Greetings faithful reader and welcome A couple of decades ago, whilst still a once again to Cosmic Masque. student, I wrote an unsolicited submis- sion of a third Doctor novel for the BBC We’ve got some great stuff for you in Past Doctor range. Expecting a swift this issue including Neil Davies story rejection, I was delighted to receive a ‘Devil Woman’ which concludes what two page response clearly showing that began in ‘Reunion of The Rani’ last my book had been read and analysed issue. at length.

There are features on Colourisation Encouraged, I reworked the idea as a and 3D as well as the second part of sixth Doctor script for the then nascent my feature on the Twitch marathon this Big Finish range (at a time when they time covering the Second Doctor. considered unsolicited manuscripts). Again, I received positive comments, We’ve also got an interview with The but it was felt that the story was un- Greatest Show In The Galaxy’s Flower workable due to various considerations Girl and our usual plethora of reviews including the number of characters. for you to devour. Sadly, real life took over and post- So sit back, put your feet up and delve degree I had to concentrate on working into this issue. Dickensian hours and gaining my ac- countancy qualifications. The career Enjoy! took over and life became the mundan- ity of work and sleep and eating chips. Rik Writing was put on hold indefinitely as mortgages and family took hold.

Then Russell T. Davies gave Doctor Who back to the masses, enthralling Published by The Doctor Who Appreciation Society the UK (and beyond) including my twin P O Box 1011, Horsham, RH10 9RZ, UK children. My son in particular was a reluctant reader but then became a Editor: Rik Moran voracious consumer of my old Target Fiction Editor: Steven Hatcher books despite access to every DVD of Layout: Paul Winter the classic series. I was continually Front cover: Marshall Tankersley surprised at the lack of novelisations of Rear cover: Ian Fraser new Who. I firmly believed that despite this day and age of endless satellite www.dwasonline.co.uk repeats, readily available DVDs and email: [email protected] omnipresent internet streaming, there is still a market for novelisations. All content is (c) DWAS/contributor. Doctor Who is (c) BBC 1963, 2019, no copyright infringement intended I therefore set about writing my own novelisation of “Doctor Who – Rose”,

1 2 initially to encourage my 10 year old sell’s genius shines through his prose, – 1st trip in the TARDIS son to read. and his renowned characterisation is • Chapter 7: The Wheel of Fortune expanded as he makes the reader privy – The London Eye My biased, undiscerning son egged me to characters’ innermost thoughts. • Chapter 8: The Creature from on to submit it to BBC Books. This However, I was pleased to see a refer- the Pit – Below the Eye: the time, I did get the standard rejection ence to a certain New Year encounter Nestene Lair letter stating that I should use a Writers’ with the tenth Doctor (which was the • Chapter 9: Terror of the Autons – Agency and submit to various publish- basis for my entire prologue) and an Mannequin mayhem ers, completely missing the point that I expanded scene in Clive’s shed. • Epilogue: The Human Factor – was working with their copyrighted ma- The Doctor’s pursuit of Rose terials. Russell T Davies stated in DWM that

