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Post by John Darnacan on Feb 12, 2007 13:01:45 GMT
Part 1 – Immortal Until They Die
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The word oblivion could have been coined to describe this place, a place that was no place. His very being had been twisted and destroyed, yet not quite eradicated. His mind, his consciousness, stretched like elastic across all eternity between two anchors, so tense and taut, no thought could squeeze out. Whether it was for a second, a millennium, or all eternity, he could not discern, for time did not exist in this non-place.
Then, in an inexplicable cataclysmic event, one of the anchors ceased to exist. What caused this, he could not discern. The elastic tension snapped across the non-ether that held him in limbo. Still not quite a reality, at least thought was now possible in this void. It was a start, an important start.
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The Doctor was tinkering with the TARDIS’s temporal vector mechanism beneath the central console, when he noticed his stomach growling. It dawned on him that it was well past time for a meal. The timing of meals had never been of much importance to the Doctor. As a time traveler, he had long abandoned any sense of a circadian rhythm for sleep or meals. However, Faye, a skilled and dedicated chef, tended to observe a more regular schedule of dining. The Doctor realised, to his dismay, that his stomach might be becoming conditioned to Faye’s meal schedule, Pavlov be d**ned. He pulled out his pocket watch to discover it was two hours past one of Faye’s mealtimes. He couldn’t remember whether it was lunch or supper. Lunch, he decided, definitely lunch.
He climbed out from under the console and headed for the kitchen. ‘Just to make sure she was all right’, he told himself. He found Faye at the kitchen table reading a thick book, a recipe book no doubt, the Doctor assumed.
Faye suddenly jumped with a start when she realised the Doctor was standing there.
“Sorry” muttered the Doctor.
“No problem. I can’t believe you had this book in your library!” Faye smiled.
“Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde?”
“No, I finished that one. This one is Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince.”
The Doctor scowled. “Is that the one with the scarecrow, the tin man and cowardly tiger?”
“I believe you’re thinking of The Wizard of Oz. And it’s the cowardly lion, not tiger. No, this is the one about a boy wizard who is cursed by a Dark Lord, Voldemort, who engages in all kinds of dark magic to achieve immortality.”
“Everyone’s immortal until they die”, the Doctor quipped.
“I can’t believe you had this book in your library,” Fayed continued. “It’s not supposed to come out until next year.”
“Next year?”
“2005. You may walk in eternity, but I’m from 2004. When did you pick it up?”
“I didn’t. I believe Vicki, a former companion of mine bought it. No wait, I think it was Zoe. Now as I recall, she bought seven of those books at once.”
“Seven? You have the seventh and final book in the Harry Potter series here?” Faye’s face beamed with excitement. Where is it? Do you remember the title?”
“Hmmm, ….I think it was…um….Harry Potter and the….Shriveled Stomach.”
Faye looked at the Doctor strangely, and then realization hit her as she looked at her watch.
“Oh, I’m so sorry. Supper is two hours late!”
“Is it?” commented the Doctor. “Hadn’t noticed. I’ve been concentrating of refurbishing some TARDIS circuits.”
“I’ll bring supper out to you.”
“Only if it’s convenient” murmured the Doctor. “I mean, you’re enjoying your book so” he added, as he skulked back to the console room smirking to himself.
The Doctor returned to work on the temporal vector assembly. One of the trans-dimensional tubules was vibrating in an erratic way. He pulled the tube closer to examine it.
“Dinner is served” announced Faye, as she entered the console room with a heavily laden tray of food. Just as the Doctor turned to Faye the tubule burst open spraying a vile gooey liquid on the Doctor’s face and chest. He fell back onto the floor in horrifying spasms. The Doctor’s eyes rolled back as he convulsed, his neck twisting awkwardly.
“Doctor!” cried Faye. She went to make sure he didn’t swallow his tongue, but realized the caustic liquid would probably do the same to her. She ran quickly back to the kitchen to get towels and gloves. When she returned less than a minute later, she found the Doctor lying completely still on the floor, lifeless.
The cloister bell began to ring.
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To be continued...
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Post by John Darnacan on Feb 12, 2007 13:06:10 GMT
Part 2 – Accustomed to Your Face
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Faye wiped the gooey phosphorescent liquid off of the Doctor’s face and throat as best she could. He looked pale. She checked his pulse. While she thought she could detect a faint double pulse, she couldn’t be sure.
“Don’t die on me, Doctor!” Her eyes filled with tears. “You can’t…..” She had never been at such a loss. What little first aid she knew would be grossly inadequate for this situation. She could no longer feel a pulse. ‘It can’t end like this’ she thought.
Faye stood up and looked at glowing console. She never learned to operate much more than the scanner controls. She wished Susan was here to take command. She did remember the fast return switch, which would take the TARDIS back to its last destination. But even if she could get the TARDIS back to Earth, would that help the Doctor.
She checked the Doctor. His breathing had stopped. There was no longer even the hope of a pulse left. She attempted CPR, to no avail. Her tears flowed in full force now. One of them fell on the Doctor’s cheek. A puff of smoke rose as if his skin had been struck by a drop of mild acid. She realised there was still some residue on his chin and cheek. She wiped it off, not knowing why. It no longer mattered.
She sat on the floor despondent and cold, yet unable to move. Only moments before he was teasing her. She stared at his face. It was a handsome one, one she had taken for granted, one she had become accustomed to. Yes, just as the old musical number from My Fair Lady went, she had become accustomed to his face, one that would never smile, frown or laugh again.
Then, the Doctor’s face started to glow. At first, Faye thought it was more of the stubborn gelatinous residue; but as she continued to wipe it off, it became apparent that the Doctor’s skin itself was glowing. Then she realised. Why had it not occurred to her?
“Regeneration,” she whispered to herself.
Faye had seen Susan regenerate, and she knew the Doctor had regenerated many times before. The Doctor’s skin glowed so brightly that she could barely discern his features. Slowly, as her eyes adjusted, she could make out some details; but she didn’t like what she was seeing. The Doctor’s face looked skeletal and slightly decayed, particularly on his lower face where most of the residue had been. This didn’t seem anything like Susan’s regeneration. His body suddenly jerked, as his face continued to change. His eyes, nose and forehead were slowly losing the decayed appearance. Something seemed to be forming around his jaw and mouth. Faye was relieved to discover it was hair.
She laughed. This new version of the Doctor is going to have a beard, she realised. She took a clean towel, placed it under his head, and waited for him to regain consciousness.
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After a few hours, the Doctor finally opened his eyes, and pulled himself up on his elbows. She stared at Faye silently.
“Sarah?”
“No, it’s Faye, Faye Austin.”
“Ah” he answered, looking around the console room.
“Are you all right?”
“I’m not sure.” The Doctor slowly rose, supporting himself against the console. His eyes widened as he caught his reflection in one of the reflective surfaces on the console. His touched his whiskered chin.
“Regeneration?” The Doctor seemed very disturbed by this realisation. He eyed his reflection again. “Well, that’s never happened before,” he said, rubbing his newfound beard. ”That’s the trouble with regeneration; never any control over what you get.”
He stood up straight, carelessly placing his hand on his chest. He pulled his hand away quickly from his gelatinous-soaked shirt.
“That’s the goo that caused you to regenerate,” Faye explained. “Perhaps you should change.”
“I think I just did” the Doctor answered, bewildered.
“Your clothes” Faye pointed out.
“Perhaps.”
Faye had to guide him to the clothes closet. The “closet” was nearly as large as the library. Faye had rarely gone into this room. There wasn’t even the pretense of any organisation in this room. There were clothes from many eras and places mixed together. Most clothing was at least hanging on coat trees and racks of various sorts. Faye picked up a small pile of odd clothes she found lying on various parts of the floor.
“Thank you,” said the Doctor, as he took the pile from her. “That will do nicely.”
“But there all wrinkled. And I don’t think they match,” Faye explained. “Let’s find something more appropriate.” The Doctor walked off, not seeming to have heard her. Within a few moments he returned, completely changed. The clothing didn’t match, but could have been worse. The only really odd piece was a long red scarf. The Doctor explained it was the one Madam Nostradamus never completed, not nearly as long as his old unraveled one. It was only ten feet.
The Doctor seemed to be in rush to get back to the console room. He examined the burst tubule.
“Serves me right. I should have waited until we landed on Braxis III. I won’t be able to repair this until we’ve landed, but not on Braxis III.”
“Why?”
“Temporally, we’ve lost some control. The only way to truly control our destination is use the fast-return switch.”
“Well, we could do worse than 1979 Paris” commented Faye.
