drawnonwords: 2010

Doctor Who - The Virus in Time Part 4

The two Doctors stood in silence, gazing around the heart of Gallifrey's power. This was the Matrix chamber, a place even the Doctors held in deep respect. The Matrix, which was itself powered from the Eye of Harmony, was made up of various computer units, interfaces and devices capable of recording events from anywhere in time. It was in reality a huge communal electronic brain made up of trillions of electro-chemical cells arranged in a continuous matrix pattern. In the centre of the room, to which the two Doctor's looked, stood a spherical lens shaped object approximately 10 feet in diameter, through which stream of almost pure white light passed. As the white light passed through the lens, it showed passages of time. Around the lens itself to was a two tier platform which had the words " Rassilon's Power is Supreme", written in Gallifreyan symbols. Both Doctor's thoughts turned to the problem in hand and almost simultaneously moved towards the control panels.

"Well I think we know what we have to do, but where do we start and what are we looking for? " the Sixth Doctor looked around the room " maybe only Rassilon knows."

"The first place to start should be the Matrix to ensure it hasn't been tampered with. Then the connections with the Panopticon." the Fifth Doctor stopped in mid-sentence suddenly realising what they all may have missed. "So simple, the Panopticon." With that the Fifth Doctor headed towards one of the control panels his mind lost in his thoughts.

"Well I suppose I've got to do all the work, wandering off like that, the Matrix control panel I think." the Sixth Doctor knew no-one was there for his performance, but he had to keep up the image. He too set off towards a control panel to see if he could find any clues.

The gloved hand set a few more controls making certain his job was done. The Tardis began to shake more violently than before, it was starting to break up. Then out of nowhere, a strange man wandered out of the Tardis, looking around quite bewildered at where he was.

"Young man! I say young man!" he shouted.

But the man turned and fled through a doorway, just as Nyssa returned with the two Doctors.

"I'm sure I heard a voice. He must be here somewhere, unless he's...Did you feel that, that movement?" Sarah Jane forgot about the voice.

"We're moving.” replied Peri “Lets get out of here or at least find the control room."

"I only hope I can remember my way back" said Sarah Jane.

The two began to follow what they thought was a route back, but fate was playing against them.

The two Doctors looked towards the new arrival, and then at the Tardis he was about to enter.

"I say, its beginning to close, could someone help me? I think there's someone inside." said the old man.

"Sarah Jane and..." said the Fourth Doctor.

"Peri!" Nyssa said nervously.

"Take a look at these controls” said the Third Doctor. “Someone's tampered with them, and they won't budge!" He forced the lever to move down without any success.

"With the Tardis dissolving there is no way of finding the main door, how can we get them out?" The Fourth Doctor stared at the control panel, hoping to find a solution.

"Time corridor" said the old man.

"What?" The Third Doctor looked puzzled at the comment.

"Oh, well I read it somewhere, or did I used to teach it? Anyway it allows access to part of time or is it space?" The old man began to read from a pocket book he had retrieved from his jacket.

"The Tardis quick! I know what he means." The Fourth Doctor ran towards the old blue box.

"Someone will have to control the flow between the two Tardis, use the frame power to err.. Oh what was it now?" the old man had walked towards the console at which the Third Doctor stood.

"I'll try and control the power flow regulators from here. You will have to find the two, then link." The Third Doctor began to adjust controls, trying to slow the decay of the machine in front of him.

Sarah Jane and Peri turned another corner, only to find it to was a dead end. As they began to backtrack, the room before them suddenly closed.

"The doorways are changing, we're trapped” cried Peri. “We're not going to make it out!" Peri was becoming more frightened and more confused.

The Fourth Doctor rushed into the Tardis, knowing he had very little time to spare. Quickly he set controls hoping his other self was having some success.

Outside the Third Doctor had stopped some of the damage, allowing him to link the two time machines, hoping that the two companions could still be found.

"There, hold that lever where it is, I should be able to make the link now. We don't have long, err..." he said turning to the third companion.

"It's Nyssa, Doctor." She was slightly unsure of herself, not really knowing if the Doctor was angry with them all.

"I think we have a link, it's up to him now" said the Third Doctor, pointing towards his Tardis.

"That does it, the link is made now, if we all have worked correctly." the Fourth Doctor pressed another button and left to open the Tardis doors.

"Every time I touch a wall or door it changes or vanishes, it's almost like this Tardis is falling apart. Oh why didn't you stay put Sarah Jane, that's what he, they, them, which ever one will be saying." Sarah Jane watched yet another wall fade, another way out gone.

