#125 - Alien Nights
Episode 1 by Faction Paradox
Episode 2 by Magistrate Estram
Episode 3 by Faction Paradox
Episode 4 by Mark Simpson
Episode 5 by Magistrate Estram
Episode 6 by Faction Paradox
Episode 7 by Magistrate Estram
Episode 8 by Faction Paradox
Episode 9 by Mark Simpson
Episode 10 by Consumer Info Knows
Episode 11 by Magistrate Estram
COMPLETED
Episode 1
by Faction Paradox
The woods were peaceful. Small creatures flitted and scurried among the trees on their daily routine of scavenging for food. All was as it should be in the lives of these little beings. Suddenly a small marmot-like creature stopped it's rooting and looked up. Through the ground it felt a tremor that was steadily increasing. Other animals looked up in alarm. Faintly a sound could be heard accompanying the tremor. Something was approaching fast. As the sound became a thundering roar, they all turned and ran for deeper cover...
The Doctor and his steed careened around a bend in the path he was following, nearly trampling a small woodland animal that was caught straggling. He had been riding like a bat out of Hades for an hour. His goal was to reach a clearing on the other side of these woods before the group of Elohw that was following him. It was by a stroke of luck that he had managed to gain some distance between himself and his pursuers, but he knew they had the advantage. This was their world. They knew the lay of the land and could probably travel this very route backward with their eyes closed.
Beneath him he could feel the almost hypnotic rhythm of the vril's gait. It's six legs pounded the ground sending clods of earth flying. Stay alert, the Doctor thought. He had already taken a couple glancing blows from low hanging branches. He congratulated himself again on his foresight in obtaining the riding helmet and body armor, but a loss of concentration might cause him to find out just how painful breakneck speed could be. The Doctor groped for the vril's neck as they flew around another turn.
Farther back in the woods, a gigantic creature was riding it's own vril. The giant would have stood over seven feet tall. He had blue skin and a bushy black beard. His head was shaved bald and sported a riding helmet that included two heavy spikes that protruded from the top. Muscles on top of muscles bulged out from under his armor.
The goliath's name was Evad and currently Evad was annoyed. He had been riding through these woods for nearly an hour now. He could feel sweat streaming down his back which was causing him to itch. Chasing that devious little Timelord was hot work.
How had the Doctor gotten so far ahead of him? he thought to himself. Well, that problem would soon be remedied. The Doctor wasn't used to riding. The Timelord had been lucky so far, but eventually he would make a mistake. Then Evad would be there to overtake the scrawny little man. Evad grinned at the thought, revealing two rows of razor-sharp teeth. Chuckling to himself, he urged his mount onward. He would make the Doctor pay!
The Doctor's vril bounded out of the woods onto a large flat plain. At last! Open ground! The Doctor knew his destination was near. Which way? he thought, trying to get his bearings. The vril never hesitated though and continued across the plain. Who was he to argue? Leaning forward, he urged the beast to go faster.
The Doctor and his mount pounded across the ground. After a few moments he glanced back, knowing that his pursuers would be close. He could see Evad just emerging from the woods. The Doctor was still a fair way ahead of him. If his vril could keep up this pace, he would reach the clearing with no problems. Letting out a yell of triumph, the Doctor faced forward again. His yell quickly turned into a near scream as he suddenly found himself flying through the air. Below him was the clear sky and above him was a swirling mass of water. Then gravity reasserted control... splash!
The Doctor pulled himself to his feet. He was standing thigh deep in the stream he had landed in. Tendrils of hair were plastered to his face and water poured from under the armor. He felt something cold and wriggly slide down his collar. His mount had loped a little ways off and had started grazing. Glancing back toward the woods, the Doctor could see that Evad had slowed his mount. He could hear him laughing.
Hauling himself through the water and onto the far bank, he stood dripping. Throwing off his helmet, he grimaced as the water trapped within poured down his face. He looked at the clearing and then back at Evad. There was only 100 yards to go, but he felt 50 lbs. heavier in his waterlogged gear. He would never beat Evad to the clearing.
Evad was shouting to him now. "You cannot beat me, Doctor, and now you will pay for trying!"
The Doctor's eyes narrowed. He may not make it to the clearing in time, but he didn't have to stand here like a drowned rat and take this abuse. 100 yards...
The Doctor took off running, tearing off his armor as he went. Caught off guard, Evad yelped and spurred his animal forward. The beast covered the distance to the stream in just a few seconds and where the Doctor's vril had stopped dead sending him flying, Evad's bounded through the water in two strides. 70 yards... the Doctor could hear the vril's pounding feet coming up behind him, or was that just the sound of his own hearts bursting through his ribcage? 50 yards... no, it was definitely the vril. Now he could hear Evad's mocking laughter. He willed his legs to go faster. 30 yards... nearly there. Evad was right behind him now. He could almost feel the vril's breath on his back. 20 yards... out of the corner of his eye, he could see the beast's massive green head straining against its bridle. Evad's bonechilling voice, "You are a puny little man and now it is time for you to pay! You have lost, Doctor!" 10 yards... one thought forced it's way through the oxygen deprivation, "I never lose!" With every last bit of energy left in his body, the Doctor willed himself forward. 5 yards, 4, 3, 2, 1...
The Doctor was laying on the ground in the middle of the clearing, gasping for air. A dark shadow fell over him. Even with his eyes closed he could tell that it was Evad. He didn't care. He had made it! He had beat Evad! As the pounding in his ears receded, he began to make out other sounds, a kind of roaring and over that Evad's maniacal laughter. He only opened his eyes when he felt two massive hands grab him by the shoulders and haul him off the ground.
Around him he could see the crowd cheering. The other riders had crossed the finish line by now and were leading their animals away. Evad had him by both shoulders. "Doctor! Only you would try to outrun a vril!", Evad roared as he slapped the Doctor on the back, knocking what little wind he had out of him in the process. "What possessed you? You lost the race when you lost your ride!" The Doctor tried to smile between gasps of air as he forced his lungs to work again. When that didn't work, he resorted to waving his hands about a bit. This fruitless gesture made Evad laugh even harder.
Finally the Doctor had his breath. "I may have lost the race, " he reached up and poked Evad in the chest, "but I still beat you." Evad stopped laughing, which gave the Doctor a deep satisfaction. Then he gave the Doctor a sharp-toothed grin that would have caused most people to faint. "You're right! You won the wager!" The two friends headed off for the nearest restaurant. "I guess I'm paying for dinner tonight!"
Episode 2
by Magistrate Estram
As the twin suns of Nivek 3 set beneath the grassy horizon, the day's events were being recounted in the village tavern owned by Niloc Rekab. As Niloc, a large, curly haired man, polished some ale tankards, Evad held centre stage and loudly recalled the day with certain customary embellishments. Evad swung his huge arms in an expansive gesture as he told his grand tale.
"I, of course, entered my vril in the race. I have a reputation to maintain after all." he boomed in his gruff yet friendly voice. The crowd cheered as one. "But this..." he continued, indicating the Doctor, "this is not your typical vril racer! Isn't that right, Doctor?" he bellowed, slapping the Doctor square on the back.
The Doctor coughed the air from his lungs and tried, ultimately successfully, to keep his feet. He smiled weakly and a roar of approval went up among the crowded drinkers. By way of reply, the Doctor drained his tankard and, straightening his frock coat, ran a hand through his dark curly hair, took a deep breath, stood as tall as he could and shouted "DRINKS FOR ALL MY FRIENDS!" Evad and his compatriots roared their delight, displaying rows of sharp teeth and waving huge, furry paws in the air.
The Doctor thumped Evad on the back and roared right along with them.
Away from the bar, in a shadowy corner, two men sat, deep in conversation. They had gone unnoticed among all the celebrations and neither seemed to notice the exuberant festivities going on only a few metres away. As far as they were concerned, they were alone.
Both men were cloaked in shadow and silhouetted in the weak light radiating from the bar's wall torches. Even so, one of the figures was obviously taller and larger, and this one now passed a small carry case across the table. As he did so, he rose and left the tavern unnoticed.
The remaining figure ran his hands over his prize before loosing the catches and opening it. He gazed into it, transfixed by what he saw within, then gasped and choked. His hands clutched at his throat as he struggled to breathe, but all to no avail. He lurched from his chair, frantic, wild eyed with terror.
And then, quite suddenly and silently, there was only empty space where seconds before had stood a man. His chair fell to the floor.
As his customers sang a rather bawdy drinking song, Niloc walked over to the corner table, smiling and slapping backs.
As he left the party behind and reached the table, he stretched out an arm and closed the case from behind. Sure that it was closed, he set the catches and carried it under his arm to the bar where he sat it on a shelf.
Niloc smiled, teeth glinting, and throwing his head back, he began to sing.
Episode 3
by Faction Paradox
The last of the revelers had stumbled out the door, leaving Niloc to close up. He was busying himself with spitshining the countertop when he heard the door open.
"Closed for the night", he called. Giving one last swipe at the counter, he looked up at the large man that had approached the bar.
"We're closed for the night", he repeated. At that point a smaller figure came up beside him behind the counter. Turning to face this new person, he had just enough time to register that it was a female before he fell heavily to the ground as he was thumped over the head.
Nerual threw down the remains of the large mug she had used to club the barkeep with. "Where's Lu'ap?", she hissed. "He should be here. We would have seen him leave."
"Don't know. Forget him," growled Ynnek. "Find the Prime." The two moved quickly around the interior of the building, paying little heed to the damage they left in their wake. Finally Ynnek came across the box sitting on its shelf. The gold leaf pattern set into the top glittered in the light. Grabbing the box, they headed for the door.
***
A highly intoxicated Evad had been belting out an off-key rendition of an ancient battle song when the Doctor dumped him into his hammock for the night. After making sure that the Elohwen would be alright, he began navigating his way back through the dark streets to the TARDIS. His journey took him past the inn where they had spent the evening.
As the Doctor neared the inn, two figures hurriedly emerged from the door. Looking quickly about, they set off at a rapid pace in the direction the Doctor had been heading. Approaching the inn, the Doctor frowned at the chaos within. With one last glance through the window, he continued to follow the two retreating figures, staying to the shadows as best he could.
Their path went down several streets, taking many turns. A half hour later, the two figures hurried down an alley and through a small ramshackle door.
***
Ynnek had set the box down on a small table, while Nerual turned on a few low lights.
"Let's see it!", said Nerual, nearly shaking with excitement.
"No. If the rumours about this thing are true, you don't want any part of it. Leave it." Ynnek got up and moved to the com-unit. "I'll call Mitdier and tell him we have it." Entering the necessary codes, the connection was opened.
"What?" barked the voice on the other end.
"We got the Prime. Lu'ap's missing.", reported Ynnek.
"Lu'ap is of no significance! Stay hidden and deliver the Prime to me tomorrow at midday. Make sure you aren't followed. If you foul this up, Ynnek, your head will be mine." The line clicked closed.
"Yes, sir". Ynnek replied in a low voice.
***
Outside, the Doctor had found a gap in the doorjam. Peeking through he was able to see a small table with a covered box on it. Off to the right he could hear bits of a conversation. As he listened, he watched the female approach the box and with a furtive glance in the direction of the voices, she lifted the lid and gazed inside. Soon the Doctor's forehead creased with concern. Standing upright, he pushed at the door.
When Ynnek turned back to the room, he saw two things. The first was Nerual clawing at her throat and gasping for air. The second thing he saw was the door to his left opening and a dark haired human enter the room. As Nerual fell to her knees, the newcomer moved quickly to her and proceeded to haul her away from the open box. Ynnek let out a yell and leaped to the table, knocking the lid down on the box. He turned back to the pair just in time to see the intruder stumble backward as the arm he had been grasping disappeared.
The Doctor stood looking at his empty hands when a second yell brought him back to the situation. The large Elohwen had closed the gap between them and had grabbed him by his lapels and was currently banging him up against a wall.
"Nasty toy you have there", the Doctor uttered between blows.
Episode 4
by Mark Simpson
The Doctor hated it when this happened. A lot of the people he crossed paths with tended to end up either threatening him, hitting him or trying actively to kill him. He wasn't sure which of the last two the large Elohwen was attempting.
"Put me down, there's a good chap," he tried reasonably, his chestnut curls flapping around his ears. He was quite surprised when this seemed to work and he was lowered to the ground.
He straightened his lapels and smiled at the Elohwen. "Now, maybe I can help you." He didn't see the fist until it was too late.
***
Consciousness returned slowly. Images floated across the calm millpond of his mind. Sam waving as she disappeared into the Greenpeace rally. Ace and baby Dimitri. Grace on the dock at San Francisco. Stacy running from the Cybermen. Ssard grumbling about wearing a monk's habit. Stacy and Ssard together as they waved him off on his travels. Meeting Evad and the race. The evening at the tavern. The two Elohwen fleeing into the night with the mysterious box. The box!