“Here goes” breathed the Doctor. Although Faye brought no skills when it came to operating the TARDIS, she chose to stay in the console room to keep an eye on the Doctor. The Doctor watched the console like a hawk, making small adjustment here and there. He frowned. Faye thought the combination of the beard and frown made the Doctor look far more serious than his previous self. The new Doctor would take getting used to.
“Is everything all right?”
“Yes, but I’m afraid we are deviating from our course. And I can’t find the exact cause. I’m sorry, no 1979”
“You seem out of sorts. Are you all right?” asked Faye.
“Fine. I’ve just regenerated.”
“I know. I was there.” She immediately regretted snapping at him. She put her hand on the Doctor’s arm. “I guess this means you have one less regeneration now. Not too many left, I suppose.”
“I’m not afraid of dying, or even of losing regenerations, although the process isn’t pleasant.”
“But something’s bothering you.”
“Losing a regeneration over such an inexplicable accident. Trans-dimensional fluid isn’t toxic. Or least isn’t supposed to be. Of course, it hasn’t been changed in 500 years” he admitted.
Just then, the time column settled, indicating they were landing. One of the few things Faye did know how to operate was the external monitor. She turned the switch to view the exquisite pastoral vista in the early morning light.
“Earth?” she asked. The Doctor nodded yes. “Not Paris?” The Doctor nodded no. “Year?” the Doctor shrugged. “This new regeneration is a mime?” For the first time, this new Doctor smiled.
It wasn’t a bad smile, more kindly than the manic one she was used to.
“Well, it’s probably the 20th century” he finally answered, as he ducked under the console. “But we overshot 1979.”
“Are we stranded here?”
“No, I think not. This should be an easy fix. I’m surprised it cost us this much trouble.”
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Finally, the Doctor was finished the repair.
“Well, are you ready for Braxis III?” the Doctor asked, yet his hearts clearly weren’t in it. Faye had seen the Doctor pensive, angry, joyous, a whole range of emotions. She wondered whether he was usually depressed after regeneration. Or was this the demeanor of this new Doctor?
“I think Braxis III can wait, Doctor. I’ll reheat our food. Then, I think you need some fresh air; a nice walkabout to lighten your mood.”
As it was now morning outside the TARDIS, their dinner was renamed breakfast. Once they finished they stepped outside into the field. After about a quarter of a mile, they spotted some cattle entering the pasture. They were followed by men on horseback lazily following the herd. They were called back and forth to one another in Spanish.
“Doctor, do you think we’re back in Spain?” asked Faye hopefully, who still hadn’t gotten over her relationship with the young Pablo Picasso.
“No, their dialect lacks the Castilian flavour. Probably, South America. Maybe Argentina or Uruguay, judging by their attire.”
They were quickly spotted by the four black-bereted gauchos, who immediately galloped toward the Doctor and Faye. Two of them were carrying rifles. They quickly surrounded them, so no escape was possible. The heaviest of them was pointing his rifle at them.
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To be continued...
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Post by John Darnacan on Feb 12, 2007 13:12:17 GMT
Part 3 – Gauchos & Scientists
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The Doctor and Faye were quickly spotted by the four black-bereted gauchos, who immediately galloped toward them. Two of them were carrying rifles. They quickly surrounded them, so no escape was possible. The heaviest of them was pointing his rifle at them.
“Hola, Señor” said the tallest of the four gauchos.
“Hola,” answered the Doctor.”
“Quiene unsted?”
“I am the Doctor. And this is my companion, Faye.”
“El doctoro?” the men repeated to one another.
Finally, the tall gaucho spoke in broken English “My apologies. Me llamo Paco….. Señor Hernandez has been…expecting you…. I will take you to him now.”
Paco issued some orders to two of his men, who promptly dismounted and brought their horses over to Faye and the Doctor indicated they were meant to ride somewhere, presumably to meet someone named Hernandez.
“I think there’s been some mistake.”
“There is no time to waste” said Paco sternly, motioning them to mount the horses.
“Very well” the Doctor breathed. So Paco, Faye, the Doctor, and the heavy-set gaucho named Raymundo followed Paco to a hacienda approximately a mile away. It was an impressive home. An Argentine flag hung in the foyer, next to a photograph of Juan and Eva Peron.
“How was your journey from Buenos Aires?” called a strong clear voice. The Doctor and Faye turned. The voice came from a tall aristocratic man in his 60s. His accent was clearly Argentine, but his English was impeccable. “I am Eduardo Hernandez, Welcome to my home.”
“Why, thank you. Señor Hernandez. You are most kind” answered the Doctor.
“No, it is you who are kind. To be honest, with the postal service in such disarray, I was not sure you received my letter. And even if you did, I was not sure you would come, given your busy schedule and all the superstitious…nonsense going around.” He gave a sharp look at Paco and the other gaucho.
“Well, what exactly seems to be the problem?” asked the Doctor.
“My cattle are dying” answered Hernandez in surprise, since he had explained it in his letter.
“Yes, but what exactly are the specific trans-symptomatic expression of their deterioratory decline?” asked the Doctor. Hernandez seemed perplexed, as even his English was insufficient to understand what the Doctor said.
“Perhaps you should examine the cattle directly” Señior Hernandez suggested.
“Yes, I suppose that would be best” concluded the Doctor. Hernandez ordered Paco and Raymundo to escort the Doctor to the sick herd.
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In the place that was no place. Thoughts had flowed for the first time ever. The one whose thoughts had dominated had finally departed. Thoughts of the remaining ones were more relaxed at first. Then came the realisation.
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The Ranchero Hernandez had over 20,000 head of cattle. The gauchos had taken the sickest to a special sick pen. Many of the heifers and steers were sadly emaciated. The Doctor walked among the docile cattle slowly and quietly like a seasoned gaucho. The Doctor pointed at one in particular, signaling he wanted that one pulled aside. The gauchos separated the heifer from the rest of the herd, pushing her into a smaller side pen.
The thin animal had several bumps under it’s haircoat. The Doctor asked Paco for the knife he wore on his belt, and made a small incision into one of the bumps, and squeezed out a thick wiggling worm about 4 inches in length.
“Oh my god, what is it?”
“A parasite” answered the Doctor. “Quite a resilient one at that.”
“It looks disgusting? Is it alien?”
“It is from the demons?” asked the rotund Raymundo.
“Demons?”
“Si, they come over the hills or over the lake at night! I have seen them” insisted Raymundo.
“I have seen the lights too. But I think they are angels!” said another gaucho.
“Do not mind them, Doctoro. They see a few shooting stars and get spooked” Paco explained, slightly embarrassed by his fellows.
The Doctor chuckled. “No Faye, not everything disgusting is extraterrestrial. Neither demons nor angels produced these. I think it’s quite terrestrial. Admittedly, they are unusually large, but still quite terrestrial. I think it’s a relative of the common cattle grub.”
“Si, grub bovina grande, muy grande” said Paco. The Doctor and Paco talked about the grub epidemic. Apparently, their usual treatments for such things had been ineffective. The Doctor confirmed he would be able to help. The gauchos were very happy at this news. Apparently, these parasites had created an epidemic throughout the valley.
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Johann Krueger was finishing writing in his notebook. His study was decorated in an odd combination of Bavarian and Argentine décor. A tall young blond man in his mid twenties entered through an oak door.
“Ah Deiter. You were late getting back from Bueno Aires” said Krueger.
The young man stood straight up, not quite standing at military attention, but enough to reveal his former vocation. “I’m sorry. I vill not let it happen again” answered Deiter in a thick German accent.
Krueger smiled. “I was not admonishing you, Deiter. Just curious.” Said Krueger in a less-pronounced accent.
“Ja, zere vas a political rally for the President and his vife. It created congestion in the streets.”
“No doubt, Presidente Perón was espousing his Justicialismo policies. But I’m sure the ever-popular and charismatic Evita was the real draw. Eh Deiter?” Krueger smirked. “Never underestimate the power of a woman.” Deiter smiled politely. “Were you able to get all of our shipments from England and the United States?”
“Ja, 14 cases, mein Herr.”
“Excellent. Sir Avery has been driving Professor Lochley to distraction over the power conversion unit. Soon, we’ll been back on schedule.”
“There was one other item.” Deiter pulled an envelope out of a leather satchel. “I picked zis up at zee post drop.” Krueger took the letter, opened it, and read it intently. His face drooped.