he barely referred to the television seri- Excerpts from My Novelisation: Subsequently, I added to the manu- al whilst writing the book. I suspect that Clive’s Shed script after Russell T. Davies revealed he knocked it out over a short period additional scenes in Doctor Who Maga- although you cannot tell from the bril- zine’s Fact of Fiction article on “Rose”. liance of the end product. I am abso- At the bottom of a small, tidy garden stood the I sent the amended book to DWM for lutely certain that he did not agonise shed. The plot had a little patch of lawn with a possible serialisation but received no over every word over a two year gesta- path running down one side. The grass was response – in truth, fiction was never a tion period as was the wont of this hack littered with a blue mini seesaw, a skateboard good fit with DWM, so the silence was author. and a yellow spacehopper. Flowerbeds ran not unexpected. alongside the bordering fences, lush with I am proud of my version of “Rose” greenery, the occasional spring bloom giving My version of “Rose” had one final life which will never see the light of day the odd splash of colour. when Candy Jar Books had an open other than in my son’s bedroom. The path terminated at a metal door into a submissions period for their Lethbridge- Noone will see my cheeky reference to small but impressive, pebble-dashed outhouse. Stewart range and requested a finished the Moment, nor my inclusion of the Clive’s garage had long since lost the ability to sample of work. I was delighted to re- “Do you wanna come with me?” fireball house a car; it was now taken over completely ceive a glowing reply from range editor, that they could not pass on the manu- trailer from the Nestene lair. I attach by his obsession. Andy Frankham-Allen, describing the script for copyright reasons – apparent- below a couple of excerpts giving my The only concession to its former use was a book as “well written”. The novel had ly, there were legal concerns that my version of Clive’s shed scene and an bicycle hanging down from the corrugated ceil- clearly been read as I received some work based on his work could result in epilogue showing the Doctor’s pursuit ing. A naked lightbulb illuminated cluttered very useful feedback around dialogue plagiarism! The World is quite clearly of Rose. Additionally, I was very happy surfaces around the edges and worktops in the and the action identifying the speaker. mad. with my fan-pleasing chapter structure: middle covered with books and folders. One Excitingly, I also received writer’s wall was hidden by metal shelving racks hous- guidelines for the Lethbridge-Stewart Once the official version of “Rose” was • Prologue: Full Circle – Rose’s ing countless files and additional folders. range. However, sadly my subsequent published, I attended the signing event encounter with the 10th Doctor Clive made his way over to the shelving with storyline did not receive a response, at Forbidden Planet in Shaftesbury Av- on New Year’s Eve Rose trailing in his wake. ‘A lot of this stuff’s although I suspect Candy Jar were in- enue intending to thank Russell per- quite sensitive,’ he said earnestly. ‘I couldn’t just send it to you. People might intercept. If undated with submissions. sonally. Working in Kent, I arrived half • Chapter 1: The Invisible Enemy an hour after the signing session had – The Nestene Consciousness you know what I mean,’ he added conspiratori- And then came the news that Target started only to be told by staff that they hanging in space ally. Books were to relaunch. Not surpris- had been surprised by numbers of at- ‘How do you know I’m not one of those • Chapter 2: An Earthly Child – “people”?’ she asked mischievously. ingly, “Rose” was chosen as one of the tendees and I was refused entry. I Introduction to Rose up to her ‘You say you’ve seen him,’ Clive replied. ‘The initial titles. I immediately sent my ver- gave the rather baffled member of staff initial encounter: “Run” sion to Russell T. Davies via his agent a copy of my manuscript and covering Doctor, and the blue box. Was he carrying • Chapter 3: Inferno – Blowing up in the vain hope that anything of my letter for Russell, which quite possibly anything, a device, or…?’ He left the question Henrik’s hack attempt would be of interest was consigned to the nearest ‘round hanging. (gratis natch). The agency stated that file’. • Chapter 4: The Hand of Fear – ‘He’s got this sort of metal tube thing,’ con- they would pass on my comments The autonomous Auton arm firmed Rose. ‘It sort of…chirps.’ Clive closed where I had thanked Russell for giving I later purchased the new Target books • Chapter 5: Doctor Who? – his eyes and exhaled, blissful at the affirmation. “Doctor Who” back to my children, but from Amazon. Not unexpectedly, Rus- Clive’s shed ‘Did I pass the test?’ she asked. • Chapter 6: Inside the Spaceship ‘Absolutely,’ grinned Clive. He riffled through 3 4 the shelving pulling down cardboard folders community. There are different forums all in- ‘What?!’ Rose exclaimed incredulously, now pol Officer in Seville.’ from between box files and A4 ring binders. He terested in similar areas – conspiracy theorists, utterly convinced of Clive’s insanity. She had ‘Oh, he’s multinational is he?’ asked Rose, splayed the contents across the central work- government and military cover ups – that sort satisfied herself that he was amiable enough, keeping up the pretence. tops for Rose to peruse. ‘You see, if you dig of thing. Most of the photographs are security but that didn’t stop him being unhinged. ‘Oh, yes. I believe he’s some kind of trouble- deep enough,’ Clive continued, ‘and keep a stills taken from CCTV cameras. I found one Frantically, Clive played his final gambit. ‘The shooter who’ll save the whole planet wherever lively mind, then this “Doctor” keeps cropping very useful contact – although I couldn’t help Doctor isn’t just a code name to the United there’s danger.’ As Clive looked down at his up, all over the place. He’s in political diaries, thinking she was holding out on me for some Nations. We were wrong. The Doctor features collection of documents, Rose allowed a smirk conspiracy theories, even ghost stories.’ Clive’s reason – anyway, she unearthed loads of these throughout history, helping us in times of cri- to creep across her face, now utterly convinced enthusiasm for his subject dropped in volume in the archives of ‘Metropolitan’ magazine. sis.’ He threw a photograph down on the desk of Clive’s credentials as an amiable nutter. He as he adopted a more hushed, reverential tone. Apparently, the editor ran shy of running the immediately in front of Rose. An old man with selected another image portraying a younger ‘No first name, no last name, just “the Doctor”, articles, setting up a fiction strand as the stories a craggy face and white hair swept back from a man with chestnut curls also wearing a frock always “the Doctor”. And the title seems to be were considered too outlandish.’ Clive barely high forehead, wearing a cape affixed at the coat, this time in velvet green. ‘This Doctor passed down, from father to son. It appears to paused for breath. neck over an Edwardian jacket and checked saved San Francisco at the turn of the millenni- be an inheritance. Initially, we thought the Rose shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot, trousers, was accompanied by a rotund gentle- um.’ Doctor was some kind of code name for a scien- now seriously concerned that she was trapped man in a pinstripe business suit. ‘This Doctor The outhouse door was almost within reach. tific advisor to the military,’ postulated Clive. in a garden shed with a grade-A nutcase. She helped the civil service during the evacuation of Rose’s apprehension lifted and she prepared to ‘You mean like Q in James Bond?’ asked Rose was very relieved that Mickey was waiting in London at the time of the opening of the Post make her excuses. referring to MI6’s fictional, gadget producing Q- the car outside the house. Office Tower in 1966.’ As if anticipating Rose’s impending exit, Clive branch. Clive picked up on her unease, aware that he ‘He can’t be the same man,’ said Rose, slowly indicated the website photo on his p.c. which ‘Exactly,’ enthused Clive, frantically shuffling was losing his audience. He swiftly moved on backing away from the worktop. had now loaded. ‘This one’s your Doctor, isn’t through photographs on his worktop. He to another selection of photographs. ‘This was ‘But the imperious air, the eccentric dress sense it?’ pulled out a selection of stills featuring a flam- the next incumbent in the role. Another Doc- – it all fits with the title.’ Desperate to con- ‘Yeah,’ confirmed Rose hesitantly. boyantly dressed man wearing a frilly shirt and tor.’ Clive smiled what he hoped was a com- vince, he produced another photograph of a Clive seized his moment and threw his remain- a selection of different coloured velvet smoking forting smile, encouraging Rose to take a look diminutive man wearing a straw hat and a light ing photos across the worktop. Rose ignored jackets and flowing capes. The man had a at the pictures. jacket over an appalling tank top adorned with the young man in the fawn frockcoat and crick- mane of white hair, but young eyes stared out Despite herself, Rose examined the documents. question marks. ‘Another Doctor, even earlier. et sweater, because her attention was captured authoritatively from above a mighty nose. He A middle-aged man with manic eyes stared This one helped set up the Countermeasures by the many pictures of the leather-jacketed had a commanding presence in every photo- back from the images. In most of the photo- military taskforce in the early sixties.’ man with intense, compelling eyes staring out graph. graphs, he wore a broad brimmed felt hat, Rose stole a quick glance at the picture, noting from a shaven head with outsized ears. Rose glanced indifferently at the pictures. sitting atop a mop of unruly, curly hair, above a the umbrella with the extraordinary, red ques- Rose was drawn magnetically away from the ‘Who is this?’ broad, toothy grin, and a ridiculously long multi tion mark handle that completed his ensemble. comfort of the exit, pulled back towards the ‘It’s the Doctor.’ -coloured scarf. ‘His dress sense is hardly subtle,’ said Rose worktop. ‘Oh my God,’ she whispered. ‘That’s ‘No it isn’t,’ countered Rose, a little sharply, her Clive selected one particular photograph show- conversationally, still backing away. him. That’s my Doctor!’ disappointment evident. ing the gentleman in the grounds of a country ‘Ah, if you want subtle, look at this Doctor.’ Clive drew her attention back to the internet Nonetheless, Clive beamed indulgently at his home. ‘This is the Doctor at Think Tank shortly Clive produced a picture of a rotund, blond, photograph. ‘I tracked it down to the Washing- unexpected guest. The pretty girl did not before the closure of this government funded curly haired man, wearing a knee length jacket ton Public Archive, just last year.’ He paused, match his usual stereotype of anorak wearing scientific elite. I’m sure that was the Doctor’s sporting a hideous combination of colours on a flicking though more photographs, momentarily contacts from the conspiracy theorist under- doing.’ predominantly orange background. His bright distracted. ‘The online photo’s enhanced, but, world. ‘It may not be your Doctor,’ he stressed, ‘Look this is all very impressive,’ started Rose yellow trousers terminated in boots covered err, if we look at the original…’ He rippled warming to his subject, ‘but I can assure you, it exasperatedly. She reined herself back, tem- with bright orange spats. through a set of photos, each shot showing a is a Doctor.’ He spread the photographs out in pering her tone, acutely aware that she was Clive showed another image of the same man, widening angle of a very famous scene. As the front of her. ‘This version appears the most stuck in a garden shed with man of unknown this time sporting a multi-coloured waistcoat photographs pulled out, the leather-jacketed through our history. He appears to have been a mental capacity. instead of the garish frock coat. Rose noted the man appeared in the large crowd lining the significant player advising the United Nations.’ Gentle laughter emanating from Clive’s house question mark motif on his collar, her interest road several rows deep. Rose’s eyes widened Informative signs in the background of the im- reminded Rose of the nearby presence of his mildly piqued. His companion in the photo- in disbelief as she recognised the open topped ages identified the figure to have visited loca- family, and helped quell some of her darker graph was no less extraordinarily dressed; he car that was the focus of the Presidential mo- tions as diverse as Wenley Moor Research Cen- thoughts. ‘I’m sorry,’ Rose continued in a more had a Beatle mop-top of greying black hair, and torcade in Dallas. tre and Stangmoor Prison. Rose feigned inter- placatory fashion, ‘but this still isn’t my Doctor.’ was wearing a large black frock coat and baggy ‘November the 22nd, 1963, the assassination of est, enquiring, ‘How did you get these photos?’ ‘Oh, it is your Doctor. He’s just wearing a differ- trousers despite the evident bright sunlight. President Kennedy,’ Clive stated somewhat ‘Oh, I have various contacts in the internet ent face.’ Clive pointed at the multi-coloured Doctor. redundantly. ‘And there he is.’ He pointed at a ‘This one’s wanted for impersonating an Inter- zoomed in photograph of the crowd that picked