"So much for a simple job, they always disappear when trouble starts, I only hope they arrive in the nick of time." said Peri more to herself then to Sarah Jane.

The wall behind Peri began to change causing her to move away and watch for just that hope of escape. But this change was somewhat different than others, for its structure looked more solid than before, more like a doorway. Then before the two companions could examine this new change, the Fourth Doctor appeared in its frame, a familiar Cheshire cat grin giving his friends new hope.

"This way quickly, no explanations." Without another word he was gone again.

The two companions looked at each other, then the door and ran to safety, neither looking back.

"Well, that's about it, and a job well done!" said the Fifth Doctor emerging from under one of the main transducers that fed power from the Panopticon to the Matrix.

"Step a side, let a superior technician check your work, after all you were never that good!" replied the Sixth Doctor, eager to spot a mistake.

The Fifth Doctor was quite put out by the remark and spied his chance for revenge.

"I'm amazed that we've fitted all this equipment in here, and still had room for you and your ego. It's quite a squeeze!"

"Now look!" said the Sixth Doctor as he stood up to face yet another argument.

Before either could continue a sound began to emanate from the Matrix Lens, which grew louder in pitch. As both looked towards the Matrix, a blinding light filled the room causing both the Doctor's to a step backwards. For a moment neither moved allowing their eyes time to adjust, only to find a shape forming in the centre. Both looked at each other, then back to the figure, before moving with some caution.

"Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart! How nice to see you again." said the Fifth Doctor as he walked towards the figure.

The Sixth Doctor picked up a scanner and began to check the figure, wondering if the Matrix was about to retrieve him. After a few moments the scanner produced quite remarkable information that made the Sixth Doctor worry.

"He appears a stable, human life form, late 20th Century I'd say." said the Sixth Doctor moving around a bemused Brigadier.

"Well, could one of you inform me of where I happen to be this time?" said the Brigadier.

The two Doctor's looked at the scanner, whispered for a few minutes then the Fifth Doctor walked the Brigadier away from the Matrix.

"Ah well, you seem to have been, how could I put it? You are a part of our past, let free by our main memory computer, and you're on Gallifrey, my err, our home planet." The Fifth Doctor stood directly in front of the Brigadier.

"Of course Doctor, it will take time to fully understand your explanation, but then I should expect the unusual whenever I find you." The Brigadier turned towards the Sixth Doctor. "And are you another Timelord or just caught up like myself?"

"I happen to be one of him, his senior if you please." The Sixth Doctor walked away to examine part of the Matrix control system.

"What did he mean your senior?" The Brigadier stopped in mid sentence. "Not another one of you. as in another Doctor?"

"Yes well I'm afraid its true and you'll find that a few more of me have been summoned here, it may be a little confusing." The Fifth Doctor stood by the Brigadier wondering what would happen next.

"I think you'd better come here, I've found what could be a link between the Matrix and our Tardis." The Sixth Doctor looked towards the others. His face showing a concern not often seen.

All three moved towards one of the computer consoles, just as a second flash of light filled the room.

"Now I wonder who's arrived this time" said the Sixth Doctor as he turned round.

In haze of the light two figures almost waddled towards them. The Sixth Doctor suddenly recognised the shapes and calmly tapped the Fifth Doctor on the shoulder.

"I don't wish to worry you be if he is real, then I hope these aren't."

The Fifth Doctor and the Brigadier both looked round, just in time to see two Yetis walking towards them.

"My God Yetis! Who else have you lot invited?" asked the Brigadier.

"We didn't invite you or them, you've both just appeared. I suggest we call for reinforcements, don't you agree?" asked the Fifth Doctor.

The three large 2 meter tall biped’s covered in brown fur from head to toe, seemed to be carrying some sort of hand weapon. Before anyone could move the first Yeti fired at the console to the left, causing it to explode and alarms to ring. This prompted action from all three, as they dived for cover behind other consoles. The years of training kept the Brigadier calm, he had seen these before and of course whenever the Doctor was involved, things were never what they seemed.

The second Yeti started firing now, not aiming at anything in particular it seemed, giving the Brigadier his chance. He took out his pistol from its holster and preyed it still worked.

"If Benton were here I'd be saying five rounds rapid. I hope I'm still a good shot." the Brigadier said to himself.

Without a second thought the Brigadier moved from behind the console and fired two shots, hitting the Yeti dead centre. Unfortunately this caused the Yeti to turn towards the location of the shots. The Brigadier realised that things were not going to improve and that it was time to find other cover. He moved from his position only to find that the second Yeti was directly in his path. It was too late to move this time as the Yeti raised it's hand in attack, then promptly its back exploded, throwing it forward and knocking the Brigadier off his feet.