“Apparently, Professor Einstein has declined our offer.” Johann Krueger slumped into his chair disappointed. “Of course, Professor Lochley did say that Einstein wouldn’t join us after Hiroshima. Besides, I suspect he is far too comfortable at Princeton to leave. I suppose my hopes were too high.”
“I could go to Princeton and ‘persuade’ Professor Einstein to join us” offered the blonde man.
“No Deiter; that will not be necessary.”
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To be continued...
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Post by John Darnacan on Feb 12, 2007 13:16:24 GMT
Part 4 – Lifting the Spirits
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The Doctor had the gauchos collect soil samples from as many locations as possible, 37 in all. Each was carefully numbered as to where is came from. Señor Hernandez provided him with a small shack to work in. The Doctor was working diligently in his ‘lab’, when Faye brought in some chorizo for lunch. She looked at the numbered soil samples.
“Are these to find the source of those worms?”
“No, I’m trying to isolate a compound called avermectin, which is an excellent parasiticide.”
“Why all the soil samples?”
“Strepomyces avermetillis is the soiled-based bacterium that creates the compound. Earth scientists will discover it for themselves in the soil on a Japanese golf course in the 1970s. Ten years later, it will have a formidable effect on livestock production. But for now, it will just be our little secret.”
“Doctor, if you’re not a veterinarian, how do you know about this ever…aver..mac”
“Avermectin. Well, 400 years after that, it will be essential to defeating a Traynoidian parasitic infection on an Earth colony.”
“Found on a Japanese golf course?”
“Quite.”
Over the next few days, the Doctor was able to create enough avermectin to treat all of the Ranchero’s sick cattle with enough to spare for the entire valley. Faye was pleased that the Doctor had found something to take his mind off his regeneration. And she was particular grateful it was not some alien crisis.
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Krueger and his long-term houseguests had been quite irritable the last few days. The delayed shipments of materials and Einstein rebuffing their offer had put everyone into a bad mood. So the invitation in the post could not have come at a better time.
“My friends” announced Krueger. “Our neighbor, Don Eduardo Hernandez, has invited us to a party he is throwing tomorrow night. I think it would be good for us to attend. It may lift our spirits.”
Sir Avery shifted in his chair. “I thought we agreed that we should keep to ourselves. Keep a low profile and all that.”
“Yes, yes, but it may seem suspicious if we are too isolated,” replied Krueger.
“What is the cause of Señor Hernandez’s sudden festiveness? I thought things were pretty grim across the countryside. Cattle sick and all that.”
Deiter stepped forward. “I had heard in town zat Herr Hernandez has found a veterinarian who had cured this cattle,” reported the young German.
“Really?”
“Ja, Paco zee ranchero foreman told me himself.”
“Ah well, then I must attend,” concluded Krueger
“Why?” asked Richard Lochley, a tall American who had been sitting quietly.
“I too have sick cattle on my land, not that I care about them. But as a rancher myself, it would seem suspicious if I were not curious.”
Lochley reflected smiled. “Actually, I agree. It would be good to get out. A little fun wouldn’t kill us old codgers.”
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Eduardo Hernandez’s party was of the kind not thrown in a long time. There was music, and food of all sorts, from chorizo sausage to braised beef to roast pork turned on a spit. The women wore colourful costumes. Although there was debate over President Peron’s policy of Justicialismo, it was friendly debate, not enough to upset their current good mood. Now that they had healthy cattle again, Juan Perón would see that they got the best price for it overseas. It was a party of special significance and joy, celebrating the return of a healthy livelihood. Laughing and dancing were everywhere. Johann Krueger and his houseguests arrived at the Ranchero Hernandez and were greeted warmly.
“Eduardo, I congratulate you on what I’ve heard is your good fortune.”
“Gracias, I mean Danke, my German friend” They both laughed.
“I understand you now employ a miracle worker?” asked Krueger.
“Employ? No, he will not accept a single cruziero. But si, he is a miracle worker. He won’t even tell me his name. I originally thought he was from Buenos Aires, but he’s a quite a mystery. But I did not press. I just assume he is one of your countrymen who joined us after your war in Europe.”
“Really? I must meet this compatriot of mine.”
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Faye was thoroughly enjoying herself. Eduardo Hernandez’s wife Carla even loaned Faye a festive party dress so she could fit in. She had lost track of the Doctor momentarily. Usually, this would not have concerned her, but since his regeneration, he had been acting oddly. Faye finally spotted him on the edge of the party. She walked up to him casually.
“I’m glad we stayed” she commented.
“I beg your pardon” responded the Doctor.
“Usually after you solve a problem, we’re off in the TARDIS never to be seen again. I’m glad we stayed for the party.”
“Well, a little fun never killed anyone.”
The music suddenly stopped. Eduardo Hernandez stepped up on a stool to make a speech, in Spanish, English and German. He was both eloquent and sincere in his gratitude to the Doctor. The speech turned into a toast. With tears in his eyes, Hernandez hugged the Doctor. The music started again, and dancing resumed. Many of the local ranchers also came to thank the Doctor. He seemed slightly embarrassed by this sudden mass gratitude. Hernandez quickly returned with some other men in tow. The Doctor was trying diplomatically ease away, but Hernandez trapped him.
“Doctor, may I introduce my neighbour, Johann Krueger and his friends. Johann is an engineer, who has been doing some excellent work helping build Argentina’s new hydro-electric plants. I thought our top benefactors should meet.”
“A pleasure to meet you” the Doctor said reflexively. Then, he looked at the faces of these new acquaintances. A strange but subtle look came over the Doctor’s face.
“These are my houseguests Avery and Richard,” Krueger introduced.
“A pleasure to meet you” he said again, but more slowly, as he observed the three men.”
“I’ve heard you’re the great veterinarian who cured all of Eduardo’s cattle. Perhaps you could share your miracle cure with my herd?”
“Actually, I’m not a veterinarian, I’m a scientist. But don’t worry; I’ve given Señor Hernandez enough of the cure to share, and he’s promised to do so.”
“That is wonderful news. Eduardo is a man of his word. May I ask what type of scientist you are?”
“Oh, a bit of everything,” the Doctor answered, eyeing the three men carefully.
“Really? What scientific discipline interests you most Doctor?” asked Richard. The Doctor gave Faye an odd look. She thought it was his “time-to-leave” look, but wasn’t sure. She hadn’t figured out the nuances of the Doctor’s new face yet.
Before the Doctor could answer Richard Lochley, there was a woman’s scream not far away.
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To Be Continued...
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Post by John Darnacan on Feb 12, 2007 13:19:06 GMT
Part 5 – Curiosity
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“Really? What scientific discipline interests you most Doctor?” asked Richard Lochley. The Doctor gave Faye an odd look. She thought it was his “time-to-leave” look, but wasn’t sure. She hadn’t figured out the nuances of the Doctor’s new face yet.
Before the Doctor could answer, Richard Lochley, there was a woman’s scream not far away.
The crowd ran in the direction of the scream. They found a señorita standing over the dead body of Raymundo, the heavy-set gaucho. They looked to the Doctor, who came forth. The unfortunate gaucho appeared to have been stabbed and slashed multiple times. Unfortunately, he had been dead too long, and the Doctor was unable to save him. Eventually, his fellow gauchos carried his body up to their bunk house.
“Now, I wish we had left” commented Faye.
“But now it’s getting interesting”
“A man is murdered, you just call it interesting!”
“No, that’s not what I mean. It was those three men. I think I recognized at least two of them. And it’s a very strange part of the world for them to be in. Something worth investigating.”
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The next morning, the Doctor asked for the use of Hernandez’s car, and directions to Johann Krueger’s house. Eduardo Hernandez was still rather upset over Raymundo’s death.
“Death comes to all of us, sooner or later,” replied the Doctor.
Faye thought this an odd, and somewhat cold comment. However, Hernandez did not seem to be offended, and gladly provided them with both the car and directions. Krueger’s house was not nearly as grand as Hernandez’s hacienda, but it looked spacious all the same. Upon arrival, he and Faye rang the bell. The door was slow to respond. Krueger came to the door himself.
“Doctor, what a surprise” Krueger said with a slight nervousness in his voice. “What can I do for you?”
“Well, it’s what I can do for you. You seemed interested in my cure for those enormous cattle grubs.”
“Ah yes, well, Eduardo said he would share some of your miracle formula. So there’s no need to bother yourself, personally.”
“Oh, no bother. I thought I might look at your herd myself”
“Well, I only have 30 heifers. Eduardo teases me that they are too few to even qualify as a herd.” They all laughed. “If you’ll excuse me Doctor. I’m actually very busy right now.”
“Well, I didn’t mean to intrude.”