5 6 out a head shot which had been annotated with ‘Right then,’ said the Doctor. ‘I’ll be off. Un- neckline. a red pen circle, a head topped with a crew cut less. I dunno…’ He shrugged his shoulders, His eye smarted, the wind causing a tear to be and straddled by large ears. feigning nonchalance. ‘You could come with released unbidden, trickling down his sharp Rose squinted at the image. ‘Must be his fa- me. This box isn’t just a London hopper cheekbone. At least… he could blame the wind. ther,’ she muttered unconvincingly. Agitated, y’know, it goes anywhere in the universe. Free But with no independent observer, he was only her hand worried at her neck. of charge.’ fooling himself. Doubt reared its ugly head, so Clive whipped around like a whirling dervish, There was a long pause, Rose smiling, holding he redoubled his efforts, trudging through the sifting through files. ‘Going further back…’ His the Doctor’s gaze. thick mud, concentrating on the blue rectangu- hands alighted on another photograph, a black ‘Don’t.’ Mickey pointed a finger demonstrably lar object on the horizon. and white image of the familiar man, now at the Doctor from his seated position on the He maintained his focus for the rest of his short dressed in formal wear of top hat and tails. tarmac. ‘He’s an alien. He’s a thing!’ Mickey journey, trying to block out the dark thoughts Reluctantly, he had deployed the weapon of his ‘April 1912. This is a photograph of the Daniels concluded, wide-eyed with fear. that were threatening to overwhelm him. Fi- own design, and watched his enemies’ DNA family of Southampton, and friend.’ He pointed ‘He’s not invited,’ said the Doctor pointedly. nally, he arrived at his destination. He didn’t unravel before his eyes. at Rose’s Doctor. She shook her head in disbe- ‘What do you think?’ look back. There should have been another way. lief. The features were identical, not just a Rose opened her mouth, sorely tempted. But The Doctor removed the Yale Key, inserted it In the past, his own people may have inter- strong gene pool through the generations, but nothing came out. swiftly into the lock of the Police Box and flung vened. For a race who prided themselves on a absolutely identical. ‘This was taken the day ‘You could stay here,’ continued the Doctor. open the TARDIS’s doors. He marched up the policy of non-interference, there was a remark- before they were due to sail for the New World. ‘Fill your life with work and food and sleep, or ramp to the central hexagonal console, locked ably high level of involvement, particularly On the “Titanic”,’ informed Clive. ‘But for some you could go anywhere.’ the doors and frantically worked levers and when their precious timelines were threatened. unknown reason, they cancelled the trip, and ‘Is it always this dangerous?’ asked Rose keenly. buttons throwing the machine into the However, there had been nobody around to survived.’ A further rustling, produced a pencil ‘Yeah.’ The Doctor nodded enthusiastically. time/space vortex. There was no particular stop him this time. And with great freedom, line drawing on thin paper. ‘And here we are – Concerned by the direction of the conversation, journey in mind, he just had to get away as came massive responsibility. 1883, another Doctor.’ But he didn’t mean Mickey grabbed Rose around the waist. Rose quickly as possible. It was not the first time that he had reflected another man with the same title. He was pur- rested an awkward hand on Mickey’s back. that there should have been another way. suing his theory that it was a title passed down ‘Yeah I can’t,’ she concluded half-heartedly. A wheezing, groaning sound erupted across the However, it was extremely rare for the Doctor through the generations. ‘Look,’ Clive proffered ‘I’ve got to go and find my Mum. And empty battlefield, the noise of the great time ever to suffer from even a modicum of self- the drawing in Rose’s direction, ‘the same line- someone’s got to look after this stupid lump.’ engines drowning out the whistling air currents doubt. age. He’s identical.’ She slapped Mickey on the back with feeling. as the Police Box faded from existence, de- He realised he needed a second opinion. Depicted in the charcoal drawing was the same, The Doctor noticed her resentment, but did not parting with undignified haste. A deep, square A wise, old friend had once said to him that all recognisable silhouette – the ears, the same wish to make her decision any more difficult. impression was left in the sticky mud, an indeli- he needed was someone to pass him a test three-quarter length leather jacket with the He viewed her with watering eyes. He covered ble mark betraying the Doctor’s recent visit. tube and tell him how brilliant he was. The wide lapels. It was impossible for the jacket to swiftly. ‘Okay,’ he said. Rose continued her The TARDIS may have departed but the Doctor smiled as he recollected the Brigadier’s have even been manufactured in this era. Clive goldfish impression, hesitant. The Doctor memory lingered longer. sage advice; the statement had seemed harsh took back the drawing. ‘This one,’ he shook the paused hopefully, but nothing was forthcoming. *** at the time, but the Doctor now realised that paper, ‘washed up on the coast of Sumatra, on ‘See you around,’ he concluded with a heavy there was more than a kernel of truth. the very night that Krakatoa exploded.’ heart. He pursed his lips and stepped back into The Doctor stared up at the cavernous ceiling of He needed a companion, an assistant, someone Like a fish on a hook, Rose was left hanging on the control room. He held Rose’s gaze for a the console room, past the coral buttresses to bounce ideas off, someone to whom to show Clive’s every word, completely wrapped up in brief moment, then closed the Police Box door. supporting the vast central column, allowing his off. He may even listen to their thoughts. He the myth that he was constructing. ‘The Doctor Rose looked longingly at the TARDIS as it faded eyes to defocus as he tried to find his inner still needed a control, someone to reassure him, to is a legend, woven throughout history. When from view with its usual wheezing, groaning point. The soft green lighting emanating from reaffirm his actions or, at the very least, not be disaster comes, he is there. He brings the sound. The great engines whipped up a wind the surrounding wall roundels failed to provide reviled by them. storm in his wake, and has one constant com- that rippled Rose’s long, blonde hair. Mickey their usual calming influence. He had been tamed before by an Earth woman. panion.’ clung on to her for dear life. Doubt continued to gnaw at his conscience, a A long time ago, when his explorations had ‘Who’s that?’ enquired Rose, lost in his words. Rose squinted against the dust. And when she wave of angst threatening to cripple him with begun in earnest, he had been accompanied by ‘Death.’ The frank revelation jolted Rose back opened her eyes, the TARDIS was gone. indecision. Finally, he was unable to hold the a couple of reluctant travellers, one of whom to reality. Pensively, she curled her lips and recent memories at bay any longer and his had been a history teacher from Earth – 1960s frowned. The man strode purposefully across the barren mind was assailed with unwanted images. London, England, to be precise. He smiled as wasteland, the battlefield now eerily quiet He and his allies had given warnings, possibly he remembered Miss Wright with her immacu- *** apart from the whistling breeze. He hunched too many warnings, endangering themselves. lately coiffured hair and selection of sensible Epilogue his shoulders against the biting wind, holding But there was no reasoning with the opponent. sweaters; Barbara had taught him compassion, the collar of his leather jacket closed at the