The Seventh Doctor had watched more than an hour of material from the Matrix, each piece showing almost the same story. The Doctor viewed another disappearance of a Timelord, his 8th in total, each followed the same pattern. The first sign of trouble occurred somewhere in the Timelord's past, one minute everything was fine, then disaster.

"Well I have one starting point, the past. Why alter a Timelord's past?" The Seventh Doctor looked around him realising he was alone again. "I must stop talking to myself, if the others were here they would." The Seventh Doctor stopped as a thought slowly formed around the pictures he'd seen. Without a moments hesitation he accessed information from the Matrix hoping the answer was wrong. The screen displayed a variety of Gallifreyan symbols as it complied the final answer, the one, which the Doctor hoped, would not be there.

"It knows where, when and who to attack. It's designed to start at the beginning, always finding the first so that it can." The Doctor's concentration was broken by a scream from outside his room. He entered the corridor without thinking of the danger he may face, only to find a fellow Gallifreyan cowering by a doorway. As the Doctor approach the figure he spotted part of a boot close by and picked it up.

"He was there!, He was right there! I was THERE!" The other Timelord pointed to where the boot had been, his face in a fit of terror.

"What happened?" Asked the Seventh Doctor.

The other Timelord starred into the vacant space almost willing his other self to return, but finding only the void coming back.

"We were talking about " He began to focus on the scene." We were talking about our first self." His voice became calm as he continued “He had not yet appeared and we were going to the Matrix chamber, to see if we could find him." Again he stopped, this time looking away from the fatal spot.

"And then what happen, what happened to your other self? Tell me!" The Seventh Doctor desperately needed this final part of his puzzle.

"The light closed around him, he just drained away, like sand through a crack in the ground. Just slipped, no sound, just slipped." He buried his face in his hands, memories turning into dust.

The Seventh Doctor went back into his room, looking around for an object of Gallifreyan technology to which he seldom used. Without too much delay he found what he sought on a shelf behind him, a scanning device. Returning to the scene, he found the stricken Timelord still huddled in the corner, fear surrounding him. The Seventh Doctor begin checking where the boot fell as two Gallifrey guards approached him, guns drawn looking for trouble.

"Ah, late as always, put those away you can't shoot this type of attack. Just make sure no-one comes down here for the moment." The Doctor began to scan the area as the two guards took to their new task, cautiously putting their guns away. The Doctor scanned the area hoping to find the vital clue, which would unlock the problem once and for all. Just as he was about to question the Timelord, a faint sound emitted from the scanner stopping the Doctor. The sound from the scanner grew louder as the Doctor tried to find its cause.

"Its here somewhere, look around for....". The party turned around at the cries from the other Timelord only to see him fade slowly from their view, powerless to help. A guard moved forward his hand outstretched in a desperate effort to save the stricken Timelord, the Doctor stopping him before they could touch.

"Unless you want to disappear too, I suggest you don't touch him." The Doctor's grip was firm on the young guard’s arm, as was his gaze.

The Doctor recovered his composure in time to scan the area while watching his colleague disappear leaving no trace at all. He turned away, not wishing to look back at the sight of the loss of another of his race. "Can you really find out what's happening or our we all to die like this?" asked the young guard. The Doctor looked at him wondering when both their times would come.

"I only hope there's someone around if we do find the answer." he said and walked off to find his other selves.

The Maceran was becoming more worried by the losses he heard over his communicator; it should not still be happening. They told him only one Timelord was to be altered, so that time could be corrected. Things were not going to plan at all. He must find the others to stop this madness once and for all.

"Now will you please stay put. It's bad enough having all my other selves to look after, let alone chasing others." The Third Doctor seemed to tower over the chastised companions, all of whom were silent.

"I think you two should see this, it may explain quite a lot." The Seventh Doctor entered the workshop with the scanner and a variety of computer discs.

As all three Doctors gathered, the Seventh Doctor activated the console they were around, and began to access the data he had complied.

"But this means it's programmed to attack, and not just us." The Fourth Doctor was the first to speak breaking the uneasy silence.

"So you could be on your way to stopping all this then and taking us home, not that I've not enjoyed myself. You are listening, aren't you Doctor? " Sarah Jane waited for one of them to answer back, not quite knowing if she should have even spoke.

"Someone or thing wants to get rid of us, as always, and now we have part of the problem, the solution must be in here. I wonder which of our enemies it is this time?" The Third Doctor began to make notes, while the other two rechecked the screen. "Sorry Sarah, did you say something, only I was a bit occupied" he continued.