The Doctor sat bolt upright. His attacker sat across from him, holding a gun.
The Doctor rubbed his jaw. "That's quite a right hook you've got. Have you ever thought of taking up professional boxing?"
The Elohwen grunted. "Who are you? Why are you here?"
"Do you want a philosophical debate or a straight answer?"
"Do you want me to hit you again?"
The Doctor shook his head. "That won't be necessary. I'm known as the Doctor. I came here because I followed you after you left the tavern. You've left Niloc quite a mess to clean up. He'll be very annoyed."
"If he ever wakes up."
The Doctor scowled. "I assume you hit him too?"
"My colleague did. The one who vanished."
The Doctor nodded slowly. "That box. What is it exactly?"
Ynnek was about to answer when he realised something. This Doctor was supposed to be his prisoner, but Ynnek seemed to be answering the questions. He frowned.
"It's none of your business," he told the Doctor bluntly.
"But wouldn't you like to know what happened to your friend?" the Doctor persisted.
"Nerual will be fine. Now, shut up and I won't have to hit you again."
The Doctor opened his mouth to protest, but Ynnek shot him a warning glare. The Doctor sensibly closed his mouth again.
***
Evad awoke to a pounding head. He hated this part. The drinking long into the night was fun, as were all the songs and laughs that went with it. The following morning, however, was a killer.
He swung slowly out of his hammock onto the bare flagged floor. He didn't remember getting into the hammock last night. Wait. A faint memory of the Doctor helping him to bed. Evad smiled. He would have to thank his friend for his kindness.
Breakfast seemed a good way to go about it. He would treat the Doctor to breakfast. His head clearing slowly, Evad headed for the Doctor's room.
Nearly a minute of knocking told him the Time Lord wasn't in. He wasn't anywhere in the house, either. Surely he wouldn't have left without saying goodbye.
Evad trudged out into the street to see if the Doctor's craft was gone. He passed Niloc's tavern, scene of last night's party. He smiled.
The smile faded when Niloc stumbled out, dried blood caked to the top of his head. Evad caught him before he fell.
"What happened?" he asked Niloc. "Who did this?"
"Ynnek," Niloc whispered as he slipped back into unconsciousness.
Evad laid him on the ground carefully. Others were coming over to see what had happened.
"What's wrong?" asked Dreng, a marketstall holder.
Evad growled. "Ynnek attacked Niloc. I'm going to find out why!"
***
Is this really necessary?" the Doctor complained as Ynnek bound his hands behind his back. The Elohwen just yanked the bonds harder.
Ynnek pushed the Time Lord out of the ramshackle cottage ahead of him. He still held the gun, now pointed at the Doctor's back.
"Are we going for a nice drive in the country?" the Doctor asked as Ynnek bundled him into the back of a vril powered cart. The Elohwen got up onto the driver's platform and flicked the reins. The cart trundled away into the fresh morning air.
"Lovely scenery," the Doctor commented from his position, face down in the back of the cart. "Nothing like a drive in the fresh country air."
Ynnek just grunted and flicked the reins again, spurring the vril onwards.
***
Evad and an ever growing mob arrived at Ynnek's cottage. The burly Elohwen hammered on the door. When there was no reply, he knocked it down.
The fine layer of dust inside showed that Ynnek had not been at home for a few days.
"Where is he?" asked Dreng. He and Niloc were the same age and had known each other all their lives.
"Not here," Evad told him. He paused, thinking. A smile spread across his face as a thought occurred to him.
"Follow me," he called, leaving Ynnek's cottage and leading the mob towards the edge of the village.
"Where are we going?" asked Dreng.
"Ynnek's mother died last month. We'll try her cottage."
***
The cabin was in a very secluded part of the woods. Few people knew about it. Ynnek pulled the cart up outside the cabin and pulled the Doctor out of the back.
"Are we nearly there yet?" the Time Lord asked sweetly. The Elohwen pushed him towards the cabin.
The Doctor stumbled through the door and landed at the feet of someone. The Doctor looked up from his prone position.
"Room service?" the Doctor said hopefully. One of the feet kicked him.
"Who the hell is this?" demanded Mitdier. Even though the Doctor was on the floor, he could tell that Mitdier was an alien to this world. He was smaller than the average Elohwen, was totally bald and had yellow eyes.
"He followed Nerual and me from the tavern, where we found the Prime." Ynnek placed the box on the table.
"Then why didn't you kill him?"
"I'm not a cold blooded killer, Mitdier. Now pay me and I'll be on my way."
The alien thought for a moment. "Where is your colleague?"
Ynnek frowned. "She opened the box. Then she just vanished."
Again a pause from Mitdier. "So, it's all true then. You have done well, Ynnek. Here is your reward." He handed the Elohwen a bundle.
"What'll happen to him?" he asked, indicating the Doctor.
"As you couldn't do it, I'll kill him." He pulled a gun out of his pocket and aimed it at the Doctor. Then he smiled. "I have a better idea. Untie him."
Ynnek complied with the instruction.
"That's better," the Doctor said, massaging his wrists. "Any chance of some tea and biscuits?"
Mitdier grinned. "Open the box."
The Doctor paled. "I'd really rather not, if it's all the same to you."
Mitdier placed the gun against the Doctor's head. "Open it," he growled.
"Well, if you put it like that." The Doctor reached out towards the box.
Episode 5
by Magistrate Estram
The Doctor hesitated, his hand on the box. "Actually, come to think of it, I'd rather take the money. If it's all the same to you..."
"Open the box!" sneered Mitdier, eyeing him menacingly.
"Ah, thought so. I'll open the box then, shall I?" And so saying he gently raised the lid.
***
Evad and Dreng emerged into a clearing in the forest and approached the cottage which had belonged to Ynnek's mother, Ynnej. A few of the townsfolk followed behind at a safe distance, eager to get to the bottom of things.
***
The lid open, the Doctor stared in disbelief. Within what Ynnek had called "The Prime" was the Eye of Lungbarrow, a device of his own making. "No!" he gasped.
As the glow of the eye bathed the Doctor in its green glow, Evad and Dreng burst through the cottage door in a rage of fur and splintered wood.
"YNNEK!" Evad roared, baring his teeth.
Mitdier jumped from his chair in fear and surprise at the unexpected and violent intrusion. Ynnek blanched and swallowed furiously.
"NO! Evad, get out!" cried the Doctor as the glow from the Eye grew blinding.
Before they could react, there was an explosive flash and Mitdier, Ynnek, Evad and Dreng vanished leaving the Doctor alone in the cottage as the glow subsided. The box closed of its own accord. It had performed its function exactly as required.
The Doctor fell to his knees and raised his hands to his mouth. Trembling, tears rolled from his eyes.
"No, not like this." he whispered, "What have I done?"
Episode 6
by Faction Paradox
The crowd had been waiting outside for several minutes. They were growing impatient to know what was going on inside the cottage. Kram, feeling someone ought to take charge of the situation, mustered himself up and marched forward, wrenching open what was left of the door. Inside there was no sign of anyone except a lone man kneeling on the ground holding a box.
Speaking to the kneeling figure, Kram demanded "Where is Evad? What has happened here?"
The man on the ground, not even bothering to look up muttered "They're gone."
"Gone! Gone where?" Kram blustered. When he got no response from the man, he persisted. "Who are you?"
At that question the man looked up. The steely look in those eyes and that set face sent a shiver down Kram's spine. He realized that he didn't really want to know who this man was. "Er... well, yes... um, I have to be going..." Groping for the door handle, Kram quickly exited the house. As he hurried away, the crowd slowly followed him until finally there was no one left.
Inside the house, the Doctor had gotten up off the floor. Setting the box back on the table, he opened the lid. Inside rested a large yellow-green crystal - the Eye of Lungbarrow. If you listened closely you could hear a low hum coming from it. This was just the tiniest indication of the power contained within it.
Crystals are formed in very regular patterns, the molecules repeating over and over, creating a precise framework or structure. This structure gives it its most obvious feature, its shape, but there are other properties created by this unique process. Some crystals develop electrical charges when they are compressed or heated. Others can amplify electric current or focus light. If you had the right equipment you could hear the tones that each crystal produces when applied with energy. Given more equipment you could produce glorious symphonies with these jewels.
However, just as the perfect gem can emit an electrical charge or the perfect tone, so can other crystals resonate with other more dangerous fields. The Eye of Lungbarrow was one of these.
Created on Gallifrey, its purpose was to help defend the planet against alien invasion. The atomic structure was designed to "harmonize" with Gallifreyan physiology. When it came within range of another species, it became "discordant" or active, developing and amplifying an energy of its own. Then it would focus that energy back onto the invader. It was intended to dissuade invasion, however the result proved far more lethal than originally planned. More often than not it totally atomized the poor soul. It was an ingenious device, beautiful beyond words and the Doctor wished he had never thought of the idea.
The Eye had destroyed at least four people, one of whom had been a good friend. He would never forgive himself. All he could do now was to make sure that no one was ever hurt by it again.
He shut the lid and gathering up the box, left the building. Deep in grief and thought, the Doctor walked with his head down, following the cobblestone path to the gate. One thing bothered him yet. Ynnek had said something about his companion being all right. She had been reduced to her smallest particles right in front of the Doctor's eyes. That didn't seem all right to him. Was there something about the Eye that he didn't know? Some effect he had missed? He had run all the tests though...
"Mitdier?" a gruff voice asked.
"Hmmm?" The Doctor looked up, his concentration interrupted. In front of him on a power-cart was a rather smallish native. His hair was receding and he had a thin beaky nose. His beady eyes darted here and there, finally fixing on the box with its emblem glinting in the morning sun.
"We got to go." the shifty man urged, opening the door to the cart.
The Doctor paused for just a moment, then answered, "Yes, we do." Stepping into the cart, he settled back into his seat. Somebody wanted the Eye of Lungbarrow very badly, and for Evad's sake he was going to find out who.
Episode 7
by Magistrate Estram
As the cart rumbled along the beaten earth track, the Doctor slowly breathed in the chilled afternoon air. It was winter on Nivek 3 and the nights drew in quickly. He let his mind drift back to the old, dark days of Gallifrey when all was chaos. Gallifrey had made a lot of enemies and when it's inhabitants had reformed and become 'civilised', it was clear that means of defense had to be arranged. The Doctor had taken a hand in this, something he now somewhat regretted. There had been several devices, which he secreted around the cosmos, ready to come to the aid of the mighty Time Lords in time of need. He scowled, remembering how readily his last incarnation had made use of them. His ideals then differed somewhat from now.
And so, the 'Eye of Lungbarrow'. Why had he left that lying around where just anybody could, and did, find it? He just couldn't remember and could only surmise that his last, rather conniving self had come to his end before all of his grand schemes were completed.
He groaned inwardly. There was surely an irony in having to clean up a mess made in a previous life.
A jolt from the cart brought him back to the present with a start. The driver was talking to him.
"Ere, Mitdier. You deaf or summat?"
"Sorry, no. Just tired." he replied, bemused that even here his cabbie should sound like a Londoner. It never ceased to amaze him how many details remained the same wherever he went.
"Well, as I was saying guv'nor," the driver went on "we's nearly there."
"Oh, good... good."
The Doctor sat up and peered through the gloom of dusk as they rolled up alongside an old shed at the roadside. It looked like it might have been the sort of hut a groundsman would keep his tools in. He wasn't sure what he had expected, just that it wasn't this. The cart stopped.
"Well, I'll be off then. Good evenin' to y'sir."
"Good night." mumbled the Doctor as he stepped down from the cart and waited for it to trundle off along the road again.
The Doctor stood and surveyed the hut from what he hoped was a safe distance. He supposed he was expected to go in, and presumably whoever expected it was not aware that Mitdier was no longer around. It really wasn't clear whether this was a stroke of luck or not. On the one hand, he couldn't hope to pass himself as Mitdier to anyone else, the cabbie obviously simply instructed to retrieve the holder of the box, on the other he had, quite by chance, been led right to what he hoped might be the source of all this mystery.
He stared fiercely at the hut hoping it might just own up and save him some bother. But no, like every other hut he knew it remained resolutely silent.
He walked toward it fatefully.
As he approached, something fluttered in the back of his mind. No, not his mind, the back of his head. An odd feeling, yet somehow familiar.
He smiled the smile of those always finding exactly what they least want to and swung open the shed door. He stepped through into a large white room. In the centre was the control console, its time rotor currently still. The walls were dimpled with roundels and on the far wall a scanner screen displayed the surrounding countryside. In the corner stood a hatstand bearing a panama.