7 8 values and a basic humanity. such detail as a trifling concern that only a few him to his feet and, with an arm around his might have said no again. The Doctor’s self- The Doctor had so much that he longed to for- humans would notice, he grabbed the scanner shoulders guided him away in the opposite confidence was restored, and with Rose at his get, a dark past that he wished to well and truly tracing his path, eager for the journey to end, direction from the now empty space. Mickey side, he was ready to take on the evils of the bury. A distraction, a reminder of the best in totally confident that he was taking the right rubbed the pins and needles out of his lower universe with renewed vigour. humanity would serve him well. course of action. back as he limped along beside her. The blue, Police Box door slammed behind The Doctor remembered the Earth girl who had The ambient hum of the control room resumed The echo of the departed TARDIS seemed to Rose. The lantern atop the stacked roof made such an impression on him in such a short its positive tone. taunt Rose with its prolonged wheezing, groan- starting flashing once more, as the TARDIS de- space of time during the Auton incident. He ing sound, the wind of its slipstream tangling materialised with its accustomed rising and had a soft spot for humans having spent two Rose cradled Mickey’s head in her lap. His her long blonde hair around her face. The falling fanfare. extended periods on their planet in exile, one mind had fled in terror, running screaming for trumpeting sound effect seemed to peak in Rose’s trip of a lifetime was underway. voluntary, one less so. Sooner or later, most of the hills due to his recent trauma at the hands volume. Immediately, Rose whirled around. his peregrinations ended with the TARDIS re- (tentacles) of the Nestene Consciousness and Before her astonished eyes, the blue Police Box If my submission in anyway prompted turning him to Earth. The humans that he had its Auton foot soldiers. Slowly, his eyes began outline solidified, lantern flashing on top, as the somebody somewhere to relaunch Tar- befriended had always shown him loyalty, and to focus once more, a flicker of recognition TARDIS rematerialized on the exact same spot get Books by greater authors than I, I he felt that he had an enjoyable duty to be the behind his vacant stare. His ragged, shallow with a resounding thud in front of her. can dream of a job well done. planet’s protector. breathing began to settle into slower, deeper Rose felt her heart thumping against her rib- Rose summed up everything that the Doctor breaths. cage, her pulse racing with excitement. Mickey Once again, thank you, Russell, for admired in the human race. The blonde teen- Rose smiled at his soppy face as he looked up at fearfully followed her gaze. giving ‘Doctor Who’ back to another ager had been feisty and brave, standing up for her with puppy dog eyes and returned a weak The TARDIS doors opened revealing a beaming generation including my children. And that which is right. She was curious, question- grin. Instantly, relief swept over her. However, Doctor. He straightened his leather jacket and to Steven, another writing genius, for ing and courageous. Inspirational. Loyal to her she found herself thinking about the incredible smiled his most disarming smile. He folded his the continuation – just wait until you uninspiring boyfriend. Intelligent, if uneducat- Police Box and its charismatic pilot. She arms and leant nonchalantly against the door read his novelisation of “Day of the ed. ‘Yes,’ thought the Doctor – he could see glanced down at Mickey from her kneeling jamb, before delivering his killer line. Doctor”. himself working well with her. position. She expected to feel guilt at her dis- ‘By the way, did I mention? It also travels in The Doctor’s mood turned on a sixpence. He loyal thoughts, but was disturbed to experience time?’ he asked innocently. The Doctor smiled Please support the Target books range. was determined to keep busy, to occupy his a mild resentment at her lost opportunity. hopefully. mind to drown out any dark thoughts. With a Litter skittered along the alleyway, carried by Rose returned the smile. She could not believe flurry of activity, he was a whirlwind of positive the winds generated by the recently departed her luck. The Doctor had returned for her, To buy ‘Doctor Who: Rose’ by Russell actions, rushing around the hexagonal console, TARDIS. Rose gazed wistfully at the empty given her the second chance that she had so T Davies from Amazon UK click here punching buttons and pulling levers. He turned space where the Police Box had stood, imagin- desired. a cogwheel anticlockwise, spinning the coordi- ing the vague blue outline through which she The Doctor stepped back inside the TARDIS, nate programmer back through pre-logged could now see the colourful graffiti tagging the leaving the doorway open. journeys. He was certain of safe arrival at the corrugated metal of the alley walls. The re- Rose turned to face Mickey who was still slack- exact location at the exact point in time for vealed lamppost was meant to be a triple light, jawed and fearful. It was no contest. ‘Thanks,’ maximum impact. Because it was a journey but only one mournful bulb provided illumina- she said. that he had made before. tion for the passageway. ‘Thanks for what?’ asked a querulous Mickey. He was going back for Rose. ‘Exactly.’ She leant in and gave him a brief peck To an independent onlooker, his single-minded Despite herself, Rose found that she was re- on the cheek before unceremoniously disentan- pursuit of his goal may have appeared sinister. gretting turning down the trip of a lifetime. The gling herself. ‘I’m sorry,’ she whispered, half The alien Doctor would not have understood Doctor may have forgotten the detail, such as sincerely to her shocked boyfriend. that viewpoint, utterly certain of the benefits to her fearful boyfriend Mickey, but he had just Beaming, Rose turned away from Mickey and both parties. saved the Earth. She had the distinct impres- raced towards the open doors of the time ma- The vertical lights within the central column sion that he saved worlds on a regular basis. chine with indecent haste. seemed to glow brighter, as they separated She found herself strangely drawn to the mys- The moment seemed to stretch forever as the before meshing together again in a repeated terious Doctor, even though minutes earlier she adrenaline pumped through Rose’s veins. Time rhythmic pattern, sensing the Doctor’s new had felt an indignant rage at his treatment of stood still. It seemed to take Rose an age to found optimism. Mickey. run the short distance to the TARDIS, but even- A quiet hush seemed to descend upon the con- It did not matter anyway. Rose’s chance had tually she acquired her target. She was not trol room as the Doctor paused momentarily, gone. She felt sad, almost bereft. going to miss out on a second chance. briefly concerned as to which shirt he had been Rose pulled herself together, resolute. ‘Come The Doctor’s smile broke into a broad grin. It wearing when he last saw Rose. Dismissing on. Let’s go,’ she said to Mickey. She helped genuinely hadn’t even occurred to him that she

9 10

this issue. My personal favourite is Will Brooks’s TARDIS in space with Red Crystals, it’s just glorious.