"No. Nothing at all." said Sarah Jane trying to hide her disappointment. Then realising she had his attention continued " Doctor, can't we help in some small way perhaps?"

"Yes, so long as you do as you're told. I need you to help me with some tests I'm going to do on the Tardis." said the Third Doctor.

"Well he seems to back to his old self." thought Sarah Jane Jane.

"What about us, don't we get a look in?" Peri wasn't about to be ignored for anyone.

"I'm sure we all could do with some refreshments if you would be so kind." The Third Doctor's mind was already fighting some memory loss and could only concentrate on one companion at a time now.

"Oh fine, just like the other one, send us girls out for tea." Peri was not impressed.

"And when you come back there are tests you can help us with." interjected the Seventh Doctor.

As Peri and Nyssa went to the next room, a dark figure silently closed the one-way panel and moved along the hidden passages, to find his companions.

"Well I think the Matrix has shown us just what is affecting our universe. I also believe it will destroy the creators of this diabolical plot, if we're lucky." said the Sixth Doctor as he turned away from the Matrix console. The Fifth Doctor continued to study the remains of the Yetis.

“But did you not notice the one difference with these Yetis. They were carrying guns.” The Fifth Doctor looked down at the blacken guns surrounded by bits of Yeti.

“Yes, that is different.” The Sixth Doctor bent down to study along side his other self. “Almost as if the past is being changed. Maybe.”

"I don't wish to be rude, but when will I be returned to Earth? Asked the Brigadier. “I'm sure by now that I'll have been missed." He stood patiently waiting for the answer he knew he would never get. "However, when I meet up with any of you, trouble never seems to far behind. In some cases trouble is as ill prepared for you, as are the rest of us, Doctor. Doctor?" The Brigadier stopped, realising that no one was speaking and turned around to find the frightening reason why.

In front of them two armed Cybermen were slowly beginning to form! The Matrix console broke the two Doctors concentration, its sounds echoing trouble through out the Gallifrey capital.

Leela wondered why the Castellan had chosen her to check the outlaying towers. Should she not be with the Doctor to rejoin him in the fight against this evil? After all, her Doctor had lost a companion somewhere in the Tardis. Maybe that would be her next task. A lot had changed since she had last seen the Doctor.

"Well" she thought "only two more towers to check and the time barrier is vital in ensuring the safety of Gallifrey." As she approached the main entrance to the fifth tower all did not seem right, where were the guards?

"Hello is anybody about?" Leela tried to stay calm, but this was not getting any better.

"In here, help me, help..." the voice faded as Leela hurried to the doors.

"I'm here, where are you?" Leela found the light quite dim in the room and could not make out shapes so well.

"Here I am." The deep voice caused Leela to turn to her left, face to face with a vortex.

"It can't be happening!” cried Leela “you can't do this. I must warn the Doctor." Leela turned to escape, not seeing the black hand reach out. For a moment, as the hand touched her, she was briefly in the eye of the vortex, then gone. All that could be heard was the sound of fading deep laughter.

It had been a long time since Lethbridge-Stewart had last seen Cybermen and now was definitely not the best. The two citadel guards had entered the room the moment the alarm sounded but both were caught by vicious blasts from the Cybermen. The situation was beginning to get worse, as no one could enter or escape from the room.

"Doctor where are you?" shouted the Brigadier. There was no reply and that was even more worrying. "To lose one Doctor is bad, but two, things are becoming very involved." said the Brigadier to himself.

The Brigadier decided now was the time to move, however his move put him right into the path of the Cybermen.

"Well go on then, fire, damn you!" The brigadier stood square on knowing that this was the end.

The Cybermen raised their weapons, the enemy in their sights, and then cried out in pain and astonishment as they very quickly lost all form. Within seconds only molten metal was all that was left of the two. The Brigadier stood silent.

"Well now, fascinating, as some might say. Bad luck others." said the Sixth Doctor as he got up from behind one of the consoles.

"So, you're still alive then Doctor." The Brigadier looked him straight in the eye, “and I was worried, as always."

"You must know by now Brigadier, we always duck first." replied the Fifth Doctor.

"The Rassilon imprimature!” cried the Fifth Doctor. “I believe this fits part of my theory. I think it's time we found the others. Come on you two, no time to waste." The Sixth Doctor was heading for the door as guards came in.

"Check the place out and make sure no-one touches anything." He said hardly stopping for breath.

The Fifth Doctor and the Brigadier hurried along after the Sixth, leaving the guards to figure out for themselves what may have happened.

