In a Pickle
A short scene by Mark Simpson

Part of the Seventh Doctor Fiction collection

The Doctor stood back from the workbench with a sigh of satisfaction.

"There, that should do it," he murmured to himself, looking at the object in his right hand.

He didn't know why it had taken him so long but he had finally got round to constructing a new sonic screwdriver.

How he had got through most of his last two incarnations without one he wasn't sure. He had tried a sonic lance for a while, but it wasn't the same.

This version was an improvement on the one he had lost to the Tereleptils. It was lighter, more powerful and now had three settings. Well, you never knew when that sort of thing might come in handy.

Now, however, it was time to test his new toy to the limit.

A few minutes later he was in position. He pointed the new sonic screwdriver at it's intended target. For a few moments, nothing happened. Then, slowly but surely, the pickled onion jar started to unscrew.

The Doctor grinned triumphantly, reached in with his fork and took out the largest pickled onion he could find.

"Another good days work done," he sighed and started to chew.