The Thirteenth Doctor comics range has got off to a fine start. Long may they continue. I loved this issue of Titan’s ongoing series of Thirteenth Doctor comics. Is- sue 4 in fact.

I have all of the Titan Doctor Who com- ics. Like many of the Big Finish audio dramas and numerous novels that have spanned the decades, much thought has clearly gone into the story, while making sure it fits into the established canon. It feels like an adventure that didn’t quite make it to screen.

Again, Rachel Stott’s depiction of the characters stood out for me. The Doc- tor continues to shine on the page. Stott captures well the downright hilari- ous facial expressions that Jodie uses, expressions that have had me creasing with laughter.

The companions too are recreated per- fectly, with Graham the grumpy grand- dad complaining away, Yaz the faithful companion filled with wonder at every new sight and Ryan the hands-on lad ready for action, and with a heart of gold. This, along with the wonderfully drawn backdrops make for an easy transition from viewer to reader, with the orange/gold glow of the Tardis radi- ating its warmth through the page with clearly inked outlines and shading blur- ring into each other in a rainbow of col- ours.

Much like the current series this comic breathes new life into the story and characters while still maintaining the feel of both classic and new Who sto- ries. As the Doctor would say herself, To visit Titan Comics and see the Doc- ‘Brilliant!’ tor Who range click here

There are 3 covers to choose from for

11 All images © Titan Comics 12 Maybe this series will get a better value from Bonnie on her whole career not re-issue in the future. As it stands just Doctor Who, though of course that though, the set is hardly a ’must have’. is talked about, including a bit on Big Finish. One of the things I particularly enjoy with the newer Myth Makers ti- You know, I am not especially im- tles, is that they can cover the Big Fin- pressed by this Series 11 Blu-Ray re- ish releases, and more, whereas back when the range started, it was just the lease. I’ve always loved the Myth Makers se- TV show to talk about. The steel-book artwork is lovely in it- ries of interviews, especially the insider self. The image has some kind of me- stories that you get to hear on them. Sophie’s uniquely personal perspective tallic paint applied so that the sunset Originally I collected the range on VHS does introduce a fresh angle into the looks reflective, and the effect is great. in the 90’s. At the time I was working in equation and as with her previous Myth Other than this, there really isn’t much a video store and whilst there I made Makers interviews, this is a wonderful I’m liking. the store stock the range, partly to watch. I for one certainly look forward make sure the store had a decent sci-fi The set is poor value for money, espe- to her next Myth Makers assignment. section, but mainly so I could make cially as the New Year special sure I got each new release as it came ‘Resolution’ is not included. The Series Myth Makers 140 – Bonnie Langford is 9 Blu-Ray at least was bookended by out. an excellent addition to the range and the preceding and following Specials, I’m sure will be the first of many digital which let’s be honest, could easily have Anyway, I collected the whole range up purchases for me. Speaking of which, been done here. to the point DVD arrived in the early the digital media allows you to down- 2000s when I made the change. And load and/or stream the titles worldwide, The real disappointment though is the now with Myth Makers 140, I made my so whereas the previous DVD/VHS lack of the special features we have first purchase on download media. I become so used to on Doctor Who re- releases were hard to come by outside went Digital with Big Finish a while ago, of the UK this new media opens the leases. There is nothing new - every- so I guess it was just a matter of time thing is already available on the Doctor titles to a whole new market. Who You Tube and social media pag- for others like Reeltime to follow suit. es, although there are some nice art The formats may have changed over cards included. But then, you can get the years but the content remains ab- art cards free with copies of Celestial solutely quality. Toyroom if you are a DWAS member! This interview with Bonnie Langford is The best new features are the com- a specially extended 80 minute version mentaries - four of them. That’s right of that found on ‘The Doctors’ DVD they don’t even give us a commentary from Koch Media and is hosted by So- for each episode. Those favoured are: phie Aldred. I’ve not yet had the oppor- • The Woman Who Fell To Earth - tunity to see Bonnie at a convention Jodie Whittaker and Jamie myself so came into this programme Childs (Director) not knowing much about her life and • Rosa - Mandip Gill, Malorie career aside from Doctor Who and Blackman (Writer) and Alex Mer- Bugsy Malone. I found this thoroughly cer (Producer) interesting, as practically everything • The Tsuranga Conundrum - Bonnie said I was hearing for the first Mandip Gill, Suzanne Packer To view the blu-ray or DVD at Amazon time. (General Eve Cicero), Ben Bailey UK click here Smith (Durkas Cicero) and Nikki Sophie does an excellent job leading Wilson (Producer) To view the exclusive Steel Book at the interview and it’s lovely to see the • Demons Of The Punjab - Mandip Amazon UK click here rapport that she and Bonnie clearly Gill, Shane Zaza (Prem), Vinay To buy this release from Reeltime Picture click share. Sophie had definitely put some here. Patel (Writer) and Alex Mercer (Producer) thought into the questions being asked and gets a great deal of information To view the whole range click here. 13 14 very good, such as the section on the car In the first chapter, Call for the Dead by chase and the part about the Dalek mutant, James Goss, we are introduced to the which was not for the most part CGI. Very miserable world of Callous, frustrated interesting. But most of the programme falls mine owner Elliot King (Simon Ludders) into typical ‘Doctor Who Confidential’ territo- ry in that it has a high element of self- and his nemesis, the calculating, self- Much has already been said about the fact promotion and does not really engage the serving Governor Teremon (played with this episode was missing from series 11 viewer (or did not engage me anyway). deliciously offhand and dispassionate box set and there have been many com- Even the feature on the creation of the Da- cruelty by Pippa Haywood), making plaints about fans feeling ‘ripped off’ by lek machine contains very little on… well King’s life a misery as she imposes being forced to buy this or that. Doubtless creation of the Dalek machine! Minor plot spoilers follow… punitive taxes on an already fraught someone from the BBC put them into an business and abuses her power of armlock and marched them down to the There is nothing fundamentally wrong with I love Big Finish. The quantity of quality planetary defence to set up what is es- DVD shop. Yawn! I am not going to discuss this DVD and it is better value that some Doctor Who drama they produce is sentially a blockade between Callous that. Nor am I going to discuss the episode releases about other programmes I have because, really, that has been done to bought. It is just that the extra content is astounding. For a long time, I only real- and the system at large. That business death hasn’t it? All I shall say is that whilst I very predictable and contains little new for ly listened to the stories that actually is the mining of sueño ore (sueño is have not been the biggest fan of the last more serious fans – though I am sure the featured the Doctor, but bit by bit I Spanish for ‘dream’), a valuable com- series, feeling that a good portion of it was more casual Who-watching audience will started to buy the spin-offs, like modity useful for interstellar travel. Un- not well written and that the main charac- love it. The transfer of the picture to disc is Gallifrey and the Bernice Summerfield fortunately, the properties of sueño ters, in particular the Doctor have not been very good and it contains a Dolby 5.1 series, and, wow, they really do add so mean that prolonged exposure to it given the opportunity to develop, this partic- soundtrack option. In fact, this whole series much to this universe we all love so drives people insane. ular episode was a good one. I did not see has benefitted from the higher production much. the apparent ‘anti Brexit bias’ in the UNIT values that the latest kit has brought. For the most part, the Master is no- operations bit, nor did I find the section with Ryan and his Dad Aaron to be ‘convoluted’, The menus are supported with Segun One of the best things Big Finish does where to be seen. His influence howev- or ‘laboured’. I think that those complaints, Akinola’s quite marvellous rendition of the is give us more of characters we only er is indicated through the presence of like many others about the last series, are theme – I like this new version. It is a real ever really catch a tantalizing glimpse the servile, exploitable and ever-easily- from people who are determined to find departure from more recent offerings and of on television. The prime example of manipulated Ood race and their creepy fault with every little thing they see, right pays great homage to the Derbyshire ar- this, of course, is the Eighth Doctor, but choral exclamations of “He is… He is… down to the crew location photos that ap- rangements whilst still bringing something since December 2017 we’ve also been And you will obey…” (and we all know pear on the internet. I very much hope that new. I was surprised the opening titles and presented with stories featuring Derek who they mean). There is one Ood in series 12 can maintain this standard and theme were omitted from the special – I Jacobi’s thrillingly sinister incarnation of particular – and this is one of my fa- not drop off in quality in the way that series guess this may have been for timing rea- the Master, aka the War Master, in his vourite things about this volume – who 11 did after the first few episodes. sons. own excellent series, as well as ap- roams the forests of Callous carrying of So, moving on to the DVD/Blu ray – what In summary, this DVD is a valid addition to pearances in the Gallifrey and UNIT all things an old telephone. For those do we all buy these for? Yes, it’s the extras. your collection, has a number of extra fea- ranges. on the receiving end, a familiar voice That has always been the case hasn’t it? I tures to watch, but ultimately will tell you offers only difficult truths and, ultimate- do not think I have ever sat through all six very little you did not already know. December 2018 saw the much- ly, death. episodes of The Keys of Marinus in in one anticipated release of Vol 2 of the War go since buying the DVD of it. Back in the Master range: The Master of Callous. When King’s daughter Cassandra ‘Dan Hall’ days I think we were spoiled with Unlike Vol 1, which featured four es- (Maeve Bluebell Wells) turns up later, the wealth of extra content the classic era sentially separate stories, Callous is accompanied by her wife Martine DVDs came with and as such, new series releases will always be held to those high one complete story divided into four (Samantha Beart) and an army of standards. Now, ‘Resolution’ is just one hefty chapters. trained Ood, to turn the mine’s fortunes episode, so it is less likely to get a suite of around, she soon discovers that some- additional material. Nonetheless what we Set seemingly far from the Time War thing sinister is at work on Callous. have here is a little disappointing. It is all on a struggling, isolated mining colony very self-congratulatory. The series 11 called Callous, ruled by a corrupt and Really what lies at the heart of this overview is nice to watch but I found it hard greedy governor, this is a story that opener, and pretty much across the to link the SF Extravaganza of ‘Games of builds slowly, allowing for an oppres- whole story, is flawed humanity. Tere- Thrones’ proportions described in the pro- sive sort of tension that really pays off mon’s greed and abuse of power. gramme with what I actually saw on TV. To buy the DVD from Amazon UK click here The same goes for the feature about the in its brilliant climax. King’s single-minded obsession with making of the episode itself. Some of this is and for the Blu-ray click here his mine at the expense of his own