The workshop had become a hive of activity while two of the Doctors studied the results from various equipment. Each of them had their own way of working and none of the companions dared to interfere. The Seventh Doctor entering the room, declaring that he had found the vital clue, only broke the calm. Then all three of them fought over the very nature of its validity, until reluctantly the truth of the evidence broke down their pride.

"So, we're agreed for once, this must be a virus." The Seventh Doctor turned away from the viewer.

"I believe from my studies of the Tardis, that we have only found a small part of this virus” said the Third Doctor. “So complex is its construction that it can disguise itself in so many ways." The Third Doctor was becoming tired and finding it difficult to focus on his task.

"Impossible, a virus should only be able to attack people in one place." Sarah Jane realised she had stepped into the wrong conversation, and getting out was not going to be easy.

"Yes, a virus may well attack you humans in one place, but we are Timelords and this seems to find us anywhere." said the Third Doctor nodding to his companions.

"So we must all try to find a common link, maybe someone we have all seen recently." The Seventh Doctor began to think to himself.

"Maybe it's something genetic within our own selves” suggested the Fourth Doctor. “Something that's been dormant for centuries and only now it's been activated. We could be looking at the end of our race." The Fourth Doctor suddenly realised where his thoughts were leading him " My God, we could be the catalyst that destroys everything!"

"Oh, don't be so dramatic, we aren't that important you know.” said the Third Doctor. “If it was that bad then surely the Matrix would intervene or do something." The Third Doctor stood hands on hips, giving the Fourth Doctor an annoyed look.

"Dramatic? Oh well, sometimes I maybe. Where has Leela got to? I was sure she'd be finished by now” said the Fourth Doctor. “And where for that matter is the other one? I can't remember who, I've forgotten." The Fourth Doctor started to wander around seemingly to have also forgotten his prior argument.

"He has a point though." All turned towards Peri, who looked toward Sarah Jane and Nyssa for help.

"Maybe you should test us, after all we seem unaffected, and the virus could be in us rather than in yourselves." said Nyssa as she walked towards Peri.

"It's worth testing them for traces of this virus, just to be on the safe side. If they haven't got the virus, then maybe we can formulate an antidote." said the Third Doctor after a moments pause.

"Thanks, I didn't know if they would listen to me." Peri whispered to Nyssa as they waited to be tested.

Macaran moved as quietly as he could down the passage, nervously looking for the others, he was not supposed to come down here, so He had told him. But things were getting out of hand, going wrong or maybe they hadn't told him everything. Suddenly he heard voices and strained to hear their conversation.

"But they are getting closer. We didn't even get rid of those annoying companions." said a female voice.

Macaran moved forward closer to the opening of the chamber, afraid they might see him and of what they could do to him. He could see two figures in the dimly lit chamber, one he recognised as the Rani. The Castellan had told him about the renegade Timelord when he first took up his post. Macaran tried desperately to get a good view of the other, but all he could see was a figure dressed in a robe with a cord tried around the waist.

"Maybe we should accelerate the...." the voice stopped as the female held up her hand as a rock fell to the ground.

Macaran pressed his body closer to the cave wall hoping he hadn't been seen. He looked down at the rock he had carelessly knocked when moving his foot.

"Why had he not been more careful?" Macaran thought. Barely breathing, sweat began to trickle down his face, he dare not move and yet he seemed compelled to move. A voice called out to him, one he would always obey.

"Macaran, you can come out now, I can feel your presence." As the dark voice summoned him, Macaran was powerless to stop from moving into the chamber.

"What will you do now? He as seen all of us together. " said the Monk "He must be silenced or the Doctors will learn of us."

"No, I believe that Macaran will help us show the Doctors, just how great our power is." the voice came from the shadows behind Macaran.

Macaran fought with every fibre in his body to break free of the control he was under, not knowing who was behind that power.

A hooded figure moved from the darkness with a small box held in his right hand and faced Macaran.

"Here, take this box and find one of the Doctor's companions. The box will tell you what to do next. You will obey me Macaran, you have no will of your own, have you?"

Macaran mind was been bombarded by a power he had never experienced. It drowned his will in a sea of blackness. All he could do now was to obey, like many before him, who had faced such power.

"I will obey you Master." Macaran’s voice had no tone to it, no soul. "I think this will cause panic long enough, so that you may complete the task of releasing him." said the figure to his companion as he moved away from Macaran " Go then, my warrior, deliver my message to the world."

Macaran turned and walked out of the chamber, his mind lost forever as he began his final task.

drawnonwords

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Saturday, 30 January 2010

Doctor Who - The Virus in Time Part 4

Tuesday, 26 January 2010

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Thursday, 14 January 2010

New Year New Post - Well almost

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