“Not at all. I apologise. Perhaps another time.”
“Have a good day then.” The Doctor returned to the car and drove away.
“Odd, he seemed quite interested last night,” commented the Doctor. The Doctor drove the car into a thick grove of trees, a shady spot where they could covertly observe the entrance to Krueger’s property.
“Doctor, what are we doing?”
“I believe they call it a…. a stake-out.”
“What is going on? Who are these men you’re so worried about?”
“A long time ago, I served as, for the lack of a better word, a ‘consultant’ to the United Nations International Taskforce. I disagreeociation with UNIT made me aware of the various Earth scientists and what they were working on. Why these particular scientists are here in Argentina now is quite curious.”
“Couldn’t you have asked them last night at the party?”
“Well, there was the little matter of a murder that distracted everyone.”
“So, what are we going to do now?”
“Take a siesta.”
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After about half an hour, Faye got bored and turned on the radio. While she was oddly frustrated that there were no English-speaking stations, she found some music.
“So much for a siesta” grumbled the Doctor.
“You weren’t really sleeping, Doctor”
“How do you know?” he snapped peevishly.
Suddenly, Krueger’s car came barreling down the drive. The Doctor and Faye got out and hurried up to the house. After snooping around the outside, they entered through a back door, which led down to a basement. His sonic screwdriver made short work of the lock. The basement was filled with extensive tool and die equipment, although it was not completely unexpected for an engineer to own such equipment. They crept along a short passage to yet another locked door. This one was more substantial, as was the lock. Faye turned look back at workshop they had just passed through.
Suddenly, Faye heard was a sharp thud. She turned to see the Doctor fall to the floor. Her view of the Doctor’s body was now blocked out by the Lugar pointed at her face.
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To Be Continued...
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Post by John Darnacan on Feb 12, 2007 13:24:27 GMT
Part 6 – Schnitzel Night
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The Doctor looked up to see Faye’s out-of-focus face. He could hear voices murmuring.
“He’s waking up” said a man with a British accent.
“Faye, are you all right?” asked the Doctor.
“Fine, how do you feel?”
“A slight headache.”
The man with the British accent laughed. “Well, here’s some aspirin, old chap” he said, as he helped the Doctor to sit up. “Quite a little bump you have there.” The Doctor recognised him as one of the men with Krueger at the party. “If you’ll excuse me. I’ll be right back.” The grey-haired Englishman stepped out, but they were not alone. A young, strapping blonde man sat in the corner, a Lugar pistol tucked in his belt.
The three men returned.
“I am sorry for your…discomfort. Deiter is overly protective” Krueger explained.
“And you were trespassing” added the man with an American accent. “May we ask why?”
The Doctor rose slowly, and looked among the three men. “I was curious”
“About my cattle? I assure you, I don’t keep cattle in my cellars. A veterinarian would know that.”
“As I said last night, I’m not a veterinarian. I’m a scientist…like you three.” The three men looked furtively at each other.
“I admit I am an engineer. I’ve been consulting on Argentina’s hydro-electric plants.”
“That may be true, but that’s only part of the story.” The Doctor turned to the Englishman. “I recognised you first. You’re Sir Avery Symthe, a brilliant mathematician. You and Alan Turing were instrumental in breaking the Nazi Enigma codes, and did revolutionary work on the ENIAC computer.”
“He must be working for British Intelligence. My work is still classified,” Smythe assured them.
The Doctor turned to the American. “You’re Doctor Richard Lochley. You did extensive fission research. Worked with Oppenheimer and Fermi on the atomic bomb at Los Alamos I believe.”
“I think American Intelligence, perhaps the FBI” said Lochley. The Doctor turned back to Krueger.
“It took me a little longer to place your German host. At Penemunde, Professor Johann Krueger was a colleague of Werner Von Braun, the rocketry expert, an excellent propulsion expert in your own right.” The three men looked stunned. Deiter stood up quietly in the corner, showing he was at the ready. Krueger waived him to sit.
“What do you want, Doctor?”
“I want to know why three world-class scientists are hiding in the Argentinean countryside. Professor Krueger is understandable. Many Germans involved in the war fled to South America. But why have two key scientists from the winning side joined him here?”
“Who are you working for?” asked Lochley.
“No one. I was in Argentina, as a tourist.”
“Why should we believe you? How do we really know you’re a scientist, and not a government agent?” demanded Lochley.
“Would a government agent know how to synthesize a parasiticide for cattle? Or even care? And if I were on a mission for a government, wouldn’t others follow if I were to mysteriously disappear?” he added nodding to the sentinel Deiter.
“If you are on vacation, as you say, why are you so concerned about us?”
“Curiosity, intense curiosity, the mark of a scientist. Especially when I see three fellow scientists, who were involved in the war efforts of their respective countries, gathered together. What am I to think?”
Sir Avery laughed. “You know, we can’t blame him.”
“I suppose not” admitted Krueger. “But what do we do now?”
“First, I think we should confirm that he really is a scientist, not an agent.” The three began quizzing me on a wide range of scientific theories and conjectures. The Doctor answered brilliantly, being careful to couch his answers in a level appropriate 1950’s Earth. In fact, he had to answer one or two questions incorrectly, to be consistent with the current scientific beliefs. He easily satisfied the three of his credentials.
“Looking at the probabilities,” said Sir Avery, “I think it would be best to trust the Doctor”
“Spoken like a true mathematician,” chuckled Krueger.
“In fact, we could ask him to join us” said Lochley. “Especially since Albert won’t be joining us.”
“Well at least, for dinner,” Krueger smiled. “It is schnitzel night.”
Faye and Doctor looked at one another.
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To Be Continued...
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Post by John Darnacan on Feb 12, 2007 13:25:51 GMT
Part 7 –Shifting Body Counts
============================================================
“Schnitzel night?” asked Faye.
“Yes, it one on those little things we do to amuse ourselves, and alleviate the isolation from our homelands. Each night we alternate dinner cuisines: English, American, German, and occasionally Argentine, in honour of our host country” explained Sir Avery. “So tonight is Johann’s choice.”
“If you chose to join us, you could have your own night as well”
“Well, I defer all our culinary decisions to Faye. She’s quite the wizard in the kitchen, particularly with French cuisine.”
“Perhaps you could give Deiter some pointers” whispered Krueger. His schnitzel is good. But with other things, you can still taste the Wehrmacht in his cooking.” Krueger suddenly seemed embarrassed by his reference to the military.
“Well, I suppose it’s time to ask the tough questions” announced the Doctor.
“You mean ‘what did I do to get here?’ Yes, I was a rocket scientist for the Third Reich, partly out of nationalism, partly out of fear. The rockets I help build took many lives, including loved ones of…” He looked meaningfully at Sir Avery, who put a comforting hand on Krueger’s shoulder.
“Including members of my family, who were killed in Coventry and London” Smythe continued.
“That’s what makes your working together even stranger.”
“Perhaps to outsiders” added Richard Lochley. “We were all war scientists. Our jobs were to shift body counts from our country’s side to the enemy’s side. In doing so, we raised the world’s overall death toll. I helped build the U.S. atomic bomb. After the Japanese surrender, I went to Hiroshima and Nagasaki. What I saw will haunt me forever.”
“What did you do during the war, Doctor?”
“Nothing of consequence”
“Then, you are lucky.” Sir Avery continued “Our colleague, Albert Einstein, has preached that pacifism is the way. But there will always be wolves like Hitler, Mussolini, Hirohito and Stalin in the world. Don’t you agree, Doctor?”
“At least, for the next century or so” admitted the Doctor.
“So we have come up with a plan.”
“A plan?” inquired the Doctor.
“A peace plan. We will show you after the strudel.”
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After the meal was over, they all returned to the door where the Doctor and Deiter had their first encounter. Krueger unlocked and opened the door.
“Ladies first” he said.
Faye entered, and turned around immediately. “Doctor, I think it’s a Dalek!”
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To Be Continued...