15 16 family. His daughter’s anger and failure ter involves Martine in his plans, which showdown between Teremon and the to understand or forgive, and her desire seem to be just getting his hands on a Master, who is about to reveal his true to prove herself her father’s superior. whole pile of sueño, though for what nature to the people of this world. The perfect fodder for the Master’s par- reason we do not know yet. However, Opening on a brutal but blackly comical ticular brand of manipulation. things don’t go quite according to plan torture scene (and one you just can’t This is not a game for the faint of for our Time Lord renegade. wait to see the tables turn), the chapter heart... or the quick to play. Time of the The second chapter, The Glittering only continues to crank up the conflict Daleks is a serious gamer's board Prize, also by James Goss, takes place The third chapter in this story, Guy Ad- and despair that the Master leaves in game that takes serious time. Or at a year or so later. By this time, Cassan- ams’ The Persistence of Dreams, is a his wake as the society of Callous least it does when you have no clue dra – Cassie – has full control of the very different sort of piece, a psycho- crumbles around everyone. We finally what you are doing, like me. I cannot sueño mine and the profits are coming logical trip (and trip is the word) that discover the Master’s purpose for in- tell if this is on purpose or just a bi- in. Using biodampers to protect them centres on Martine, who sits alone volving himself in the affairs of Callous, product of the mechanics necessary to from the sueño’s mind-altering compo- guarding a haul of sueño on an aster- what he has to gain and from whom he have the Doctor go on the proper ad- sition, the Ood have become integral to oid, waiting for Oreman to come get her hopes to gain it – and it is both a pleas- ventures they need to so it will feel like the fortunes of Callous. With and basically losing her mind. Though ant and an unpleasant surprise, as you the television show. offworlders also using the colony now, you could argue Persistence does very will find out for yourselves. the greed of Teremon has also in- little plot-wise to move the story as a I got this game almost as soon as it creased and she is ruthless in her ex- whole along, that doesn’t take anything What’s most interesting about The came out. However, it sat on my pop ploitation of the colony’s new wealth away from its dramatic power. Master of Callous as a whole is how it culture bookshelf in our living room until and potential. shows the patience the Master has to this past month. The reason- there are Alone, except for a particularly peculiar play the long game. The events on the A LOT of rules, pieces and things to But what of the Master? Enter Mr Ore- Ood, Martine journeys through her own mining colony do not occur over a cou- know in order to play. Part dice game, man, another new guise for Jacobi’s mind and memories on either a journey ple of weeks but rather over a number part card game and all sorts of pieces Master. Avuncular, personable, and of self-discovery or a journey of self- of years. This is proper evil genius at to manage, it's not for the timid. extremely helpful, Oreman has been delusion. What Persistence does, and work, cold and considered. the one helping with the Ood and the very effectively, is emphasise the falli- I mean: JUST LOOK AT IT! This is a colonists. Of course, what’s so wonder- bility of the human condition, which, But it is also a great story for what small set up of the game. This is over ful is that we all know who Oreman re- knowing that the Master is no doubt seems to be the Jacobi Master persona half my dining room table. Once you ally is. We know that although it seems behind everything taking place on Cal- – a beloved old schoolmaster who also start revealing Time Anomalies, or Teremon is the real villain of the piece, lous, only further stresses what little happens to dissect living people in the have multiple locations open and avail- her brand of evil is nothing compared to stock he places in the suffering of oth- basement; a man who’d happily share able, and little Daleks (who reduce your what the Master is capable of, and ers in pursuit of his goals. a joke with you before stabbing you in available dice count) across the board, though he might appear to be doing all the liver with a wry apology. you'll feel as if your table is drowning in he can to keep the sueño out of her The story finishes with Adams’ Sins of pieces. grasping hands, he has an ulterior mo- the Father and a powerfully disturbing The Master of Callous is a great follow tive for it that has nothing to do with the up and ensures my interest in the These all sound like huge complaints. wellbeing of the Callous colonists. range as it moves forward. It adds to However, once you get into the play, the lore of the War Master and the you see how it all works together. First, There’s such a thrill listening to Jaco- Time War, while also managing to feel you go through your hand of "Timey bi’s chuckling, smooth-talking friendly distinct in form and flavour from Vol- Wimey" cards (2 added per turn and no old gent and waiting for the worm to ume 1. more than 4 allowed to stay in your turn. It also helps that we can picture hand by end of turn) and Sonic Screw- his, let’s face it, cuddly little face and And, hoo boy, that theme tune! driver tokens (2 added per turn) to see imagine how the colonists would react if you can add Companions, Equipment to it. Delgado was also capable of this To listen to the trailer for this product at or other helpful cards. Next, you role a open and conversational approach yet Big Finish, click here Tardis die. It lets you know if you get to somehow his face always seemed to pick your location or if the TARDIS be ‘mwah-ha-ha-ing’ even if was just To buy from Big Finish, click here picks for you. It's the first clue that the commenting on the weather. designers are true fans of the show. To buy from Amazon UK, click here As the action moves forward, the Mas- Companions are not a guarantee. If