As the Doctor took in these familiar surroundings a door opened in the wall and a man, a Time Lord, stepped into the console room.
"You... here. But, how?" gasped the Doctor in shocked surprise.
"Who else?" came the reply. "Who were you expecting, the Master?" he smiled thinly and leant on his umbrella, his hands folded flat on its question mark handle, peering at the Doctor.
"I wondered when you'd turn up," he went on, "now that you're here I sincerely hope you have the stomach to be of some genuine use to me." He frowned thoughtfully. "Things have become a little complicated around here."
"Complicated!" exclaimed the Doctor, "How could things possibly be complicated!?"
"Tut, tut. Sarcasm doesn't suit you at all. That was more the forte of my predecessor, wouldn't you say?"
The Doctor grimaced at the memory, not one of his better selves, although he remembered thinking quite differently at the time.
"Oh well, we never were one to keep to the rules, were we?" asked the Doctor, "What are we up to then?" he asked with a disarming smile.
"That's the ticket, come with me." said his other self, swinging his umbrella onto his shoulder and leading the way back through the door, deeper into the TARDIS.
"And bring that box with you." he instructed.
The Doctor did as he was told.
Episode 8
by Faction Paradox
As the Doctors walked deeper into the TARDIS, the Seventh Doctor continued speaking. "Since you're here, I assume the real Mitdier was consumed by the Eye. It was audacious of you to take his place. You couldn't have hoped to keep the ruse up for long. You're lucky it was me who intercepted you. The forces within this planet's government, the ones who have been jockeying for the Eye, would have killed you on the spot."
The Eighth Doctor replied, "An opportunity to find out who was behind all this presented itself and I took it. I really didn't have much choice, did I?"
"Well, if I know myself half as well as I think I do, I would guess not."
"Which brings me to the question of how the Eye even got here," the Eighth Doctor stated. "Who would have been so irresponsible?"
The Seventh Doctor tried to explain. "As far as I've been able to tell, someone found it and has been trying to peddle it to the highest bidder. I haven't been able to figure out who. It would almost certainly have to be another Time Lord, but that isn't important now that you've brought it back." They turned a corner and approached a door. The Seventh Doctor opened it and proceeded into a laboratory. "Now I can finally destroy it."
The Eighth Doctor stopped just inside the doorway. "No, you can't."
The other man spun around and faced his successor. "What? Have you any idea of the trouble I have gone through to locate that monstrosity? Have you any idea of the destructive power built into it?" he bellowed.
"Of course I do," angrily snapped the Eighth Doctor. "We built it, remember? At least four people have disappeared because of it."
"Which is why it must be destroyed now! Before it kills anybody else!"
"I'm not sure they are dead. What if they somehow survived?"
"Nonsense! Nothing alien to Gallifrey survives the Eye! We did the tests." The Seventh Doctor marched back to the door where the Eighth stood and held his hand out for the box. "There is no other choice."
"A Time Lord brought the Eye to this planet. Perhaps that same Time Lord somehow modified it. I need time to do more tests."
"There is no more time! The Eye must be destroyed immediately!" As the Seventh Doctor moved to grab the box, the Eighth Doctor stepped backward through the door and slammed it shut.
The Eighth Doctor hared down the corridor. He found himself thinking that he was doing a lot of running lately. Luckily this incarnation was a little longer legged than the last. Sam would be proud of him. He heard the other man yell at him to stop, but decided against it.
He burst into the control room and quickly moved to the console. Punching in some instructions, he hit the door controls and quickly slipped out of the ship as the massive doors closed.
Inside the TARDIS, the Seventh Doctor ran down the corridors to the console room. He had to get the Eye and destroy it. Too many mistakes had been made and too many people had been killed. He couldn't have any more lives on his conscience.
Realizing the other Doctor had left the ship, he hit the control to open the door. Moving to the entrance he tapped his foot impatiently waiting for the doors to open. Nothing happened.
"Not now, not now. This is no time to be stubborn!" he grumbled as he moved back to the console and hit the switch again. Still nothing happened.
Peering closer at the console, he realized that the man had locked the controls on a timer. He couldn't get out for an hour. Looking up at the viewscreen, he saw the Eighth Doctor wave at him, then turn and walk away. Pounding on the console with his fist, the Seventh Doctor yelled "Gibbering old fool! He has no idea-"
"-what he is doing. Overzealous adolescents." Shaking his head at the folly of youth, the Eighth Doctor quickly found his bearings. Adjusting his coat and brushing his hair back out of his eyes, he calmly walked towards the road.
He had to get back to his TARDIS. He had an idea that the Eye was somehow holding onto the genetic codes of the people it consumed. If his hunch was correct, the recent victims of the Eye could still be retrieved, hopefully alive. All he had to do was figure out how to pull the info out of the crystalline structure to bring them back - If he could keep away from that prepubescent version of himself long enough.
----------
Author's note:
After thinking and thinking of how to continue this story (for about 6 months!!), it occurred to me that the Doc has gone up against monsters of every size, fought villains of every shape, but never really had to literally outwit himself. So I thought I would try to push the story in that direction a little bit. An actual Doctor vs. Doctor story!! Just gives me chills thinking about it!
----------
Episode 9
by Mark Simpson
The console chimed slightly as the Seventh Doctor pounded his fist onto it in frustration.
"Sorry, old girl, it's not your fault," he said soothingly. He sighed deeply. He was missing Chris, he decided. If he didn't find a new companion soon, he would start talking to himself.
He patted the console absently where he had thumped it. Then a thought occurred to him. He swiftly checked a few read-outs and stood back, smiling.
"It seems older doesn't always mean wiser," he said, operating controls.
***
The Doctor whistled to himself as he walked through the woods, the case containing the Eye of Lungbarrow under his arm. He smiled as he saw the TARDIS in the clearing where he had left it.
He unlocked the door and stepped confidently inside. His confidence evaporated when he saw what was inside.
White walls and a time rotor encased in a glass cylinder. This wasn't the way he had left the console room. Then he saw the Police Box in the corner and everything became clear,
"Hello again," said a voice from behind him. He turned, to see his other self sitting in an armchair, drinking tea. "Would you like a cup?"
"Very clever," the Doctor admitted grudgingly. "Materialising around my TARDIS. I knew I should have locked out the whole console."
"But you didn't," said the other Doctor, rising from his chair. "I've been thinking."
"Oh yes? And how many lives will your thoughts cost this time?"
His earlier incarnation winced. "That was uncalled for. I've always tried to do the right thing. Sometimes the cost is high."
The Doctor nodded. "I know. I'm sorry." He frowned. He was apologising to himself?
"Anyway," the other Doctor was saying, "I was thinking you might be right. It is possible that the basic genetic codes of the individuals swallowed by the Eye might remain in the structure of the crystal matrix. If we can access it, we could free them."
The Doctor nodded enthusiastically. Then a thought occurred to him. "You're not just agreeing so you can get the Eye and destroy it?"
"Not at all," the Seventh Doctor assured him. "Can't you remember any of this from when you were me?"
The Doctor shook his head. "It's all completely new to me. Must have lost more memories in the regeneration than I thought."
His other self frowned. "Traumatic, was it?"
The Doctor grimaced. "Trust me, you don't want to know!"
"I believe you. Now, shall we use my laboratory or yours?"
"I think yours is best. You might discover something of your future if we use mine."
"Agreed." The other Doctor held out his hand. "Friends?"
The Doctor took his hand and shook it. "Unless you try and trick me, of course."
"Moi?" replied his earlier self, looking shocked at the very suggestion.
***
"So, how do you think the Eye came to be here?" asked the Doctor, looking over the shoulder of his shorter self.
"As I said, it must have been brought here by a Gallifreyan, because only a Gallifreyan could activate it in the first place."
The Doctor frowned. "But it worked for the local people."
His previous incarnation looked back at his older self over his shoulder. "It was left set on automatic."
"But that's irresponsible!"
"I know," the other Doctor nodded. "But then so are so many of our race. Can you pass me the cellular spectroscope?"
The Doctor handed the instrument over. "Any progress?"
"Some. There is definitely organic matter locked away inside the basic crystalline structure. It's just a case of finding a way to free it." He frowned, turning to his older self. "You do realise we might not be able to retrieve them alive?"
The Doctor nodded, causing his chestnut curls to bob slightly. "I know. But we have to try. These are good people. Well, most of them are."
"Ah yes, Mitdier." The other Doctor smiled slightly. "He told me his 'people' found the Eye buried in the woods not far from here. When he realised what it could do, he offered it to the feudal barons of this world as an ultimate weapon. He told me they were falling over themselves to try and get their hands on it."
"And why did he tell you all this? Where do you fit in?"
"A source on Gallifrey told me the Eye was missing. Asked me to try and retrieve it."
The Doctor nodded, a flash of memory returning. "Romana. She asked me to try and track it down before..."
"Before I go to Skaro to pick up the mortal remains of The Master." The other Doctor frowned slightly. "How did that go?" he asked.
"Don't keep asking me about your future," the Doctor told him hotly. "You might change what has already happened. You know how devastating that could be to our timeline!"
"Of course, foolish of me." The shorter Doctor returned to his work.
The Doctor took a calming breath. "You were telling me about Mitdier."
"Yes. I convinced him that I could double what any of the barons were willing to pay, so he agreed to sell the Eye to me."
"And would you have paid him?"
The other Doctor grinned. "What do you think?"
The Doctor decided to change the subject. "Do you remember when Hardonsa showed us how to programme the crystal lattice?"
"Of course I remember, I was there!" Then a thoughtful look crossed his face. "The crystal lattice. Yes. Yes, that might work." He bent to his task.
The Doctor's face brightened. "The crystal lattice! If we can access that through the matrix structure..."
"...we can try and reintegrate the organic matter," his other self finished. "Exactly. Hardonsa's classes were not a waste of time after all!"
"Then let's get on with it." Together, they tackled the problem before them.
***
"Ready?" asked the Seventh Doctor.
"As I'll ever be," said his older incarnation.
"Very well then." The other Doctor flicked a switch on the contraption in front of them. There was a hum of power from the lash up of wires that were connected to the Eye of Lungbarrow, which was itself clamped firmly in an upright position. The Eye started to glow.
"Something's happening," said the Doctor, indicating the glow that was emanating from the Eye. "It's working!"
The light was indeed forming a humanoid shape. With a flash and a pop, a figure was standing there before them.
"Evad!" the Doctor said, rushing forward to greet his friend. "Are you all right?"
Evad shook his head. "I'm a little dizzy. What's going on, Doctor? Where am I? And who is he?" He pointed at the other Doctor.
The Doctor smiled at his friend. "It's all rather a long story. Come over here and sit down, I'll get back to you as soon as I can."
When he had the Elohwen settled, he returned to his earlier incarnation. "It works!" he beamed.
"Of course it works. Now, shall we see if we can find another one?"
***
Next to be released was Mitdier. The alien recovered quickly, his yellow gaze focusing on the Seventh Doctor.
"You!" he spat, charging forward. "You have betrayed me!"
Evad reacted quicker. He caught the alien as he was about to reach the shorter Time Lord. The tall Elohwen easily restrained Mitdier. A pair of handcuffs were found to bind him until the retrieval of the others was complete.
Over the course of an hour, the rest of the Elohwen were freed. The Doctor and Evad showed them to the TARDIS doors.
"What shall I do with these two?" asked Dreng, indicating Ynnek and Neural who were bound at the wrists.
"Return with them to the village," Evad said. "They shall face the judgment of their fellows over the attack on Niloc."
"And what of you, Evad?"
"I shall stay and help the Doctors," the Elohwen replied.
"Thank you, Evad," the Doctor said as the two of them walked back through the console room of the TARDIS to rejoin his other incarnation, guarding the alien.
"It's the least I can do," Evad said simply. "You didn't give up on us. I thank you for that."
***
The two Doctors and Evad decided to question Mitdier in the hope of finding out how the Eye came to Nivek 3.
"I should not have trusted you!" Mitdier spat at the Seventh Doctor.
"A lot of people have said that," he shot back. "Usually the dregs of a society, like you. Now, we want to know how the 'Prime' came to this planet."
"How should I know? And what makes you think I would tell you if I knew?"
"I would make you tell them," Evad said, towering over Mitdier. The alien, despite his earlier bravado, quaked visibly.
"What about other aliens on this planet?" asked the Eighth Doctor. "Anybody you might have heard of or had dealings with?"
Mitdier considered for a moment. "There was one I heard of. He was apparently interested in the Eye too. Very interested. I was considering contacting him when the Eye was brought to me."
"His name? Contact address?" asked the Seventh Doctor. Evad took another step towards Mitdier, just to jog his memory.
"The name he gave was Htiek. He had taken a cabin in the Ybles Forest."
