured to the Outside. Well, actually, he could. Several times over, in fact. There had been that night with the sixth Doctor which had seen the two of them delving deep into the nature of existence, his ramblings fueled by a potent little brew that Francois had dubbed the "house special". Then there was that night on the tiles with Fitz and Anji - he was fairly certain he'd had longer hair that time. And been a blond. Of course, when it came to that evening with Ace, Nyssa, and Adric, when he learned that there were more derivations of the word "psychotic" in the universe than he could have possibly imagined... well, he distinctly remembered being a she at that point... Bloody hell. This was getting far too complicated. He took a slow drag on the cigarette dangling from his lips, running his hand through his scraggly black hair. He couldn't understand why the small building in front of him filled him with such stomach churning dread- no, scratch that. He could very well understand why, he just wasn't sure why what this building implied frightened him so much. Hadn't he been looking for some sense of finality, the ability to put some measure of permanence into his self-definition? He pulled his leather jacket closer to his thin form, grateful for the protection against the slight breeze that was beginning to kick up. One last drag on the cigarette, the last remaining flicks of ash dropping to the ground below. He'd taken his driver's license out of his wallet five steps before he'd even run into Polly at the door - explaining things would take far too long and he wanted to just get inside with as minimum an amount of fuss as possible. The raised eyebrow, he'd expected. But to his surprise, Polly said nothing, merely waved him in with an odd little smile. There was nothing she really could have said, he thought, but for him to pass that completely without incident... Stop it, he thought. You're overthinking this. Always been one of your worst habits. The Doctor always said so. Only... which Doctor was that...? Shit. He sidled into one of the empty stools at the bar, waiting silently while Fitz finished filling an order for Peri. From the corner, he could hear Ace, Tegan and Anji engaged in a spirited conversation, Tegan sounding especially.boisterous.this evening. He couldn't be sure but he'd swear Fitz had actually jumped slightly when he'd seen him for the first time. "Bloody hell... sorry, didn't see you there." "That's ok," he replied, "I tend to have that effect on people." "What can I get for ya?" "If it's got caffeine in it and it'll keep me up for a week," he replied, "bring it on." Fitz smiled broadly at this, that shifty half smile he couldn't remember if he found charming or deeply annoying. "A man after my own heart," Fitz drawled. He just nodded, slowly surveying the landscape around him as Fitz prepped his drink. The steady itch at the back of his brain wasn't going away. He just wished he could be sure he was doing the right thing. Especially as the crucial realization seemed to be dawning on Fitz. "You're new, aren't you?" Fitz asked, placing the steaming mug carefully down on the bar. He cocked his head to one side. "Kind of. My situation gets a little.complicated." "Complicated is what we do, mate." He sighed. Once more unto the breach. "Ok. All the folks the Doctor's traveled with - the ones that everybody knows about. They must pop in all the time. Even," he added with a grim chuckle, "folks like Antimony." Fitz nodded in response. "And everyone's had a stab at creating a companion for the Doc. Sometimes it gets developed but it's usually nothing more substantial than your average passing figment." "So," asked Fitz, "how do you fit in? One of the author types that hang around here dream you up?" "Yes," he answered, "and no." Fitz looked puzzled. "I did say complicated," he replied, "and I meant it. The version of me you're seeing right now - well, that is something dreamed up by one of the author types that hang around here. Well, correction - he's new and doesn't quite consider himself up to the level of the Round's regulars." "But me.the idea of me.well, the responsibility for that lies higher up the authorial food chain." "Like who?" asked Fitz. "Helen, or Imran, or Brad?" "Don Russell," he replied. "At least, I hope I'm getting the terminology right. Y'know, I think that's the only reason Polly didn't give me a hassle at the door. She just kinda looked at me funny - didn't even give me the standard line I usually get." "Which is?" Fitz asked. "'Dude, you only got one mention - and it was in an Unbound, too.'" Fitz was, he noticed, boggling slightly at this. Oh well. All out on the table now. "My name," he said, "- well, this week anyway - is Hector Ambrose Sullivan." "But most people just call me Hex." Disclaimer: This Time Round was created by Tyler Dion. All other characters belong to their respective authors and/or the BBC. As for Hex... well, we shall see. Summary: There's a new face at the Round - or is there?