17 18 of the Daleks" has arrived and you lose. The other way you can lose is if the Dalek ship arrives at Gallifrey be- fore you. The figures in the game are made of plastic. Sometimes the details can be nice, such as on this Davros figure (he is the final Dalek figure avail- Minor plot spoilers follow… able when you fail an adventure.) As we approach Big Finish’s anniver- Other times the figures feel like the sary year, it’s a pleasure to revisit one mold just gave out, such as on this fig- of their best original characters, Eliza- ure of the first Doctor. The game beth Klein. Introduced all the way comes with the First, Fourth, Eleventh back in Big Finish’s twenty-fifth Doctor and Twelfth Doctors. Expansion packs Who audio, Colditz (2001), Klein has were announced for 2018. I've been stood out. Both for the quality and digging around and haven't found any complexity of the character, and of that are available to be shipped right you fail the challenge presented to you ien planet (which has two time zones of now. All the gaming websites I've found Tracey Childs’ performance. (matching dice rolls, kind of like past or future) then you have to draw list them as either "out of stock" or Yahtzee) your temporary companions an alien companion. available for "pre-order" with no con- are discarded. Succeed and you can sistent dates on when they would ship, choose if they become permanent The first time I played this game was and sometimes with no date. The origi- TARDIS travelers. There are additional with my very begrudging husband. We nal game had delay issues, so I as- rules such as "Linked" companions that made SO many mistakes. We raced sume this is the same problem with the help you search for specific people to through the first half of the game not expansion packs. add to your crew. Each companion understanding how it was challenging... helps you add or change dice in your then he lost his first adventure chal- Each expansion seems to run in the dice pool so that you can hopefully get lenge. When that happens a Dalek range of $20 and includes the figures, the specific matching roles you are shows up on that planet. You also have equipment, locations and companions looking for in order to succeed in the to follow any directions the dilemma for two Doctors. My goal is to get the adventure mission. provides you for failure. In our case it Second/Sixth Doctor expansion when it brought up a Time Anomaly, which becomes available. Seeing as their two Also, the companions that you draw stole all our red dice. It would take us of my favourite classic Doctors I was from are dependent on where you are most of the rest of the game to dig our- thrilled when I saw that they would be adventuring. If you are on an Earth lo- selves out of the hole we created. We available in one package together. At cation (three time periods found on the also had trouble understanding why this time, I have not seen anything that What is it that makes Klein special? main board: past, present and future- you'd never want to just rush through shows the Thirteenth Doctor being Perhaps it’s best to ask Childs. each of which allow you different times the turns... until we realized the Dalek available for this game. “What’s not to love about a megalo- of rewards) then you can draw an Earth ship was about to trigger a second maniacal time-travelling Nazi whose bound companion. If you are on an al- Time Anomaly while we hadn't solved What do you think about this board been turned around for the good? … our first. Any thoughts we had of play- game? Is it just too much or just right to And she steals things, so she’s not ing this game in a competitive fashion make it feel like a Doctor Who adven- completely good. She still pilfers the flew out of minds and we immediately ture. Leave your comments so we can odd bit technology here and there. began working together. have a discussion, or you can follow And she still hasn’t quite gotten the

me on Twitter @DailyDoseofWho. hang of being truly compassionate. I That's the other fun part of this game, love her, I love her to bits. She’s just you can play it competitively, trying to This article was originally posted on be the first to reach Gallifrey, or you dailydoseofdoctorwho.com someone who doesn’t know who she can play it cooperatively to just outrun is, which makes her incredibly human the Daleks. You can only lose 7 adven- Buy ‘Time of the Daleks’ at Amazon UK even when she’s trying to act like a ture challenges. Once you do the "Time by clicking here robot.”