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Post by John Darnacan on Feb 12, 2007 13:28:18 GMT
Part 8 – Army of the Future==================================================================== After the meal was over. They all returned to the door where the Doctor and Deiter had their first encounter. Krueger unlocked and opened the door. “Ladies first” he said. Faye entered, and turned around immediately. “Doctor, I think it’s a Dalek!” “I apologise” said Krueger. “I did not turn the light on” When the room was lit there was a strange array of objects. The closest one did bear a some resemblance to a Dalek, more like a very crude parody. It was a large sheet-metal cylinder with a manipulator arm, sitting on small tank tread. “This was our first attempt” commented Sir Avery. “Admittedly a failure, but we persevered.” What followed was a crude mechanical human-shaped figure. “It looks a retro-styled robot from the fifties” laughed Faye. “This IS the fifties” whispered the Doctor, who turned back to the scientists. “So you’re making robots.” The Doctor did not seem overly impressed. Although the recycling tubes on the robot’s head vaguely reminded him of a cyberman. “I have to admit this particular attempt was foolishly influenced by a science-fiction film. And bipedal locomotion proved quite difficult to programme, and was quite impractical. Figuring how to get a robot to travel over rugged terrain has been one of our biggest challenges,” explained Krueger. “But then, Richard and Johann had a leap of inspiration and genius. They asked why do our robots have to walk or roll. They developed an anti-gravity suspension system.” This got the Doctor’s attention. “Anti-gravity?” “Yes, quite. Not powerful enough to make it fly like an airplane, but sufficient to get it over rough terrain” said Lochley trying to contain his excitement as he pressed some control. The three stepped aside to allow a floating black sphere to pass. It had a cylindrical extension underneath with a glowing hemi-sphere. It also had two crude manipulator arms, but more advanced than the first prototype. “We’d like to introduce Firefly Six, our most advanced model to date. Although Richard likes to call it a ‘Hoveron’, but I think Firefly is more poetic. ”  The Doctor’s expression was grim. The three scientists looked at him. “May I have a closer look?” he asked, as he surveyed the floating machine. “Certainly.” Lockley opened the top section, exposing the internal circuits. The Doctor inspected the internal mechanisms closely, as well as the manipulator arms and the anti-gravity projector. “I see you’re using transistors” observed the Doctor. “Ah, you’re familiar with Doctor Shockley’s new invention; much more efficient than the vacuum tubes we used on the ENIAC,” said Sir Avery enthusiastically. “So what do you think, Doctor?” asked Krueger. “Very advanced work indeed,” said the Doctor grimly. “Impressive.” The three scientists beamed at one another. It was probably the first time they had been able to show off their work.. The Doctor gave a small sigh. “Interesting. So you want create global peace with robots. Well, I can only think of two ways to do that. The first way is you believe you can use robots to relieve everyone of their labours and create a utopia. It is a flawed logic, but often believed. The second way is to create an army of robots to enforce your peace. If you’re concerned about rugged terrain, I assume it’s the latter. Apparently, the war scientists can’t stop themselves. Preparing for the next war?” “You don’t understand. We want peace.” “Hitler wanted peace. A piece of Poland. A piece of France.” “No, no, Doctor, we have no territorial aspirations. And we would never hand our work over to any government. Not again. Or even use it ourselves.” “Then, what’s the point?” “Next year, the United Nations will move into its permanent home in New York. Then, we want to present the Hoverons to the U.N. as a gift.” “Why do that?” asked Faye. “One of the reasons the League of Nations failed, is that it had to depend on its member nations for troops. Governments are loath to send their troops into battles that do not directly benefit them, even if there are just causes.” “We plan to arm the Hoverons with non-lethal weapons, dart guns, nets, perhaps electric prods. Deiter was been working on that,” explained Lochley. “And what if the U.N. decides to equip your Hoverons with lethal weapons?” “We have a safeguard built in. Believe us Doctor; we did not create this plan impulsively.” “I’m sorry, but I find it disingenuous that say that you want peace, yet you want to build an invincible army.” The three scientists didn’t look happy at the Doctor’s disapproval. Faye was keenly aware of Deiter and the lump under his jumper shaped like a lugar. There was a palpable tension in the air. “So you disapprove of our work,” surmised Sir Avery. “I believe you are honourable men, sincere in your intentions, but your work is misguided. I mean no disrespect. ” There was a grim silence. “So what do you intend to do?” asked Krueger. “More to the point, what authority will you report us to?” demanded Lockley. “None,” replied the Doctor. “My good fellow, how can you expect us to believe that?” Smythe asked skeptically. “I will not report you to anyone, because nothing will come of your work. The U.N. will not accept your ‘gift’. All the member countries will instead compete to obtain your creations for themselves.” “And which of those countries will you be warning of our creation?” “As I said before, none. I expect you will see the folly of your efforts before you ever get to the U.N. In that hope, I will remain silent. I have no desire for any country to ever obtain your work.” Deiter stood taller, signaling he was ready to act if called upon. Krueger subtly nodded that no action would be needed. “Well as scientists, we must be open to listening to alternate hypotheses,” concluded Krueger. “I regret you will not be joining us. However, I thank you for your candid views, Doctor.” “Thank you for sharing your confidence, and you delicious schnitzel.” After a round of uncomfortable good-byes, Faye and the Doctor headed back to the car. “So, are all your worries put to rest?” asked Faye. “To the contrary, I’m more concerned than ever,” replied the Doctor. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- To Be Continued...
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Post by John Darnacan on Feb 12, 2007 13:30:47 GMT
Part 9 – Out of Sorts
===================================================================
When the Doctor and Faye got back to the car, they found it wouldn’t start.
“That’s suspicious” Faye breathed.
“Not really, Faye. You left the radio on,” observed the Doctor. “The battery’s been run down.”
“Oh great!” spat Faye. “I’m really sorry.”
“It’s not a problem. Anyway, I was in the mood for a stretch of the legs. It’ll help me think.” They set out on the road toward Ranchero Hernandez.
“Why are you so worried about the ‘brain trust’ back there? You said nothing would come of their efforts.”
“They’re using time-appropriate technologies, transistors and such, yet their technological results are surprisingly advanced. Their anti-gravity system is completely anachronistic. Sort of like building a modern airplane out of stone.”
“Plus, I guess anything Nazis are involved in should make us nervous,” Faye added.
“Nazis?”
“Krueger? And that Deiter? I may not be a Time Lord, but I know this is 1951, six years after the end of World War II. We’re in South America, where lots of Nazis escaped to. Krueger even admitted it he worked for them. And that Deiter; he’s clearly a Nazi goon.”
“What makes you say that?”
Faye looked at the Doctor incredulously. “He’s an arrogant German with a Lugar. My grandfather told me all about them. He was in a POW camp during the war.”
“Faye, not all Germans were Nazis. In fact,…” The Doctor suddenly winced.
“Are you alright?” The Doctor kept his eyes closed for several moments. Faye became very concerned. “Doctor, what’s the matter?”
“It’s this regeneration. It doesn’t seem to be wearing well; like a suit that’s the wrong size.” He turned to Faye. “Like a recipe that’s missing a key ingredient.”
“It’s OK. I got the suit analogy,” Faye responded with a worried smile.
“Sorry, I’m out of sorts. It’s like there’s something missing or misaligned. Usually, I have a short period of mild dementia after regenerating. That didn’t happen this time, yet something still not right. And for some reason, I keep thinking of Raymundo, but don’t know why.”
“Maybe you need to see a doctor.”
“I am a Doctor.”
“I mean a physician. Perhaps one on Gallifrey,” Faye suggested.
“No, there’s no going back to Gallifrey.”
“Why?”
“There just isn’t,” growled the Doctor. The pair continued along the road back. They came to a part of the road that wasn’t far from where they left the TARDIS.
“Do you want to head back to the TARDIS?”
“No, I need to tell Hernandez about the car. But you go ahead to the TARDIS. I’ll catch up later.”
“Are you going to be all right?”
“Yes,” he smiled. “I’ll be fine.”
Faye was unsure about leaving the Doctor on his own.
“See you later?” The Doctor nodded.
Faye headed across a pasture and around a curved clearing. The sun was dropping low in the western sky, teasing the mountains in the distance. Unsure whether the distant mountains were the Andes or not, she decided they were because it was one of the few geographic features she could remember from school. Despite the gorgeous display of beauty, she still worried about what the Doctor was going through. One of the reasons she wanted to get back to the TARDIS quickly was so she could search the library for a book on regeneration. Perhaps she should be doing something to help him.
After several minutes, Faye realised she was not alone. She could hear some brushing against branches behind her. In fact, she was being followed. She quickly ducked behind an outcropping of rocks. She held her breath as she heard the rustle of approaching footsteps. Her heart was beating hard. She peaked over the rocks to see the silhouette of a tall man against the setting sun. She realized it was Deiter, the strapping Nazi.
And he spotted her.
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To Be Continued...
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Post by John Darnacan on Feb 12, 2007 13:32:43 GMT
Part 10 – Times Change
====================================================================
“Frauline Austin,” Deiter called.
There was no point hiding anymore. Faye stood up.