The Doctors looked at each other. That was where the TARDIS was parked.
"I think we should pay this Htiek a visit," said the Seventh.
***
The Doctor knocked on the door of the cabin. His earlier self stood beside him, a case tucked under his arm.
They heard footsteps approaching the door. The door, in turn, creaked open.
Both Doctors took a step backwards, the same expression of surprise etched on their faces. The Seventh Doctor found his voice first.
"Hardonsa!" he exclaimed.
Episode 10
by Consumer Info Knows
Hardonsa examined the two Doctors. "I wasn't expecting any visitors, less any that had my advantage."
"We are the Doctor." Explained the older incarnation. "He is my prior incarnation. You taught us on Gallifrey."
"I've heard of you. You are a Timelord." Frowned Hardonsa. "And you have one of my Eyes."
The Seventh Doctor held up the box that held the Eye of Lungbarrow "There's more than one of these here?"
Hardonsa grinned, "A few, I spread one here and there, enough that I can follow them, eventually get them back, but not before the natives have a new strand of Nightmare to frighten their kids with."
"Why are you trying to frighten them?" asked the Eighth Doctor, "And they are the Elohwen, you say "natives" as though they are beneath you."
"Doctor! They are beneath me, and underneath you as well, a bunch of lumbering savages."
"Savages with values a lot better than yours." scowled the Seventh Doctor. "And what do you hope to gain from the Elohwen when they are scared of you?"
"This planet. Eventually I will hold the natives with the stones. They will revere me as a god."
"Of course." muttered Eight. "The stones are perfect since they can't be used against you."
"They will be helpless. I will live out my last few regenerations here with a thousand of these people as my servants, thousands more as my slaves."
Seventh looked at Hardonsa thoughtfully. "You say 'last few regenerations', but you don't look a day older than you did teaching us at the academy."
"Regenerations are messy affairs at best, resulting in unfortunate mental and physical stress. I've always taken care to avoid that stress, using equipment to maintain my old form and temperament when I regenerate."
"And it's driven you mad." scolded Eight. "You know what happens to Timelords when they don't change, they grow too powerful, dark and twisted."
"Enough!" growled Hardonsa. "I do not need you two meddling in my business." He pressed a button on the console of his TARDIS.
"I think there's been quite enough meddling done here." said Eight, but before he had finished he and his previous incarnation were surrounded by white light and reappeared outside Hardonsa's TARDIS, which promptly dematerialised.
The Eighth Doctor took in his new situation. "Some kind of trigger to eject strangers. We can follow him in our TARDISes."
But the Seventh Doctor wasn't listening. "Dark and twisted. Do you think I've gone on for too long, grown dark and twisted?"
"I was talking in general, I didn't mean you."
"I have lived for longer than our previous lives, but I've always worked for good. You know that."
"There's good to be done here. I need to stop Hardonsa. Help me if it's your nature."
"Very well. Let's fight the good fight." The Seventh Doctor smiled thinly.
The Doctors headed back to the TARDISes, but the Seventh Doctor's smile vanished quickly, to be replaced by an angry scowl.
***
The Eighth Doctor quickly disappeared into his TARDIS promising to communicate with the Seventh when one of them traced Hardonsa. The Seventh watched him go, then began to program his console. He noticed a black box sitting on it that hadn't been there before.
It was a holo cube, which the Doctor immediately played. A vision of Hardonsa spread into the air above the Doctor and began to talk.
"Greetings, Doctor." said the projection of Hardonsa. "Your exploits are not unknown to me and I believe I can offer you a deal. If you allow me to take control of this planet, then I will help you to regenerate your successor, back into you."
The Doctor threw the holo cube onto the floor, horrified at the proposition, but more horrified to realise that he was considering the deal.
Episode 11
by Magistrate Estram
The holo cube clattered to the floor and scuffed the edge of the central console. The Doctor moved it gently with his foot and sighed gently.
"A future or a past?" he wondered.
He bent down to pick it up.
***
The Doctor woke up and thrashed furiously against his bonds. He struggled to release himself, sucking in great whooping gasps of air.
He was stuck fast.
He had better think this through then.
He was restrained, tied down on an examination bed. This much was obvious. He was also aware of a number of electrodes on his bare chest and head.
Part of that was wrong... He was bald; his long curly hair that had taken five minutes to grow was gone. And it itched like nothing else.
Stretching his neck, he shifted his head to take in his surroundings. Apart from the bed he lay on, the room was sparse and clinical; some examination or diagnostic equipment sat on and next to a desk.
As he surveyed his surroundings, a door in the far wall opened and from the darkened room beyond a tall, familiar figure entered.
"Who did you expect, yourself?" snarled the Master, losing himself to a fit of the giggles. "Oh, do excuse me, Doctor. How rude of me, perhaps I should explain what you're doing here?"
Unsure if he should feel relief or even greater fear, the Doctor offered a lopsided smile.
"That would be polite, I am a guest after all. But, first, tell me something?"
"Whatever you want to know..."
"Where are the Elohw?"
"Dead."
"Dead?" gasped the Doctor.
"Dead. Every last one. Evad, Ynnek, Lu'ap, the whole sorry lot of them. I killed them and wasted their pathetic settlement. I watched each of them die as they proved themselves, in turn, to be equally useless. Not one of your 'friends' would divulge one piece of information. Commendable, but hardly a career move." the Master explained calmly.
"You did what?" exploded the Doctor, throwing his body into the air and slamming back down onto the trolley beneath him.
"Careful, Doctor, that bed's supposed to stop you hurting yourself."
"Killed them!" he roared, "And how did I get here? When did I get here? What on Nivek is going on?"
The Master regarded him coolly.
"Let me explain... when you were knocked unconscious by my useless associates, in Ynnek's hovel, I came round and collected you. Well, the first time you were knocked unconscious, that is..."
"What...?"
"I knew you'd find out about what those revolting natives were calling 'The Prime' and I also knew you would understand its function. That was information I needed. I hoped to learn something from you without intervention, but you and your blasted memory! Your seventh self seems to have been a man of considerable arrogance. Even deciding what memories he would pass on to you."
"I... still don't understand."
"No, I suppose not." his captor continued, pacing the floor. "When those idiots felled you, I decided to take advantage of the situation. 'Plan B', as it were, was for later, but it was painfully obvious you didn't remember. So I needed access to your subconscious. You've been in here, hooked up to this apparatus for 4 months now, replaying the same simulation over and over again. Your mind split into your current and previous personalities so that you would remember and communicate to yourself what I needed to know. I could have been more patient, but this last time round you got too close to the truth, you engineered that holo cube tangent yourself. To present a clue to your predicament to your own mind. Too clever by half. So I woke you up."
The Doctor looked over at him with hollow eyes, only now feeling the thinness of his body, feeling the mental pain from weeks of continuous thought. He also felt the loss of his friends, even of his enemies.
"Why are you telling me this..?"
"Unfortunately you forced my information gathering operation to come to an end. I had more patience, but now I really need to implement 'Plan C'. I never wanted to hurt you, but I need the secrets of that device. 'The Eye of Lungbarrow' your mind called it. We both know it's no such thing and far more than a simple weapon... Well, anyway, you know what I have to do next."
"So now I've outlived my usefulness? Outsmarted myself into an early grave?" the Doctor asked with a voice chillingly devoid of feeling.
The Master looked at the Doctor with something close to pity. "You know how I feel about you, you know this isn't what..." he began, imploring him to understand with his eyes.
"Do not even begin to tell me that this is the only way! Do not even presume to try and convince me that you still feel something for me! All you feel is greed and desperation! All you want is power! You feel love for nothing! Not even for yourself..." the Doctor spat at him, body straining, eyes and voice now full of venomous fury and betrayal. "You've ruined us both. And it was your own choice. Always your own choice! The past is gone because you destroyed it!"
He fell heavily to the bed, his countenance again without emotion.
The Master looked stricken, but continued to gather his surgical tools all the same. As he scrubbed up, he motioned to speak again, but thought better of it.
The Doctor closed his eyes and breathed out slowly.
The Master also closed his eyes in momentary thought and then walked towards the Doctor, his shoes clicking on the hard floor.
As he did, a terrifying roar bellowed, seemingly from all around them, stopping the Master in his tracks and snapping open the Doctor's eyes.
***
The door in the far wall shook as the bellow came again. The Master clutched a scalpel to his chest and felt the thumping beat of his hearts as fear clutched at his very being, bringing him close to panic.
The Doctor craned his neck, desperate to see what was about to transpire.
The door shook again, and metal implements clanged to the floor, catching the Master's attention. The Doctor didn't avert his gaze from the door. The roaring became more insistent now, more frightening even than before. The walls began to shake. Huge resonating thumps almost drowned out the terrible cry, as huge indentations scarred the inside of the trembling metal entranceway.
The Master lurched across the floor and cowered in the corner behind the Doctor, shaking. He knew what was coming. He looked at the bed with supplication, but still the Doctor would not look away, would not turn to him with a look or word of comfort.
The door screamed with desperate protest as it was violently wrenched from its frame. Through it stormed the vast figure of an Elohwen male.
"Time Lord!" he thundered.
"Evad..." the Doctor whispered.
Evad dropped the door at his side and crossed the floor towards his, and his friend's, enemy with two steps. The colossal Elohwen reached behind the prone form of the Doctor and heaved the Master clear from the floor, holding him firmly.
"Doctor, has he hurt you?" he growled softly as the captive Time Lord whimpered in his great paw.
"No, Evad... he ruined a particularly good haircut, but it's hardly assault."
He smiled, weakly at first, but with growing pleasure at the sight of the companion he thought he had lost.
Evad growled with pleasure, but suddenly the smile was ripped from his face and he howled with pain as the struggling Master thrust a scalpel into his arm. Evad hurled him aside and grasped at the blade, his attacker crashing into and through his own equipment, leaving him still on the floor.
Evad pulled the sharp implement from his massive bicep and dropped it to the floor where it skidded away, dripping his dark blue blood.
"Evad, let me help you." the Doctor pleaded.
The gentle giant bent slowly to his knees and carefully snapped the restraining straps that held the Doctor. "Doctor," he murmured. "I thought I was too late."
"So did I, Evad..." he answered, tears welling up in his tired eyes and stinging them.
***
The Doctor, weakened as he was, held onto Evad's good arm and pulled himself up. Both gritting their teeth to the pain, they moved over to one of the fallen tables.
The Doctor picked up some simple medical kit and soothed and bound his immense friend's wound.
The Master was gone, but that was to be expected, he would show up again somewhere else.
He always did.
The friends sat together on the floor of the medical facility and grinned at each other silently. The Doctor broke the silence first. "He told me he killed you all."
"No, not all. Mitdier and Ynnek is all. They had hidden something; he wanted it very badly. Stupid as they were, they didn't tell him. I think they did right."
"They did Evad," answered the Doctor gently, with some respect for the fallen criminals. "Evad," he continued, "where are we?"
"This is the hospital that the Earth communists set up."
"Colonists," came the laughing reply, "You mean colonists."
"Yes! Colonists," he repeated slowly. "Is it different?"
"It's not important, Evad."
Evad smiled, comfortable with and aware of the difficulties he had with the English language, then frowned at a sudden thought.
"Doctor, do I need to go and find the other Time Lord, the one who tried to hurt you?"
"No, Evad, he's gone. And he doesn't usually come back. I'll find him somewhere else."
"As you wish, friend."
The two men, so different as people yet so compatible as friends, sat and laughed.
Laughed long and hard, until they both broke into racking coughs and winced at the pain.
And then they laughed some more.
The two comrades sat in the hospital for a long time. Sometimes talking, sometimes just pleased to be alive and together when each had thought the other lost.
They did eventually go home, the Doctor helping his large companion into his mammoth bed and marveling as he instantly fell asleep.
"Oh my," laughed the Doctor, "That snoring could keep the whole village awake."
Closing the door softly, he made his way back through the silent settlement. There were some signs of struggle, but the damage was superficial, people such as these would get on with their lives come the morning, and hopefully with Mitdier and Ynnek gone nobody else would dare ask questions that could get them into trouble.
If anything, he was glad they were asleep and couldn't see him. The mixed bunch on Nivek didn't have a hat maker among them.
He reached his destination, stopping outside the broken door of Ynnek's dwelling and stretching stiffly, yawning.
Gingerly stepping through the splintered wood, he made his way into the living quarters.
Fishing a small device from his pocket and consulting its display, he shook his head with puzzlement.
"Where did you put it, Ynnek? Where on Nivek could you hide it so nobody could find it?"
A wry smile creased his face. "I'm too tired to be bothered."
And with that he left and made his way back to a warm bed. He was sure he'd seen one in the TARDIS somewhere.
The secret of 'The Prime' was safe for now and could stay that way.