“Vee vere vorried about you.”
“Oh really?” she answered stiffly. “Is that why you were following me?”
“Ja. Vee found your car,” said Deiter. Faye stared back.
“Your boss wasn’t too happy with the Doctor, was he?” Deiter stared back blankly. “Afraid we’re going to spill the beans?”
“Spill ze beans?” Apparently, the German didn’t understand that English idiom.
“You know, tell people what we know?” she spat in frustration.
“I do not know”
“If you’re going to kill me just get it over with!”
“Vhy vould I do that?”
“Isn’t that what you Nazis are best at?” she spat. “You’ve already nearly shot me once.”
“I am NOT a Nazi!” For the first time she saw emotion in the normally calm and cool Deiter.
“Really? Where did you serve during the war? The Luftwafer? In a U-boat? The Wehrmacht?”
“As a Hitler Youth, I was too young. I only served at the end of the war, when Hitler became desperate.”
“Of course” she said triumphantly. “A Hitler Youth!”
“Well, if you’re not going to kill me “mein herr”, I have places to go!” She didn’t know game Deiter was playing, but she decided to get away as soon as possible. After she was out of sight of Deiter, she broke into a run. Then Faye realised the German might still be following her. She doubled back in a misleading direction. She didn’t want to lead Deiter back to the TARDIS. She stopped behind some trees, and waited. She wondered if he was some sort of expert tracker, and she was only kidding herself. After several minutes, she lost patience and made a run for the TARDIS. She had never been so happy in her life to see that battered old police box.
As she unlocked the door, she realised her heart was pounding. Once inside, she ran to the library, not for a book on regeneration, but just to be safe. She was amased at herself. Through her travels with the Doctor she had faced all sorts of dangers, yet what frightened her the most was this Nazi, who couldn’t have been more deadly that Dalek. Perhaps it just hit to close to home. Suddenly, she heard a footstep behind her. She jumped.
“Oh Doctor, you gave me a start.”
“My apologies” he said softly.
“Doctor, are you all right?” He gave a stranded smile.
“Just getting used to this new body.”
“I see you changed your clothes. I told you the others were too wrinkled and frumpy”
“You’re quite right, I’m sure.” He sat down pensively.
“Is there something wrong?”
“I think… I’m hungry.”
“Well Doctor, I’m not surprised. You haven’t eaten much lately, despite the dinners and parties. You know, Deiter’s schnitzel wasn’t that bad. But you just picked at.” She wondered if he was outside surveying the TARDIS now. Faye forced herself focus back on the Doctor. Deiter could wait.
“I’ll see what I can throw together” she smiled. Faye realised that this would be the first time she would be cooking for this new version of the Doctor. While the Doctor would never declare any favourite foods, Faye felt she had detected a couple. She prepared one of them, a fusion dish she created by using the ingredients of three different planets. He ate heartily.
“This is delicious!” he proclaimed. “I can’t remember when I have had such a splendid meal.” Faye beamed. She found this quite a change from the old Doctor, who was more likely to praise her talents to others, rather than directly to Faye herself. He had also eaten a slightly larger portion than he would have previously. This was an aspect of this new persona she could get used to. However, after finishing his meal, he became pensive again.
“Have you ever wondered whether your life should have taken the right course? What would have happened if you had applied yourself differently?”
“Are you asking me? Or yourself?”
He gave a chuckle. “You know, just then, you reminded a little bit, of a young lady I once knew, who also traveled in the TARDIS. Jo Grant. Very sweet. On the surface she seemed the giddy school girl, but sometimes she had bursts of true insight.” Faye wasn’t sure she liked being compared to a giddy school girl, but she accepted the compliment with a smile.
“Doctor, you’re becoming too melancholy for my taste. I don’t know much about regenerations, but I do know you. You’ve been in one place far too long. Usually you’re the one saying let’s go. This time it’s me.” Faye sat down and looked at him earnestly. “Let’s go!”
“Not yet. There’s still some business to be attended to.”
“Those scientists? Well, I may not be a professional historian, but I think I’d remember reading in history class about Hoveron peacekeepers coming from the U.N. We know they won’t succeed.”
“But times change. Times change.”
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To Be Continued...
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Post by John Darnacan on Feb 12, 2007 13:38:20 GMT
Part 11 – Copies
====================================================================
Johann Krueger and Richard Lochley were testing the control circuits on the new Firefly 7. Firefly 7 would surpass Firefly 6 with its new ability to vertically adjust its hovering height plus a new manipulator arm. They were suddenly aware of someone behind them. They turned around.
“Doctor, I thought we had seen the last of you,” Lochley said stiffly.
“I have been thinking, and have decided your project has enormous potential. I believe I can make a significant contribution. It would be negligent of me to not help you.”
“What changed you mind, Doctor?”
“I’ve had time to think and reconsider.”
The scientists smiled. “We would be most grateful for your assistance.”
“If I may be so bold as to suggest synchronising the gyroscopic stabilizers. I also have an idea for extending the range of your remote control units.”
Nothing could have pleased the scientists more.
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Faye went in search of the Doctor. He had left TARDIS so suddenly. She was becoming unnerved by his erratic behaviour. The sun had finally fallen behind the distant mountains. She decided to search for him. Faye first headed toward Ranchero Hernandez, but had to go around the long way to avoid an agitated bull that was making threatening gestures. As she rounded a small group of trees, she saw a gaucho napping beneath a tree. She thought this odd, as it was long past time for a siesta. As she got closer, she realised it was Paco, but he was not napping. His white shirt was soaked in blood. Faye ran to him, but realised he was dead. The slashes were similar to the ones that killed Raymundo, and they were fresh. Faye looked around, and began to run. Suddenly, she slammed into someone.
“Faye! What are you doing?” demanded the Doctor, who was now lying flat across the tall grass.
“Sorry,” answered Faye who was sprawled on top of him. She quickly got up. “Paco’s been murdered, just like Raymundo. He’s over there,” she pointed.
They quickly walked over to Paco’s body.
“His wounds are exactly like Raymundo’s.”
“That means the same killer”
“Yes, and now I know why I was thinking of Raymundo after visiting Krueger and his colleagues. Raymundo and Paco were killed by that Firefly robot. His wounds match the manipulators of Firefly 6.”
“Once a Nazi, always a Nazi.”
“Not all Germans are Nazis,” said a voice behind them. They turned to find Deiter.
“You’re very good at sneaking up on people.” Deiter did not seem to hear. “Did you sneak up on Paco too?” Faye accused.
Deiter went over to Paco’s body. “Who did this?” he asked coldly.
“I’d say it was the Firefly robot. The wounds match the manipulators.” replied the Doctor.
“Vat are you saying?” demanded Deiter.
“Just what I said. Nothing more. Nothing less.”
“Doctor, weren’t the three scientists with you when Raymundo was killed. But Deiter was nowhere to be seen. Couldn’t he be the killer?”
“Possibly” he whispered. The Doctor turned to Deiter. “Deiter, do you know how to operate the Firefly?”
“Ja, it is quite simply with a little practice.” Deiter suddenly realized the accusation behind the question. “I would not have killed Paco. He vas my friend. In town, we would drink together.”
“Those Hoverons must be destroyed. Regardless of who operated them.”
“You did not feel that way earlier today, when you joined with Herr Krueger and ze others” Deiter argued.
“The Doctor wouldn’t join them! What are you talking about?” yelled Faye. She looked at the Doctor, who was oddly quiet. “Doctor?”
“Deiter, as we are visitors, and are unfamiliar with the local constabulary, would you inform the police of Paco’s death. Tell them Faye and I will make ourselves available for any interviews required.” Deiter nodded.
“Doctor, what’s going on?” asked Faye as they walked. “Did you make a deal with the scientists?”
“No, well, at least I don’t remember making any.”
“What do you mean, ‘don’t remember’?”
“Ever since I regenerated, I’ve been having blackouts, short periods I just don’t remember. I didn’t want to alarm you. Although I think you witnessed one on the way back from Krueger’s house.”
“Are we talking Jekyll and Hyde here?”
“I don’t know.”
“Well, you couldn’t have killed Raymundo. You were at the party when it happened.”
“I did have a blackout then too. I thought nothing of it, because I was at the party before and after the blackout. It couldn’t have lasted long.”
At that point, Faye first realised the Doctor had changed back into his rumpled clothes.
“Did you have a blackout recently?” Faye asked. The Doctor nodded yes. “Do you remember eating in the TARDIS with me earlier today?”
“No”
“Then you are definitely having blackouts. What can we do?”
“I might be able to reconstruct a zero room in the TARDIS. It may help me sort myself out.”
They quickly made their way back to the TARDIS. However, as they went down the corridor, they were caught by surprise.
“Good evening, Doctor” came a voice from behind them. Faye and the Doctor spun around to find themselves looking at another Doctor, or an exact copy.
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To Be Continued...
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Post by John Darnacan on Feb 12, 2007 13:46:25 GMT
Part 12 – Spots Reborn==================================================================== “I thought he was you, Doctor” She turned to the stranger. “You deceived me!” “My dear Faye. I never claimed to be the Doctor. I was merely a little disoriented. But I was completely truthful about your culinary skills. It was the first meal I’d had in ages. And I am most grateful that it was such a splendid repast.” As she looked at this man, she realised he was not an exact copy of the Doctor. His features were slightly sharper and harder, his hair darker and slicker and his beard trimmed more severely. “And I must thank you Doctor, for bringing me back” “Back? From where?” Faye pleaded. The Doctor did not answer, instead stared at this man whose aspect he now shared. “The abyss. No, oblivion to be more accurate” the stranger answered. “Who are you?” demanded Faye. “Can’t my friend the Doctor tell you?” Finally speaking, the Doctor said in disgust, “He’s called the Master.”  “But, he’s got your face, well sort of.” “More amasing is that he’s alive at all,” the Doctor observed. “Yes, being thrown into the Eye of Harmony, would have been the end of most people,” smirked the Master. “Fell, not thrown,” the Doctor corrected. “How did you survive?” “People often overlook the fact that the Eye of Harmony doesn’t really destroy anything. It merely renders existence into non-existence, a subtle difference to be sure, and one which would have had no effect except for a significant change in the essential structure of the Eye.” “Excuse me, but what is this Eye of Harmony?” Faye asked. “It is a special construct in the time-space continuum created by the Time Lords, explained the Doctor. “It is what enables a TARDIS to travel through the continuum. The Master was sucked into it on our previous encounter.” “What the Doctor has failed to explain is that the Eye of Harmony exists in multiple times and places at once, specifically in a TARDIS and on Gallifrey. In that way, every TARDIS is linked to its time and place of original, permanently synchronized. Thus, the Eye’s multiplicity of existence prevents existence within it. Thus, I came to non-exist.” Faye strained to understand this logic. “However, something happened, one of the Eye’s focal points – or anchors if you will – was destroyed. Since your TARDIS still exists, I assume it is Gallifrey that was destroyed.” “It was.” “I suspected as much. But I have to admit, I would never have thought it possible. Tell me, how could the great Time Lords of Gallifrey be destroyed?” “It was… complicated.” “Doctor?” Faye interrupted. “But we were just on Gallifrey with President Romana, How could it have been destroyed?” The Master laughed as if he heard an enormously humourous joke.. “That means you, the most pious and self-righteous Doctor, have violated the First Law of Time!” The Master continued to chuckle. “I must say that my return has been well rewarded. First, a sumptuous meal.” He bowed in gratitude toward Faye. “And now, the ultimate of ironies. The Doctor violates…” The Master suddenly stopped, tuerning and looking keenly into the Doctor’s eyes. “It was complicated, you say? You are not usually one for obfuscation. No. It can’t be…it can’t.” The Master’s face displayed apparent disbelief. Then he gave an incredulous chuckle. “You? You of all people, had a hand in the destruction of Gallifrey? Irony is too weak a word. I have to admit, I am in shock. “War always has a cost. The cost of the Time War with the Daleks was Gallifrey itself. You have no right to judge me. You are a mass murderer beyond any.” “I don’t judge you, my dear Doctor.” The Master smiled. “The difference between good and evil depends upon what side you’re on.” “But in killing, you make no distinction between the guilty and the innocent.” “Ah, there’s the self-righteous Doctor I’ve come to know and… well, tolerate. We are the last of Gallifrey. Why fight? Why not join forces? It’s not like I haven’t made the offer before.” “You mean you’re not going to try and kill me, as you usually do?” queried the Doctor. “No Doctor, I am reborn, both physically and spiritually, a little feat I could have not accomplished without you. First, you untethered me by eliminating Gallifrey, and then you so generously gave me your own DNA in the regeneration process. I would not be here, if it wasn’t for you.” “What does he mean, Doctor?” “The accident that triggered my regeneration was no accident. The trans-dimensional fluid was really….the Master.” “Yes, a bio-synaptic gel. It was all that was physically left of me.” “That’s twice you’ve cost me a regeneration. Three times, if I count San Francisco. And this time you stole some of my DNA. ” “Oh yes, but I’m not completely selfish. You now have some of my DNA as well.” “So that’s what I’ve been feeling, your poisonous essence.” “Oh Doctor, please let us be less vitriolic. This is a happy occasion. Think of it this way: you are no longer the last Time Lord!” The Doctor’s expression was stone cold. “My dear friend, I am a truly a changed man! “Leopards don’t change their spots.” “Oh Doctor, I expected much more from you than clichés. Perhaps a better metaphor would be that of a butterfly. The Eye of Harmony was my chrysalis. I have evolved, and am ready to greet the world. It’s amasing what a little disembodiment will do!” “You honestly expect me to believe that?” “Well, I’ll let you think on it.” The Master made his way for the door. Suddenly, the Doctor seemed to come to life, and spring to action. “I’m afraid I can’t let…” the Doctor began, but the Master quickly pulled out a pistol, a Lugar. “I’m afraid you can’t stop me.” The Master waved the pistol. “A bit primitive, I admit, yet quite effective at this distance, I assure you. I would deeply regret hurting you, Doctor.” “The spots didn’t take long to show themselves,” spat the Doctor. “Rest assured, I have seen the universe for what it is, and I intend to make it a better place.” With that, he stepped out of the TARDIS door. The Doctor followed, but quickly came face to face with a Hoveron robot. This Firefly had been refitted with gun. The Master hummed gleefully to himself as walked into the moonlit evening. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- To Be Continued...
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Post by John Darnacan on Feb 12, 2007 13:54:27 GMT
Part 12 – The Long Story
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“Rest assured, I have seen the universe for what it is, and I intend to make it a better place,” the Master proclaimed.
With that, he stepped out of the TARDIS door. The Doctor followed, but quickly came face to face with a Hoveron robot. This Firefly had been refitted with gun. The Master hummed gleefully to himself as walked into the distance.
The Doctor quickly ducked back into the TARDIS. He headed straight for the console.
“He’s headed to Krueger’s house, but we’ll beat him there,” the Doctor mumbled as he tried to dematerialise the TARDIS. The TARDIS made a sound Faye had never heard before. The sound caught the Doctor off guard as well. He ducked under the console.
“He’s stolen the time-space element! We can’t move the TARDIS without it.” He looked at the TARDIS door in frustration. He seemed at an impasse.
“Doctor, I don’t understand” Faye said tentatively. The Doctor seemed pulled out of his trance.
“What?”
“You and the Master said Gallifrey was destroyed, yet we were on Gallifrey, only a few days ago. What is going on? Who is this Master? And why do you hate him so?”
“It’s a long story.”
“Well, it seems we have the time,” Faye answered, looking to the TARDIS door. The Doctor sighed in frustration.
“You learned about the Ancient Conspiracy and the genetically inverse relationship between telepathy and the ability to regenerate in the Gallifreyan genome.”
“Yes, Susan had trouble regenerating because she was too telepathic.”
“Susan is not the only one who had this problem. The Master has advanced telepathic abilities, particularly in the area of hypnosis. As a result, he has had extreme difficulty regenerating. He’s never been able to do it without Gallifreyan medical assistance. The Gallifreyan physicians didn’t know about the relationship between telepathy and regeneration. Because of this lack of understanding, he burned through his regenerations very quickly. This disability affected his psyche, eventually turning him into psychopath.”
“If he was such a psychopath, why would they help him regenerate?”
“They stopped helping him. However, that didn’t stop him from trying to take over the bodies of others. “He’s very much like your Lord Voldemort, in more ways than you can imagine; always seeking immortality at any cost. Tremas of Traken’s life was cut short when he took over his body. The same thing happened in San Francisco to a paramedic named Bruce, I believe. On that particular occasion, he tried to take my body, hoping to gain my remaining regenerations. Unfortunately for him, he failed and ended up falling into the Eye of Harmony.
“What is this Eye of Harmony business?”
“The Eye of Harmony was the Time Lords’ access to the Time Vortex. It also kept all Gallifrey’s time ships synchronised with Gallifrey. The Eye, in conjunction with the Transduction Barrier, prevented any TARDIS from returning during any time except Gallifrey’s present. It prevented anyone from straying into Gallifrey’s past or future.”