Episode 1 by Faction Paradox
Episode 2 by Magistrate Estram
Episode 3 by Faction Paradox
Episode 4 by Mark Simpson
Episode 5 by Magistrate Estram
Episode 6 by Faction Paradox
Episode 7 by Magistrate Estram
Episode 8 by Faction Paradox
Episode 9 by Mark Simpson
Episode 10 by Consumer Info Knows
Episode 11 by Magistrate Estram
COMPLETED
Episode 1
by Faction Paradox
The woods were peaceful. Small creatures flitted and scurried among the trees on their daily routine of scavenging for food. All was as it should be in the lives of these little beings. Suddenly a small marmot-like creature stopped it's rooting and looked up. Through the ground it felt a tremor that was steadily increasing. Other animals looked up in alarm. Faintly a sound could be heard accompanying the tremor. Something was approaching fast. As the sound became a thundering roar, they all turned and ran for deeper cover...
The Doctor and his steed careened around a bend in the path he was following, nearly trampling a small woodland animal that was caught straggling. He had been riding like a bat out of Hades for an hour. His goal was to reach a clearing on the other side of these woods before the group of Elohw that was following him. It was by a stroke of luck that he had managed to gain some distance between himself and his pursuers, but he knew they had the advantage. This was their world. They knew the lay of the land and could probably travel this very route backward with their eyes closed.
Beneath him he could feel the almost hypnotic rhythm of the vril's gait. It's six legs pounded the ground sending clods of earth flying. Stay alert, the Doctor thought. He had already taken a couple glancing blows from low hanging branches. He congratulated himself again on his foresight in obtaining the riding helmet and body armor, but a loss of concentration might cause him to find out just how painful breakneck speed could be. The Doctor groped for the vril's neck as they flew around another turn.
Farther back in the woods, a gigantic creature was riding it's own vril. The giant would have stood over seven feet tall. He had blue skin and a bushy black beard. His head was shaved bald and sported a riding helmet that included two heavy spikes that protruded from the top. Muscles on top of muscles bulged out from under his armor.
The goliath's name was Evad and currently Evad was annoyed. He had been riding through these woods for nearly an hour now. He could feel sweat streaming down his back which was causing him to itch. Chasing that devious little Timelord was hot work.
How had the Doctor gotten so far ahead of him? he thought to himself. Well, that problem would soon be remedied. The Doctor wasn't used to riding. The Timelord had been lucky so far, but eventually he would make a mistake. Then Evad would be there to overtake the scrawny little man. Evad grinned at the thought, revealing two rows of razor-sharp teeth. Chuckling to himself, he urged his mount onward. He would make the Doctor pay!
The Doctor's vril bounded out of the woods onto a large flat plain. At last! Open ground! The Doctor knew his destination was near. Which way? he thought, trying to get his bearings. The vril never hesitated though and continued across the plain. Who was he to argue? Leaning forward, he urged the beast to go faster.
The Doctor and his mount pounded across the ground. After a few moments he glanced back, knowing that his pursuers would be close. He could see Evad just emerging from the woods. The Doctor was still a fair way ahead of him. If his vril could keep up this pace, he would reach the clearing with no problems. Letting out a yell of triumph, the Doctor faced forward again. His yell quickly turned into a near scream as he suddenly found himself flying through the air. Below him was the clear sky and above him was a swirling mass of water. Then gravity reasserted control... splash!
The Doctor pulled himself to his feet. He was standing thigh deep in the stream he had landed in. Tendrils of hair were plastered to his face and water poured from under the armor. He felt something cold and wriggly slide down his collar. His mount had loped a little ways off and had started grazing. Glancing back toward the woods, the Doctor could see that Evad had slowed his mount. He could hear him laughing.
Hauling himself through the water and onto the far bank, he stood dripping. Throwing off his helmet, he grimaced as the water trapped within poured down his face. He looked at the clearing and then back at Evad. There was only 100 yards to go, but he felt 50 lbs. heavier in his waterlogged gear. He would never beat Evad to the clearing.
Evad was shouting to him now. "You cannot beat me, Doctor, and now you will pay for trying!"
The Doctor's eyes narrowed. He may not make it to the clearing in time, but he didn't have to stand here like a drowned rat and take this abuse. 100 yards...
The Doctor took off running, tearing off his armor as he went. Caught off guard, Evad yelped and spurred his animal forward. The beast covered the distance to the stream in just a few seconds and where the Doctor's vril had stopped dead sending him flying, Evad's bounded through the water in two strides. 70 yards... the Doctor could hear the vril's pounding feet coming up behind him, or was that just the sound of his own hearts bursting through his ribcage? 50 yards... no, it was definitely the vril. Now he could hear Evad's mocking laughter. He willed his legs to go faster. 30 yards... nearly there. Evad was right behind him now. He could almost feel the vril's breath on his back. 20 yards... out of the corner of his eye, he could see the beast's massive green head straining against its bridle. Evad's bonechilling voice, "You are a puny little man and now it is time for you to pay! You have lost, Doctor!" 10 yards... one thought forced it's way through the oxygen deprivation, "I never lose!" With every last bit of energy left in his body, the Doctor willed himself forward. 5 yards, 4, 3, 2, 1...
The Doctor was laying on the ground in the middle of the clearing, gasping for air. A dark shadow fell over him. Even with his eyes closed he could tell that it was Evad. He didn't care. He had made it! He had beat Evad! As the pounding in his ears receded, he began to make out other sounds, a kind of roaring and over that Evad's maniacal laughter. He only opened his eyes when he felt two massive hands grab him by the shoulders and haul him off the ground.
Around him he could see the crowd cheering. The other riders had crossed the finish line by now and were leading their animals away. Evad had him by both shoulders. "Doctor! Only you would try to outrun a vril!", Evad roared as he slapped the Doctor on the back, knocking what little wind he had out of him in the process. "What possessed you? You lost the race when you lost your ride!" The Doctor tried to smile between gasps of air as he forced his lungs to work again. When that didn't work, he resorted to waving his hands about a bit. This fruitless gesture made Evad laugh even harder.
Finally the Doctor had his breath. "I may have lost the race, " he reached up and poked Evad in the chest, "but I still beat you." Evad stopped laughing, which gave the Doctor a deep satisfaction. Then he gave the Doctor a sharp-toothed grin that would have caused most people to faint. "You're right! You won the wager!" The two friends headed off for the nearest restaurant. "I guess I'm paying for dinner tonight!"
Episode 2
by Magistrate Estram
As the twin suns of Nivek 3 set beneath the grassy horizon, the day's events were being recounted in the village tavern owned by Niloc Rekab. As Niloc, a large, curly haired man, polished some ale tankards, Evad held centre stage and loudly recalled the day with certain customary embellishments. Evad swung his huge arms in an expansive gesture as he told his grand tale.
"I, of course, entered my vril in the race. I have a reputation to maintain after all." he boomed in his gruff yet friendly voice. The crowd cheered as one. "But this..." he continued, indicating the Doctor, "this is not your typical vril racer! Isn't that right, Doctor?" he bellowed, slapping the Doctor square on the back.
The Doctor coughed the air from his lungs and tried, ultimately successfully, to keep his feet. He smiled weakly and a roar of approval went up among the crowded drinkers. By way of reply, the Doctor drained his tankard and, straightening his frock coat, ran a hand through his dark curly hair, took a deep breath, stood as tall as he could and shouted "DRINKS FOR ALL MY FRIENDS!" Evad and his compatriots roared their delight, displaying rows of sharp teeth and waving huge, furry paws in the air.
The Doctor thumped Evad on the back and roared right along with them.
Away from the bar, in a shadowy corner, two men sat, deep in conversation. They had gone unnoticed among all the celebrations and neither seemed to notice the exuberant festivities going on only a few metres away. As far as they were concerned, they were alone.
Both men were cloaked in shadow and silhouetted in the weak light radiating from the bar's wall torches. Even so, one of the figures was obviously taller and larger, and this one now passed a small carry case across the table. As he did so, he rose and left the tavern unnoticed.
The remaining figure ran his hands over his prize before loosing the catches and opening it. He gazed into it, transfixed by what he saw within, then gasped and choked. His hands clutched at his throat as he struggled to breathe, but all to no avail. He lurched from his chair, frantic, wild eyed with terror.
And then, quite suddenly and silently, there was only empty space where seconds before had stood a man. His chair fell to the floor.
As his customers sang a rather bawdy drinking song, Niloc walked over to the corner table, smiling and slapping backs.
As he left the party behind and reached the table, he stretched out an arm and closed the case from behind. Sure that it was closed, he set the catches and carried it under his arm to the bar where he sat it on a shelf.
Niloc smiled, teeth glinting, and throwing his head back, he began to sing.
Episode 3
by Faction Paradox
The last of the revelers had stumbled out the door, leaving Niloc to close up. He was busying himself with spitshining the countertop when he heard the door open.
"Closed for the night", he called. Giving one last swipe at the counter, he looked up at the large man that had approached the bar.
"We're closed for the night", he repeated. At that point a smaller figure came up beside him behind the counter. Turning to face this new person, he had just enough time to register that it was a female before he fell heavily to the ground as he was thumped over the head.
Nerual threw down the remains of the large mug she had used to club the barkeep with. "Where's Lu'ap?", she hissed. "He should be here. We would have seen him leave."
"Don't know. Forget him," growled Ynnek. "Find the Prime." The two moved quickly around the interior of the building, paying little heed to the damage they left in their wake. Finally Ynnek came across the box sitting on its shelf. The gold leaf pattern set into the top glittered in the light. Grabbing the box, they headed for the door.
***
A highly intoxicated Evad had been belting out an off-key rendition of an ancient battle song when the Doctor dumped him into his hammock for the night. After making sure that the Elohwen would be alright, he began navigating his way back through the dark streets to the TARDIS. His journey took him past the inn where they had spent the evening.
As the Doctor neared the inn, two figures hurriedly emerged from the door. Looking quickly about, they set off at a rapid pace in the direction the Doctor had been heading. Approaching the inn, the Doctor frowned at the chaos within. With one last glance through the window, he continued to follow the two retreating figures, staying to the shadows as best he could.
Their path went down several streets, taking many turns. A half hour later, the two figures hurried down an alley and through a small ramshackle door.
***
Ynnek had set the box down on a small table, while Nerual turned on a few low lights.
"Let's see it!", said Nerual, nearly shaking with excitement.
"No. If the rumours about this thing are true, you don't want any part of it. Leave it." Ynnek got up and moved to the com-unit. "I'll call Mitdier and tell him we have it." Entering the necessary codes, the connection was opened.
"What?" barked the voice on the other end.
"We got the Prime. Lu'ap's missing.", reported Ynnek.
"Lu'ap is of no significance! Stay hidden and deliver the Prime to me tomorrow at midday. Make sure you aren't followed. If you foul this up, Ynnek, your head will be mine." The line clicked closed.
"Yes, sir". Ynnek replied in a low voice.
***
Outside, the Doctor had found a gap in the doorjam. Peeking through he was able to see a small table with a covered box on it. Off to the right he could hear bits of a conversation. As he listened, he watched the female approach the box and with a furtive glance in the direction of the voices, she lifted the lid and gazed inside. Soon the Doctor's forehead creased with concern. Standing upright, he pushed at the door.
When Ynnek turned back to the room, he saw two things. The first was Nerual clawing at her throat and gasping for air. The second thing he saw was the door to his left opening and a dark haired human enter the room. As Nerual fell to her knees, the newcomer moved quickly to her and proceeded to haul her away from the open box. Ynnek let out a yell and leaped to the table, knocking the lid down on the box. He turned back to the pair just in time to see the intruder stumble backward as the arm he had been grasping disappeared.
The Doctor stood looking at his empty hands when a second yell brought him back to the situation. The large Elohwen had closed the gap between them and had grabbed him by his lapels and was currently banging him up against a wall.
"Nasty toy you have there", the Doctor uttered between blows.
Episode 4
by Mark Simpson
The Doctor hated it when this happened. A lot of the people he crossed paths with tended to end up either threatening him, hitting him or trying actively to kill him. He wasn't sure which of the last two the large Elohwen was attempting.
"Put me down, there's a good chap," he tried reasonably, his chestnut curls flapping around his ears. He was quite surprised when this seemed to work and he was lowered to the ground.
He straightened his lapels and smiled at the Elohwen. "Now, maybe I can help you." He didn't see the fist until it was too late.
***
Consciousness returned slowly. Images floated across the calm millpond of his mind. Sam waving as she disappeared into the Greenpeace rally. Ace and baby Dimitri. Grace on the dock at San Francisco. Stacy running from the Cybermen. Ssard grumbling about wearing a monk's habit. Stacy and Ssard together as they waved him off on his travels. Meeting Evad and the race. The evening at the tavern. The two Elohwen fleeing into the night with the mysterious box. The box!
The Doctor sat bolt upright. His attacker sat across from him, holding a gun.
The Doctor rubbed his jaw. "That's quite a right hook you've got. Have you ever thought of taking up professional boxing?"
The Elohwen grunted. "Who are you? Why are you here?"
"Do you want a philosophical debate or a straight answer?"
"Do you want me to hit you again?"
The Doctor shook his head. "That won't be necessary. I'm known as the Doctor. I came here because I followed you after you left the tavern. You've left Niloc quite a mess to clean up. He'll be very annoyed."
"If he ever wakes up."
The Doctor scowled. "I assume you hit him too?"
"My colleague did. The one who vanished."
The Doctor nodded slowly. "That box. What is it exactly?"
Ynnek was about to answer when he realised something. This Doctor was supposed to be his prisoner, but Ynnek seemed to be answering the questions. He frowned.
"It's none of your business," he told the Doctor bluntly.
"But wouldn't you like to know what happened to your friend?" the Doctor persisted.
"Nerual will be fine. Now, shut up and I won't have to hit you again."
The Doctor opened his mouth to protest, but Ynnek shot him a warning glare. The Doctor sensibly closed his mouth again.
***
Evad awoke to a pounding head. He hated this part. The drinking long into the night was fun, as were all the songs and laughs that went with it. The following morning, however, was a killer.
He swung slowly out of his hammock onto the bare flagged floor. He didn't remember getting into the hammock last night. Wait. A faint memory of the Doctor helping him to bed. Evad smiled. He would have to thank his friend for his kindness.
Breakfast seemed a good way to go about it. He would treat the Doctor to breakfast. His head clearing slowly, Evad headed for the Doctor's room.
Nearly a minute of knocking told him the Time Lord wasn't in. He wasn't anywhere in the house, either. Surely he wouldn't have left without saying goodbye.
Evad trudged out into the street to see if the Doctor's craft was gone. He passed Niloc's tavern, scene of last night's party. He smiled.
The smile faded when Niloc stumbled out, dried blood caked to the top of his head. Evad caught him before he fell.
"What happened?" he asked Niloc. "Who did this?"
"Ynnek," Niloc whispered as he slipped back into unconsciousness.
Evad laid him on the ground carefully. Others were coming over to see what had happened.
"What's wrong?" asked Dreng, a marketstall holder.
Evad growled. "Ynnek attacked Niloc. I'm going to find out why!"
***
Is this really necessary?" the Doctor complained as Ynnek bound his hands behind his back. The Elohwen just yanked the bonds harder.
Ynnek pushed the Time Lord out of the ramshackle cottage ahead of him. He still held the gun, now pointed at the Doctor's back.
"Are we going for a nice drive in the country?" the Doctor asked as Ynnek bundled him into the back of a vril powered cart. The Elohwen got up onto the driver's platform and flicked the reins. The cart trundled away into the fresh morning air.
"Lovely scenery," the Doctor commented from his position, face down in the back of the cart. "Nothing like a drive in the fresh country air."
Ynnek just grunted and flicked the reins again, spurring the vril onwards.
***
Evad and an ever growing mob arrived at Ynnek's cottage. The burly Elohwen hammered on the door. When there was no reply, he knocked it down.
The fine layer of dust inside showed that Ynnek had not been at home for a few days.
"Where is he?" asked Dreng. He and Niloc were the same age and had known each other all their lives.
"Not here," Evad told him. He paused, thinking. A smile spread across his face as a thought occurred to him.
"Follow me," he called, leaving Ynnek's cottage and leading the mob towards the edge of the village.
"Where are we going?" asked Dreng.
"Ynnek's mother died last month. We'll try her cottage."
***
The cabin was in a very secluded part of the woods. Few people knew about it. Ynnek pulled the cart up outside the cabin and pulled the Doctor out of the back.
"Are we nearly there yet?" the Time Lord asked sweetly. The Elohwen pushed him towards the cabin.
The Doctor stumbled through the door and landed at the feet of someone. The Doctor looked up from his prone position.
"Room service?" the Doctor said hopefully. One of the feet kicked him.
"Who the hell is this?" demanded Mitdier. Even though the Doctor was on the floor, he could tell that Mitdier was an alien to this world. He was smaller than the average Elohwen, was totally bald and had yellow eyes.
"He followed Nerual and me from the tavern, where we found the Prime." Ynnek placed the box on the table.
"Then why didn't you kill him?"
"I'm not a cold blooded killer, Mitdier. Now pay me and I'll be on my way."
The alien thought for a moment. "Where is your colleague?"
Ynnek frowned. "She opened the box. Then she just vanished."
Again a pause from Mitdier. "So, it's all true then. You have done well, Ynnek. Here is your reward." He handed the Elohwen a bundle.
"What'll happen to him?" he asked, indicating the Doctor.
"As you couldn't do it, I'll kill him." He pulled a gun out of his pocket and aimed it at the Doctor. Then he smiled. "I have a better idea. Untie him."
Ynnek complied with the instruction.
"That's better," the Doctor said, massaging his wrists. "Any chance of some tea and biscuits?"
Mitdier grinned. "Open the box."
The Doctor paled. "I'd really rather not, if it's all the same to you."
Mitdier placed the gun against the Doctor's head. "Open it," he growled.
"Well, if you put it like that." The Doctor reached out towards the box.
Episode 5
by Magistrate Estram
The Doctor hesitated, his hand on the box. "Actually, come to think of it, I'd rather take the money. If it's all the same to you..."
"Open the box!" sneered Mitdier, eyeing him menacingly.
"Ah, thought so. I'll open the box then, shall I?" And so saying he gently raised the lid.
***
Evad and Dreng emerged into a clearing in the forest and approached the cottage which had belonged to Ynnek's mother, Ynnej. A few of the townsfolk followed behind at a safe distance, eager to get to the bottom of things.
***
The lid open, the Doctor stared in disbelief. Within what Ynnek had called "The Prime" was the Eye of Lungbarrow, a device of his own making. "No!" he gasped.
As the glow of the eye bathed the Doctor in its green glow, Evad and Dreng burst through the cottage door in a rage of fur and splintered wood.
"YNNEK!" Evad roared, baring his teeth.
Mitdier jumped from his chair in fear and surprise at the unexpected and violent intrusion. Ynnek blanched and swallowed furiously.
"NO! Evad, get out!" cried the Doctor as the glow from the Eye grew blinding.
Before they could react, there was an explosive flash and Mitdier, Ynnek, Evad and Dreng vanished leaving the Doctor alone in the cottage as the glow subsided. The box closed of its own accord. It had performed its function exactly as required.
The Doctor fell to his knees and raised his hands to his mouth. Trembling, tears rolled from his eyes.
"No, not like this." he whispered, "What have I done?"
Episode 6
by Faction Paradox
The crowd had been waiting outside for several minutes. They were growing impatient to know what was going on inside the cottage. Kram, feeling someone ought to take charge of the situation, mustered himself up and marched forward, wrenching open what was left of the door. Inside there was no sign of anyone except a lone man kneeling on the ground holding a box.
Speaking to the kneeling figure, Kram demanded "Where is Evad? What has happened here?"
The man on the ground, not even bothering to look up muttered "They're gone."
"Gone! Gone where?" Kram blustered. When he got no response from the man, he persisted. "Who are you?"
At that question the man looked up. The steely look in those eyes and that set face sent a shiver down Kram's spine. He realized that he didn't really want to know who this man was. "Er... well, yes... um, I have to be going..." Groping for the door handle, Kram quickly exited the house. As he hurried away, the crowd slowly followed him until finally there was no one left.
Inside the house, the Doctor had gotten up off the floor. Setting the box back on the table, he opened the lid. Inside rested a large yellow-green crystal - the Eye of Lungbarrow. If you listened closely you could hear a low hum coming from it. This was just the tiniest indication of the power contained within it.
Crystals are formed in very regular patterns, the molecules repeating over and over, creating a precise framework or structure. This structure gives it its most obvious feature, its shape, but there are other properties created by this unique process. Some crystals develop electrical charges when they are compressed or heated. Others can amplify electric current or focus light. If you had the right equipment you could hear the tones that each crystal produces when applied with energy. Given more equipment you could produce glorious symphonies with these jewels.
However, just as the perfect gem can emit an electrical charge or the perfect tone, so can other crystals resonate with other more dangerous fields. The Eye of Lungbarrow was one of these.
Created on Gallifrey, its purpose was to help defend the planet against alien invasion. The atomic structure was designed to "harmonize" with Gallifreyan physiology. When it came within range of another species, it became "discordant" or active, developing and amplifying an energy of its own. Then it would focus that energy back onto the invader. It was intended to dissuade invasion, however the result proved far more lethal than originally planned. More often than not it totally atomized the poor soul. It was an ingenious device, beautiful beyond words and the Doctor wished he had never thought of the idea.
The Eye had destroyed at least four people, one of whom had been a good friend. He would never forgive himself. All he could do now was to make sure that no one was ever hurt by it again.
He shut the lid and gathering up the box, left the building. Deep in grief and thought, the Doctor walked with his head down, following the cobblestone path to the gate. One thing bothered him yet. Ynnek had said something about his companion being all right. She had been reduced to her smallest particles right in front of the Doctor's eyes. That didn't seem all right to him. Was there something about the Eye that he didn't know? Some effect he had missed? He had run all the tests though...
"Mitdier?" a gruff voice asked.
"Hmmm?" The Doctor looked up, his concentration interrupted. In front of him on a power-cart was a rather smallish native. His hair was receding and he had a thin beaky nose. His beady eyes darted here and there, finally fixing on the box with its emblem glinting in the morning sun.
"We got to go." the shifty man urged, opening the door to the cart.
The Doctor paused for just a moment, then answered, "Yes, we do." Stepping into the cart, he settled back into his seat. Somebody wanted the Eye of Lungbarrow very badly, and for Evad's sake he was going to find out who.
Episode 7
by Magistrate Estram
As the cart rumbled along the beaten earth track, the Doctor slowly breathed in the chilled afternoon air. It was winter on Nivek 3 and the nights drew in quickly. He let his mind drift back to the old, dark days of Gallifrey when all was chaos. Gallifrey had made a lot of enemies and when it's inhabitants had reformed and become 'civilised', it was clear that means of defense had to be arranged. The Doctor had taken a hand in this, something he now somewhat regretted. There had been several devices, which he secreted around the cosmos, ready to come to the aid of the mighty Time Lords in time of need. He scowled, remembering how readily his last incarnation had made use of them. His ideals then differed somewhat from now.
And so, the 'Eye of Lungbarrow'. Why had he left that lying around where just anybody could, and did, find it? He just couldn't remember and could only surmise that his last, rather conniving self had come to his end before all of his grand schemes were completed.
He groaned inwardly. There was surely an irony in having to clean up a mess made in a previous life.
A jolt from the cart brought him back to the present with a start. The driver was talking to him.
"Ere, Mitdier. You deaf or summat?"
"Sorry, no. Just tired." he replied, bemused that even here his cabbie should sound like a Londoner. It never ceased to amaze him how many details remained the same wherever he went.
"Well, as I was saying guv'nor," the driver went on "we's nearly there."
"Oh, good... good."
The Doctor sat up and peered through the gloom of dusk as they rolled up alongside an old shed at the roadside. It looked like it might have been the sort of hut a groundsman would keep his tools in. He wasn't sure what he had expected, just that it wasn't this. The cart stopped.
"Well, I'll be off then. Good evenin' to y'sir."
"Good night." mumbled the Doctor as he stepped down from the cart and waited for it to trundle off along the road again.
The Doctor stood and surveyed the hut from what he hoped was a safe distance. He supposed he was expected to go in, and presumably whoever expected it was not aware that Mitdier was no longer around. It really wasn't clear whether this was a stroke of luck or not. On the one hand, he couldn't hope to pass himself as Mitdier to anyone else, the cabbie obviously simply instructed to retrieve the holder of the box, on the other he had, quite by chance, been led right to what he hoped might be the source of all this mystery.
He stared fiercely at the hut hoping it might just own up and save him some bother. But no, like every other hut he knew it remained resolutely silent.
He walked toward it fatefully.
As he approached, something fluttered in the back of his mind. No, not his mind, the back of his head. An odd feeling, yet somehow familiar.
He smiled the smile of those always finding exactly what they least want to and swung open the shed door. He stepped through into a large white room. In the centre was the control console, its time rotor currently still. The walls were dimpled with roundels and on the far wall a scanner screen displayed the surrounding countryside. In the corner stood a hatstand bearing a panama.