“So, we went into Gallifrey’s past? How was that possible if this Eye of Harmony is supposed to prevent it?”
“The part of the Eye of Harmony that existed on Gallifrey was destroyed.”
“How?”
“In the Time War, with the Daleks” The Doctor sighed. “Romana’s vision was true, but I couldn’t tell her that. That’s why I didn’t want you or Susan leaving the TARDIS on Gallifrey, despite Romana’s invitation.”
“Why couldn’t you warn her? She might have been able to save Gallifrey! I mean if you can break the First Law of Time…”
“What do you know of the First Law of Time!” the Doctor snapped in anger, an anguish borne of survivor’s guilt and impotent frustration. He suddenly stopped, catching himself. “I’m sorry,” he said softly, recovering his composure. “There are two aspects of the “Laws of Time”. The first is the obvious legal aspect. Thou shalt not…on so on. Then, there are the physical laws. We violated the first, without the latter. But to warn Gallifrey of its future would. The web of time is more complex, subtle and dangerous than you can imagine. There are times when you must be part of history, and times when you must leave it unaltered.”
“That was the dilemma you were having with the war scientists?”
“Yes, and apparently the Master has already made contact with them, which solves my dilemma of whether to interfere or not.”
“But we’re trapped in here by that overgrown Firefly.”
The Doctor activated the scanner. The Firefly robot hung in the air. However, there was someone moving in the background, in the brush. The Doctor adjusted the scanner’s spectrum into the infrared. As he zoomed in, they realised it was Deiter.
“What is he doing?” Faye asked.
“I’m not sure.”
Suddenly, Deiter came charging at the Firefly with a thin log, reminding Faye of a jousting knight with a lance. The blunt end of the log slammed hard into the back of the Hoveron, crashing it into the TARDIS. The Firefly rounded on Deiter, with its gun pointed and its sharp manipulators extended. Deiter swung the log upwards, smashing the gun. But the swing cost him his balance and his grip on the log. He fell hard against the ground, twisting his ankle, with the Hoveron now descending upon him. At that moment, Deiter knew he would be the third victim of this mechanical monster.
To Be Continued...
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Post by John Darnacan on Feb 12, 2007 13:56:51 GMT
Part 13 – New Alliance
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Suddenly, Deiter came charging at the Firefly with a thin log, reminding Faye of a knight jousting with a lance. The blunt end of the log slammed hard into the back of the Hoveron, crashing it into the TARDIS. The Firefly rounded on Deiter, with its gun pointed and its sharp manipulators extended. Deiter swung the log upwards, smashing the gun. But the swing cost him his balance and his grip on the log. He fell hard against the ground, twisting his ankle, with the Hoveron now descending upon him. At that moment, Deiter knew he would be the third victim of this mechanical monster.
Abruptly the Firefly began to wobble. Deiter could see the Doctor waving the branch beneath the glowing bottom of the Firefly. The Doctor was distorting the anti-gravity waves. It was a careful ballet, as the Doctor caused the floating robot to wobble back and forth. Faye was amased to watch this. It was as if the Firefly was balanced on the end of the Doctor’s branch yet it never touched. Finally, he moved the stick in a way that forced the robot to smash into a large tree several times.
On his knees, Deiter rejoined the fight smashing his log against the front of the robot. The main lens shattered, blinding the robot. The Doctor swiftly moved behind and pulled open the top access panel and ripped out some of the wires. This completely disabled the Firefly. It dropped to the ground.
“Thank you, Deiter.”
“Thank you. I did not know you had a twin brother.”
“I don’t…well it’s a long story. Where’s your pistol?”
“I gave it to you…I mean ze other you.”
“Why would you him your gun?”
“Professor Krueger told me to.”
“That confirms it. I have to convince them the Master can’t be trusted. At least, we’ve destroyed the Firefly.”
“But there are more”
“More?”
“Ja, zis vas Firefly 6. The Master, as you call him, was helping them on Firefly 7.”
“Can you walk?” Deiter tested his twisted ankle. It did not look good.
“Faye, get the medical kit and tend to Deiter’s ankle. I’m going after the Master.”
“Alone?” The Doctor didn’t answer, as he marched off. Faye was about to pursue him, but then saw the injured Deiter. She didn’t trust him, yet he did help the Doctor. She dutifully went back into the TARDIS to retrieve the medical kit.
Deiter watched as Faye went into the strange blue cabinet. He thought it must have been very cramped for both the Doctor and Faye to be in there at the same time. When she did not immediately come back, he became curious. He picked up the thin log he used as lance. Now using it as a crutch, he headed for the blue police box.
He opened the door to find a enormous but impossible room. The walls were curved and translucent. Deiter was particularly attracted to luminous central column. He approached it in awe.
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In the moonlight, the Doctor approached Krueger’s house. As he looked in the window, he could see the Master talking to Lochley and Smythe. Another two Fireflies were hovering nearby. Lochley and Smythe were quite enthusiastic in their discussion with the Master. They were clearly not under his hypnotic control, at least not in any obvious way, but rather cooperating of their own free will.
The Doctor noticed a shadow moved into his peripheral vision to his left. He turned around to discover a third and fourth Firefly, with their sharp manipulators out, bearing down on him.
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Faye had finally located the medical kit. Apparently, the Doctor had moved it after his regeneration. She headed back out through the control room, only to find Deiter laying on the floor, covered in the same gelatinous goop that triggered the Doctor’s regeneration.
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To Be Continued...
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Post by John Darnacan on Feb 12, 2007 14:00:50 GMT
Part 14 – Confrontation
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Unlike the Firefly the Doctor encountered at the TARDIS, these robots did not attack. They seemed slightly more primitive than Firefly 6 and 7. However, they cornered him quite well nonetheless. One beeped several times, signaling to someone. There was suddenly a commotion inside, coming outside. Suddenly the Doctor was blinded by torchlight. There was a gasp behind the light
“Doctor?” called Krueger. He turned behind back to see the Master.
“Perhaps we should all go inside,” suggested the Master. “Clearly, there is much to discuss.”
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Faye looked down on Deiter’s body covered in the same goop that caused the Doctor’s regeneration. She felt torn. Here was a human in danger, yet he was also a Nazi. She could defeat him simply by doing nothing. Yet, she remembered the German had taken on the Firefly, allowing the Doctor to escape the TARDIS and go after the Master.
Finally, her conscience won out over her prejudice. She grabbed the towel to wipe him off, but the goop had crystallised into a hard transparent glaze, encasing Deiter. As hard as she tried, she couldn’t break it or remove it.
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Krueger gathered them all in the outer workshop in the cellar.
“This man is not me,” explained the Doctor .
“Obviously,” answered Lochley. “But which of you is the Doctor?”
“I am,” snapped the Doctor. The Master simply smiled serenely.
“I am inclined to believe him,” said Sir Avery. “His clothes are the same as when we first met him.”
“But clothes can be changed or stolen,” asserted Krueger.
“Perhaps I can clarify things,” offered the Master. “He is indeed the Doctor. However, I am the man who has been helping you. Isn’t that the truth, Doctor?”
“Yes, but you’ve always hidden lies in your truths.”
“We have always been rivals,” the Master laughed. “Ever since we were at school.”
“Who are you? And why did you deceive us about your identity?” demanded Krueger.
“My name is Masters, Professor Masters. As for assuming the Doctor’s identity, I admit it was probably ill advised. However, it enabled me to gain your trust and begin assisting you. I do believe in you vision and mission. I have been of use have I not? Meanwhile, the Doctor still opposes your work.”
“Wait,” interrupted Sir Avery. “How could you have known about our work here? We’ve been very discreet.”
“Not discreet enough,” answered the Master. “You did attempt to recruit Albert Einstein. Did you not? I believe the Doctor may be here at Einstein’s behest, to undermine your work.”
“What arrant nonsense!” exclaimed the Doctor.
“Doctor, do you still oppose us?” asked Krueger.
“I believe you are men of good conscience. However, I believe your work is misguided. And now that I see who is misguiding you. I am even more firmly opposed.”
“You see, he has come to Argentina to undermine your work! And I suspect, if needed, sabotage it.”
“Ah, the lies have begun. It’s obvious that he wants your work.”
“Yes, I want your work. I want your work to succeed,” the Master said. The Master pulled open his tunic and pulled out the Lugar. Everyone stiffened. “However, if you don’t trust me…”
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To Be Continued...
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