As the Doctor took in these familiar surroundings a door opened in the wall and a man, a Time Lord, stepped into the console room.
"You... here. But, how?" gasped the Doctor in shocked surprise.
"Who else?" came the reply. "Who were you expecting, the Master?" he smiled thinly and leant on his umbrella, his hands folded flat on its question mark handle, peering at the Doctor.
"I wondered when you'd turn up," he went on, "now that you're here I sincerely hope you have the stomach to be of some genuine use to me." He frowned thoughtfully. "Things have become a little complicated around here."
"Complicated!" exclaimed the Doctor, "How could things possibly be complicated!?"
"Tut, tut. Sarcasm doesn't suit you at all. That was more the forte of my predecessor, wouldn't you say?"
The Doctor grimaced at the memory, not one of his better selves, although he remembered thinking quite differently at the time.
"Oh well, we never were one to keep to the rules, were we?" asked the Doctor, "What are we up to then?" he asked with a disarming smile.
"That's the ticket, come with me." said his other self, swinging his umbrella onto his shoulder and leading the way back through the door, deeper into the TARDIS.
"And bring that box with you." he instructed.
The Doctor did as he was told.
Episode 8
by Faction Paradox
As the Doctors walked deeper into the TARDIS, the Seventh Doctor continued speaking. "Since you're here, I assume the real Mitdier was consumed by the Eye. It was audacious of you to take his place. You couldn't have hoped to keep the ruse up for long. You're lucky it was me who intercepted you. The forces within this planet's government, the ones who have been jockeying for the Eye, would have killed you on the spot."
The Eighth Doctor replied, "An opportunity to find out who was behind all this presented itself and I took it. I really didn't have much choice, did I?"
"Well, if I know myself half as well as I think I do, I would guess not."
"Which brings me to the question of how the Eye even got here," the Eighth Doctor stated. "Who would have been so irresponsible?"
The Seventh Doctor tried to explain. "As far as I've been able to tell, someone found it and has been trying to peddle it to the highest bidder. I haven't been able to figure out who. It would almost certainly have to be another Time Lord, but that isn't important now that you've brought it back." They turned a corner and approached a door. The Seventh Doctor opened it and proceeded into a laboratory. "Now I can finally destroy it."
The Eighth Doctor stopped just inside the doorway. "No, you can't."
The other man spun around and faced his successor. "What? Have you any idea of the trouble I have gone through to locate that monstrosity? Have you any idea of the destructive power built into it?" he bellowed.
"Of course I do," angrily snapped the Eighth Doctor. "We built it, remember? At least four people have disappeared because of it."
"Which is why it must be destroyed now! Before it kills anybody else!"
"I'm not sure they are dead. What if they somehow survived?"
"Nonsense! Nothing alien to Gallifrey survives the Eye! We did the tests." The Seventh Doctor marched back to the door where the Eighth stood and held his hand out for the box. "There is no other choice."
"A Time Lord brought the Eye to this planet. Perhaps that same Time Lord somehow modified it. I need time to do more tests."
"There is no more time! The Eye must be destroyed immediately!" As the Seventh Doctor moved to grab the box, the Eighth Doctor stepped backward through the door and slammed it shut.
The Eighth Doctor hared down the corridor. He found himself thinking that he was doing a lot of running lately. Luckily this incarnation was a little longer legged than the last. Sam would be proud of him. He heard the other man yell at him to stop, but decided against it.
He burst into the control room and quickly moved to the console. Punching in some instructions, he hit the door controls and quickly slipped out of the ship as the massive doors closed.
Inside the TARDIS, the Seventh Doctor ran down the corridors to the console room. He had to get the Eye and destroy it. Too many mistakes had been made and too many people had been killed. He couldn't have any more lives on his conscience.
Realizing the other Doctor had left the ship, he hit the control to open the door. Moving to the entrance he tapped his foot impatiently waiting for the doors to open. Nothing happened.
"Not now, not now. This is no time to be stubborn!" he grumbled as he moved back to the console and hit the switch again. Still nothing happened.
Peering closer at the console, he realized that the man had locked the controls on a timer. He couldn't get out for an hour. Looking up at the viewscreen, he saw the Eighth Doctor wave at him, then turn and walk away. Pounding on the console with his fist, the Seventh Doctor yelled "Gibbering old fool! He has no idea-"
"-what he is doing. Overzealous adolescents." Shaking his head at the folly of youth, the Eighth Doctor quickly found his bearings. Adjusting his coat and brushing his hair back out of his eyes, he calmly walked towards the road.
He had to get back to his TARDIS. He had an idea that the Eye was somehow holding onto the genetic codes of the people it consumed. If his hunch was correct, the recent victims of the Eye could still be retrieved, hopefully alive. All he had to do was figure out how to pull the info out of the crystalline structure to bring them back - If he could keep away from that prepubescent version of himself long enough.
----------
Author's note:
After thinking and thinking of how to continue this story (for about 6 months!!), it occurred to me that the Doc has gone up against monsters of every size, fought villains of every shape, but never really had to literally outwit himself. So I thought I would try to push the story in that direction a little bit. An actual Doctor vs. Doctor story!! Just gives me chills thinking about it!
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Episode 9
by Mark Simpson
The console chimed slightly as the Seventh Doctor pounded his fist onto it in frustration.
"Sorry, old girl, it's not your fault," he said soothingly. He sighed deeply. He was missing Chris, he decided. If he didn't find a new companion soon, he would start talking to himself.
He patted the console absently where he had thumped it. Then a thought occurred to him. He swiftly checked a few read-outs and stood back, smiling.
"It seems older doesn't always mean wiser," he said, operating controls.
***
The Doctor whistled to himself as he walked through the woods, the case containing the Eye of Lungbarrow under his arm. He smiled as he saw the TARDIS in the clearing where he had left it.
He unlocked the door and stepped confidently inside. His confidence evaporated when he saw what was inside.
White walls and a time rotor encased in a glass cylinder. This wasn't the way he had left the console room. Then he saw the Police Box in the corner and everything became clear,
"Hello again," said a voice from behind him. He turned, to see his other self sitting in an armchair, drinking tea. "Would you like a cup?"
"Very clever," the Doctor admitted grudgingly. "Materialising around my TARDIS. I knew I should have locked out the whole console."
"But you didn't," said the other Doctor, rising from his chair. "I've been thinking."
"Oh yes? And how many lives will your thoughts cost this time?"
His earlier incarnation winced. "That was uncalled for. I've always tried to do the right thing. Sometimes the cost is high."
The Doctor nodded. "I know. I'm sorry." He frowned. He was apologising to himself?
"Anyway," the other Doctor was saying, "I was thinking you might be right. It is possible that the basic genetic codes of the individuals swallowed by the Eye might remain in the structure of the crystal matrix. If we can access it, we could free them."
The Doctor nodded enthusiastically. Then a thought occurred to him. "You're not just agreeing so you can get the Eye and destroy it?"
"Not at all," the Seventh Doctor assured him. "Can't you remember any of this from when you were me?"
The Doctor shook his head. "It's all completely new to me. Must have lost more memories in the regeneration than I thought."
His other self frowned. "Traumatic, was it?"
The Doctor grimaced. "Trust me, you don't want to know!"
"I believe you. Now, shall we use my laboratory or yours?"
"I think yours is best. You might discover something of your future if we use mine."
"Agreed." The other Doctor held out his hand. "Friends?"
The Doctor took his hand and shook it. "Unless you try and trick me, of course."
"Moi?" replied his earlier self, looking shocked at the very suggestion.
***
"So, how do you think the Eye came to be here?" asked the Doctor, looking over the shoulder of his shorter self.
"As I said, it must have been brought here by a Gallifreyan, because only a Gallifreyan could activate it in the first place."
The Doctor frowned. "But it worked for the local people."
His previous incarnation looked back at his older self over his shoulder. "It was left set on automatic."
"But that's irresponsible!"
"I know," the other Doctor nodded. "But then so are so many of our race. Can you pass me the cellular spectroscope?"
The Doctor handed the instrument over. "Any progress?"
"Some. There is definitely organic matter locked away inside the basic crystalline structure. It's just a case of finding a way to free it." He frowned, turning to his older self. "You do realise we might not be able to retrieve them alive?"
The Doctor nodded, causing his chestnut curls to bob slightly. "I know. But we have to try. These are good people. Well, most of them are."
"Ah yes, Mitdier." The other Doctor smiled slightly. "He told me his 'people' found the Eye buried in the woods not far from here. When he realised what it could do, he offered it to the feudal barons of this world as an ultimate weapon. He told me they were falling over themselves to try and get their hands on it."
"And why did he tell you all this? Where do you fit in?"
"A source on Gallifrey told me the Eye was missing. Asked me to try and retrieve it."
The Doctor nodded, a flash of memory returning. "Romana. She asked me to try and track it down before..."
"Before I go to Skaro to pick up the mortal remains of The Master." The other Doctor frowned slightly. "How did that go?" he asked.
"Don't keep asking me about your future," the Doctor told him hotly. "You might change what has already happened. You know how devastating that could be to our timeline!"
"Of course, foolish of me." The shorter Doctor returned to his work.
The Doctor took a calming breath. "You were telling me about Mitdier."
"Yes. I convinced him that I could double what any of the barons were willing to pay, so he agreed to sell the Eye to me."
"And would you have paid him?"
The other Doctor grinned. "What do you think?"
The Doctor decided to change the subject. "Do you remember when Hardonsa showed us how to programme the crystal lattice?"
"Of course I remember, I was there!" Then a thoughtful look crossed his face. "The crystal lattice. Yes. Yes, that might work." He bent to his task.
The Doctor's face brightened. "The crystal lattice! If we can access that through the matrix structure..."
"...we can try and reintegrate the organic matter," his other self finished. "Exactly. Hardonsa's classes were not a waste of time after all!"
"Then let's get on with it." Together, they tackled the problem before them.
***
"Ready?" asked the Seventh Doctor.
"As I'll ever be," said his older incarnation.
"Very well then." The other Doctor flicked a switch on the contraption in front of them. There was a hum of power from the lash up of wires that were connected to the Eye of Lungbarrow, which was itself clamped firmly in an upright position. The Eye started to glow.
"Something's happening," said the Doctor, indicating the glow that was emanating from the Eye. "It's working!"
The light was indeed forming a humanoid shape. With a flash and a pop, a figure was standing there before them.
"Evad!" the Doctor said, rushing forward to greet his friend. "Are you all right?"
Evad shook his head. "I'm a little dizzy. What's going on, Doctor? Where am I? And who is he?" He pointed at the other Doctor.
The Doctor smiled at his friend. "It's all rather a long story. Come over here and sit down, I'll get back to you as soon as I can."
When he had the Elohwen settled, he returned to his earlier incarnation. "It works!" he beamed.
"Of course it works. Now, shall we see if we can find another one?"
***
Next to be released was Mitdier. The alien recovered quickly, his yellow gaze focusing on the Seventh Doctor.
"You!" he spat, charging forward. "You have betrayed me!"
Evad reacted quicker. He caught the alien as he was about to reach the shorter Time Lord. The tall Elohwen easily restrained Mitdier. A pair of handcuffs were found to bind him until the retrieval of the others was complete.
Over the course of an hour, the rest of the Elohwen were freed. The Doctor and Evad showed them to the TARDIS doors.
"What shall I do with these two?" asked Dreng, indicating Ynnek and Neural who were bound at the wrists.
"Return with them to the village," Evad said. "They shall face the judgment of their fellows over the attack on Niloc."
"And what of you, Evad?"
"I shall stay and help the Doctors," the Elohwen replied.
"Thank you, Evad," the Doctor said as the two of them walked back through the console room of the TARDIS to rejoin his other incarnation, guarding the alien.
"It's the least I can do," Evad said simply. "You didn't give up on us. I thank you for that."
***
The two Doctors and Evad decided to question Mitdier in the hope of finding out how the Eye came to Nivek 3.
"I should not have trusted you!" Mitdier spat at the Seventh Doctor.
"A lot of people have said that," he shot back. "Usually the dregs of a society, like you. Now, we want to know how the 'Prime' came to this planet."
"How should I know? And what makes you think I would tell you if I knew?"
"I would make you tell them," Evad said, towering over Mitdier. The alien, despite his earlier bravado, quaked visibly.
"What about other aliens on this planet?" asked the Eighth Doctor. "Anybody you might have heard of or had dealings with?"
Mitdier considered for a moment. "There was one I heard of. He was apparently interested in the Eye too. Very interested. I was considering contacting him when the Eye was brought to me."
"His name? Contact address?" asked the Seventh Doctor. Evad took another step towards Mitdier, just to jog his memory.
"The name he gave was Htiek. He had taken a cabin in the Ybles Forest."
The Doctors looked at each other. That was where the TARDIS was parked.
"I think we should pay this Htiek a visit," said the Seventh.
***
The Doctor knocked on the door of the cabin. His earlier self stood beside him, a case tucked under his arm.
They heard footsteps approaching the door. The door, in turn, creaked open.
Both Doctors took a step backwards, the same expression of surprise etched on their faces. The Seventh Doctor found his voice first.
"Hardonsa!" he exclaimed.
Episode 10
by Consumer Info Knows
Hardonsa examined the two Doctors. "I wasn't expecting any visitors, less any that had my advantage."
"We are the Doctor." Explained the older incarnation. "He is my prior incarnation. You taught us on Gallifrey."
"I've heard of you. You are a Timelord." Frowned Hardonsa. "And you have one of my Eyes."
The Seventh Doctor held up the box that held the Eye of Lungbarrow "There's more than one of these here?"
Hardonsa grinned, "A few, I spread one here and there, enough that I can follow them, eventually get them back, but not before the natives have a new strand of Nightmare to frighten their kids with."
"Why are you trying to frighten them?" asked the Eighth Doctor, "And they are the Elohwen, you say "natives" as though they are beneath you."
"Doctor! They are beneath me, and underneath you as well, a bunch of lumbering savages."
"Savages with values a lot better than yours." scowled the Seventh Doctor. "And what do you hope to gain from the Elohwen when they are scared of you?"
"This planet. Eventually I will hold the natives with the stones. They will revere me as a god."
"Of course." muttered Eight. "The stones are perfect since they can't be used against you."
"They will be helpless. I will live out my last few regenerations here with a thousand of these people as my servants, thousands more as my slaves."
Seventh looked at Hardonsa thoughtfully. "You say 'last few regenerations', but you don't look a day older than you did teaching us at the academy."
"Regenerations are messy affairs at best, resulting in unfortunate mental and physical stress. I've always taken care to avoid that stress, using equipment to maintain my old form and temperament when I regenerate."
"And it's driven you mad." scolded Eight. "You know what happens to Timelords when they don't change, they grow too powerful, dark and twisted."
"Enough!" growled Hardonsa. "I do not need you two meddling in my business." He pressed a button on the console of his TARDIS.
"I think there's been quite enough meddling done here." said Eight, but before he had finished he and his previous incarnation were surrounded by white light and reappeared outside Hardonsa's TARDIS, which promptly dematerialised.
The Eighth Doctor took in his new situation. "Some kind of trigger to eject strangers. We can follow him in our TARDISes."
But the Seventh Doctor wasn't listening. "Dark and twisted. Do you think I've gone on for too long, grown dark and twisted?"
"I was talking in general, I didn't mean you."
"I have lived for longer than our previous lives, but I've always worked for good. You know that."
"There's good to be done here. I need to stop Hardonsa. Help me if it's your nature."
"Very well. Let's fight the good fight." The Seventh Doctor smiled thinly.
The Doctors headed back to the TARDISes, but the Seventh Doctor's smile vanished quickly, to be replaced by an angry scowl.
***
The Eighth Doctor quickly disappeared into his TARDIS promising to communicate with the Seventh when one of them traced Hardonsa. The Seventh watched him go, then began to program his console. He noticed a black box sitting on it that hadn't been there before.
It was a holo cube, which the Doctor immediately played. A vision of Hardonsa spread into the air above the Doctor and began to talk.
"Greetings, Doctor." said the projection of Hardonsa. "Your exploits are not unknown to me and I believe I can offer you a deal. If you allow me to take control of this planet, then I will help you to regenerate your successor, back into you."
The Doctor threw the holo cube onto the floor, horrified at the proposition, but more horrified to realise that he was considering the deal.
Episode 11
by Magistrate Estram
The holo cube clattered to the floor and scuffed the edge of the central console. The Doctor moved it gently with his foot and sighed gently.
"A future or a past?" he wondered.
He bent down to pick it up.
***
The Doctor woke up and thrashed furiously against his bonds. He struggled to release himself, sucking in great whooping gasps of air.
He was stuck fast.
He had better think this through then.
He was restrained, tied down on an examination bed. This much was obvious. He was also aware of a number of electrodes on his bare chest and head.
Part of that was wrong... He was bald; his long curly hair that had taken five minutes to grow was gone. And it itched like nothing else.
Stretching his neck, he shifted his head to take in his surroundings. Apart from the bed he lay on, the room was sparse and clinical; some examination or diagnostic equipment sat on and next to a desk.
As he surveyed his surroundings, a door in the far wall opened and from the darkened room beyond a tall, familiar figure entered.
"Who did you expect, yourself?" snarled the Master, losing himself to a fit of the giggles. "Oh, do excuse me, Doctor. How rude of me, perhaps I should explain what you're doing here?"
Unsure if he should feel relief or even greater fear, the Doctor offered a lopsided smile.
"That would be polite, I am a guest after all. But, first, tell me something?"
"Whatever you want to know..."
"Where are the Elohw?"
"Dead."
"Dead?" gasped the Doctor.
"Dead. Every last one. Evad, Ynnek, Lu'ap, the whole sorry lot of them. I killed them and wasted their pathetic settlement. I watched each of them die as they proved themselves, in turn, to be equally useless. Not one of your 'friends' would divulge one piece of information. Commendable, but hardly a career move." the Master explained calmly.
"You did what?" exploded the Doctor, throwing his body into the air and slamming back down onto the trolley beneath him.
"Careful, Doctor, that bed's supposed to stop you hurting yourself."
"Killed them!" he roared, "And how did I get here? When did I get here? What on Nivek is going on?"
The Master regarded him coolly.
"Let me explain... when you were knocked unconscious by my useless associates, in Ynnek's hovel, I came round and collected you. Well, the first time you were knocked unconscious, that is..."
"What...?"
"I knew you'd find out about what those revolting natives were calling 'The Prime' and I also knew you would understand its function. That was information I needed. I hoped to learn something from you without intervention, but you and your blasted memory! Your seventh self seems to have been a man of considerable arrogance. Even deciding what memories he would pass on to you."
"I... still don't understand."
"No, I suppose not." his captor continued, pacing the floor. "When those idiots felled you, I decided to take advantage of the situation. 'Plan B', as it were, was for later, but it was painfully obvious you didn't remember. So I needed access to your subconscious. You've been in here, hooked up to this apparatus for 4 months now, replaying the same simulation over and over again. Your mind split into your current and previous personalities so that you would remember and communicate to yourself what I needed to know. I could have been more patient, but this last time round you got too close to the truth, you engineered that holo cube tangent yourself. To present a clue to your predicament to your own mind. Too clever by half. So I woke you up."
The Doctor looked over at him with hollow eyes, only now feeling the thinness of his body, feeling the mental pain from weeks of continuous thought. He also felt the loss of his friends, even of his enemies.
"Why are you telling me this..?"
"Unfortunately you forced my information gathering operation to come to an end. I had more patience, but now I really need to implement 'Plan C'. I never wanted to hurt you, but I need the secrets of that device. 'The Eye of Lungbarrow' your mind called it. We both know it's no such thing and far more than a simple weapon... Well, anyway, you know what I have to do next."
"So now I've outlived my usefulness? Outsmarted myself into an early grave?" the Doctor asked with a voice chillingly devoid of feeling.
The Master looked at the Doctor with something close to pity. "You know how I feel about you, you know this isn't what..." he began, imploring him to understand with his eyes.
"Do not even begin to tell me that this is the only way! Do not even presume to try and convince me that you still feel something for me! All you feel is greed and desperation! All you want is power! You feel love for nothing! Not even for yourself..." the Doctor spat at him, body straining, eyes and voice now full of venomous fury and betrayal. "You've ruined us both. And it was your own choice. Always your own choice! The past is gone because you destroyed it!"
He fell heavily to the bed, his countenance again without emotion.
The Master looked stricken, but continued to gather his surgical tools all the same. As he scrubbed up, he motioned to speak again, but thought better of it.
The Doctor closed his eyes and breathed out slowly.
The Master also closed his eyes in momentary thought and then walked towards the Doctor, his shoes clicking on the hard floor.
As he did, a terrifying roar bellowed, seemingly from all around them, stopping the Master in his tracks and snapping open the Doctor's eyes.
***
The door in the far wall shook as the bellow came again. The Master clutched a scalpel to his chest and felt the thumping beat of his hearts as fear clutched at his very being, bringing him close to panic.
The Doctor craned his neck, desperate to see what was about to transpire.
The door shook again, and metal implements clanged to the floor, catching the Master's attention. The Doctor didn't avert his gaze from the door. The roaring became more insistent now, more frightening even than before. The walls began to shake. Huge resonating thumps almost drowned out the terrible cry, as huge indentations scarred the inside of the trembling metal entranceway.
The Master lurched across the floor and cowered in the corner behind the Doctor, shaking. He knew what was coming. He looked at the bed with supplication, but still the Doctor would not look away, would not turn to him with a look or word of comfort.
The door screamed with desperate protest as it was violently wrenched from its frame. Through it stormed the vast figure of an Elohwen male.
"Time Lord!" he thundered.
"Evad..." the Doctor whispered.
Evad dropped the door at his side and crossed the floor towards his, and his friend's, enemy with two steps. The colossal Elohwen reached behind the prone form of the Doctor and heaved the Master clear from the floor, holding him firmly.
"Doctor, has he hurt you?" he growled softly as the captive Time Lord whimpered in his great paw.
"No, Evad... he ruined a particularly good haircut, but it's hardly assault."
He smiled, weakly at first, but with growing pleasure at the sight of the companion he thought he had lost.
Evad growled with pleasure, but suddenly the smile was ripped from his face and he howled with pain as the struggling Master thrust a scalpel into his arm. Evad hurled him aside and grasped at the blade, his attacker crashing into and through his own equipment, leaving him still on the floor.
Evad pulled the sharp implement from his massive bicep and dropped it to the floor where it skidded away, dripping his dark blue blood.
"Evad, let me help you." the Doctor pleaded.
The gentle giant bent slowly to his knees and carefully snapped the restraining straps that held the Doctor. "Doctor," he murmured. "I thought I was too late."
"So did I, Evad..." he answered, tears welling up in his tired eyes and stinging them.
***
The Doctor, weakened as he was, held onto Evad's good arm and pulled himself up. Both gritting their teeth to the pain, they moved over to one of the fallen tables.
The Doctor picked up some simple medical kit and soothed and bound his immense friend's wound.
The Master was gone, but that was to be expected, he would show up again somewhere else.
He always did.
The friends sat together on the floor of the medical facility and grinned at each other silently. The Doctor broke the silence first. "He told me he killed you all."
"No, not all. Mitdier and Ynnek is all. They had hidden something; he wanted it very badly. Stupid as they were, they didn't tell him. I think they did right."
"They did Evad," answered the Doctor gently, with some respect for the fallen criminals. "Evad," he continued, "where are we?"
"This is the hospital that the Earth communists set up."
"Colonists," came the laughing reply, "You mean colonists."
"Yes! Colonists," he repeated slowly. "Is it different?"
"It's not important, Evad."
Evad smiled, comfortable with and aware of the difficulties he had with the English language, then frowned at a sudden thought.
"Doctor, do I need to go and find the other Time Lord, the one who tried to hurt you?"
"No, Evad, he's gone. And he doesn't usually come back. I'll find him somewhere else."
"As you wish, friend."
The two men, so different as people yet so compatible as friends, sat and laughed.
Laughed long and hard, until they both broke into racking coughs and winced at the pain.
And then they laughed some more.
The two comrades sat in the hospital for a long time. Sometimes talking, sometimes just pleased to be alive and together when each had thought the other lost.
They did eventually go home, the Doctor helping his large companion into his mammoth bed and marveling as he instantly fell asleep.
"Oh my," laughed the Doctor, "That snoring could keep the whole village awake."
Closing the door softly, he made his way back through the silent settlement. There were some signs of struggle, but the damage was superficial, people such as these would get on with their lives come the morning, and hopefully with Mitdier and Ynnek gone nobody else would dare ask questions that could get them into trouble.
If anything, he was glad they were asleep and couldn't see him. The mixed bunch on Nivek didn't have a hat maker among them.
He reached his destination, stopping outside the broken door of Ynnek's dwelling and stretching stiffly, yawning.
Gingerly stepping through the splintered wood, he made his way into the living quarters.
Fishing a small device from his pocket and consulting its display, he shook his head with puzzlement.
"Where did you put it, Ynnek? Where on Nivek could you hide it so nobody could find it?"
A wry smile creased his face. "I'm too tired to be bothered."
And with that he left and made his way back to a warm bed. He was sure he'd seen one in the TARDIS somewhere.
The secret of 'The Prime' was safe for now and could stay that way.
The End