19 20 Warlock’s Cross finds Klein in the the stories at second or third hand. ciated with the show has taken after cess. He is tempted with visions of sav- 1990s as the world changes around They have put together a semblance of that seminal work of horror (with the ing everyone, foregoing the laws of her. UNIT is becoming increasingly the truth, aware of Silurians being possible exception of “Midnight”(2008)). time to make the best possible uni- bureaucratic and decreasingly capable, sealed in the earth and Martians Instead, the franchise has shown an verse, but unlike the Tenth Doctor in as fewer of its recruits find themselves fought, but missed the substance. As enduring fascination with—and seem- Waters of Mars (2009), this Doctor had up to the standards of old. Undeterred Greg tells the Doctor, upon discovering ing desire to top—Ridley Scott’s Alien the strength to resist both his own im- by signs insisting UNIT is top secret, he’s an alien, “I am so, so sorry….for (1979) and James Cameron’s Aliens pulses and (making this all the more of word has begun to slip out. The advo- the human race. For everything we’ve (1986). Aliens in particular stirred the a feat) the alien intelligence in his cate group Open Skies protests their done to your people. For UNIT. They show to action. Dragonfire (1987) in a head. actions against aliens. Amid the chaos, put you in a cage….I’ve heard such seemingly accidental self-reference, as a plot brews. UNIT’s hospital holds one stories, such terrible stories.” a xenomorph designer worked on the This is what Warlock’s Cross does very important prisoner, Daniel Hop- dragon. But it has not proven so acci- best. The portion of the audio that kins, traitor. He’d turned on earth for However, as the Doctor responds. “You dental across stories such as “The takes after The Thing is one of the the Cybermen’s panacea of indiffer- can’t trust stories. Stories alter with Grief” (1992), Last Christmas (2014), best, and most engaging, portions of ence. Now partially converted, still every new telling.” And indeed, they and Twice Upon a Time (2018), among any 2018 Main Range story. playacting at being deadened, he has could not trust their own stories. Greg others. his purposes. Soon the Doctor, Klein, is not murdered by something evil, Ever since The Aztecs, Doctor Who UNIT, and the protestors find them- proof that the stars contain horrors. What makes The Thing a unique touch- has operated under one all- selves drawn into the plans of an an- Greg meets his end at the hands of an stone? While it and Alien/Aliens have a encompassing rule of time: “But you cient being, and a tragedy nearly a alien he tried to save, who was not evil, significant focus on isolation, The Thing can't rewrite history! Not one decade old. but only insane. A victim meeting his focuses on a blend of self-doubt and line! ...What you are trying to do is ut- end at the hands of a victim he tried to team-doubt. You cannot trust yourself. terly impossible. I know, believe me, I To effectively talk about Warlock’s protect. There’s no great evil at the You cannot trust your team. But you’re know.” Cross, we’ll need to discuss the two center of Warlock’s Cross’ web, only forced to trust yourself. But you’re sides of the story separately. First, the victims of circumstance. This flaw in forced to trust your team. You cannot Red Planets (2018) examined the rami- political thriller portion of the audio, Open Skies’ information is amplified by survive if you don’t trust them, even fications of changing time for what one then, the psychological horror portion. the Doctor. “Human vs alien” is a poor while, for defense, you’re forced to rely thinks are the best of intentions. It ex- argument, in light of the Doctor’s role, ever more on yourself. If even you posed the cost of violating “not one We live in a time of great turmoil and and in light of the invasions rebuffed. yourself can still be trusted. line”—genocide on an unimaginable upheaval, with protests erupting at all scale, blotting out generations in a times around us. But not every protest It’s Klein who makes this the clearest, Warlock’s Cross capitalizes on the blink. Saving one person, or group, or is an informed protest. The higher the when she tells Greg, in anger, “You same physical and mental isolation by civilization from tragedy reduces others motive, the more information becomes think you know everything, don’t you, drawing from the same well. As the to victims. As the Doctor tells Klein, “I endangered. It’s easy to give into pre- Greg? You hear a few rumours and knit Doctor tells the UNIT team, “We need brought you here—to the past— formed narratives, and all the easier them into a secret plot. You have no to focus. Don’t allow our minds to wan- because you remind me….That, when when public records are incomplete, or idea—no idea at all—what’s out there, der. Question everything we think we you drop a pebble into the time stream, there’s a TOP SECRET stamped on what UNIT has been protecting you see or hear or feel. Ask ourselves, in each of the ripples you cause affects a every relevant document. from since you were in nappies. Colo- every case, is it real—or only a shad- real life, a real person.” nel McKenna is trying to protect you ow? In this audio we are confronted with now. Listen to him. You might actually I love this angle for the Doctor’s morali- Open Skies. Their motives are pure. learn something.” Through this, Warlock’s Cross forces ty, especially as its being explored in They want to end senseless violence the Doctor to the brink. Under the influ- further depth. against aliens, and open diplomacy Refreshingly, the psychological horror ence of an alien intelligence, the Doctor with them, greeting visitors with arms aspect of Warlock’s Cross takes after is compelled to go back in time and There is, however, one thing holding as open as their skies. They have John Carpenter’s The Thing (1982). nearly interfere. Compelled to drop not Warlock’s Cross back from being out- found the suspicious UNIT-shaped “Refreshingly” because this is, so far as a pebble into the time stream, but a standing. It is the same flaw that held gaps in the official records, and heard I’m aware, the first time anything asso- rock, and destroy the Earth in the pro- Thor: Ragnorok back. It is two excel-

21 22 lent movies—one a road trip comedy excel at directing. His style brings out beth Klein, or the 2018 New UNIT trilo- across space and the other a heart- the best in his actors, and it’s great to gy, this is an essential listen. I think the breaking story of the apocalypse. Each see him become one of Big Finish’s best note to end this review on is the side of the movie holds the other back. central directors. Childs fully inhabits words of Tracey Childs. “Well, there’s a The weight of Ragnorok cannot rest the her character, and seems to have wonderful moment at the end, of characters’, or our, shoulders amid all found new depths in Klein even after course, when he goes, ‘are you think- the levity. The humor cannot land amid playing her for so long. Genevieve ing of retiring, Elizabeth?’ and I just For this fan, the process of colourisa- the dour circumstances. Warlock’s Gaunt captures the multiple dimensions want to go, ‘No, no, no I’m not thinking tion is always a long one that requires Cross’ issue is less extreme, but cut her role demands of her. Given the ex- of retiring at all. I’m thinking of stealing a lot of dedication to complete Colouri- from the same cloth. cellence of her performance, I found your TARDIS again and having a whole sation is often a very repetitive task, her explanation in the bonus features new spin-off series of my own! Who masking and tracing areas of a moving Half of Warlock’s Cross is about the to be illuminating. “Because it’s just needs a Doctor?’” image in software such as Adobe After seeming fall of UNIT. A political thriller audio you can completely focus on Effects. That is the method I use alt- about institutions falling into decay, well bringing so much to just your voice. For a preview of Warlock’s Cross at Big hough some people choose the paint- -meaning protestors manipulated into Your fear, your excitement, your trepi- Finish please click here ing of colour on each individual frame by hand. That was the way I did things following an agenda, and the limits of dation, all these kinds of things they back when I first began creating fan- knowledge gleaned from public To buy from Big Finish click here have to be just in your voice. When colourisations back in late 2012, hav- sources. The other half is outright hor- you’re working with other people, you ing been inspired by similar work on ror, a psychological horror film inspired have to give each other so much be- To buy from Amazon UK click here the You Tube ‘BabelColour’ and by John Carpenter’s The Thing. The cause you can’t rely on your face or ‘farfrombeingallover’ channels. necessities of each strand of the story any of those things or any set.” weaken each other. Leaving the politi- cal thriller for two episodes breaks its flow, and means there’s less room to explore the political ramifications of events.

The psychological horror portion of the audio is interrupted by the late-game return to political thriller, before resum- ing in the final moments. While it is never a miss, and it is certainly never bad, it’s impossible to shake the feeling that there are two solid-gold audios in Richard Gibson gives his character The most recent colourisation video Warlock’s Cross, both weakened into more depth than could reasonably be I’ve released is a tribute to The First silver by their proximity. Instead of a expected. I hope to see Blake Harri- Doctor, William Hartnell (as I write this stand-alone, I wish Lyons had written son’s Daniel Hopkins return. His perfor- on his 110th birthday). This 134 sec- the first two parts of a new Klein trilogy. mances in this trilogy have been en- ond video is something I had worked The political thriller is done well, with gaging. Now that the character has on (along with other projects) through- interesting ideas, and the psychological reached his final form as an unwillingly- Vortex Magazine out all of 2017. Because I had edited horror portion of the story is one of the emotional partly-converted traitor to the the tribute together before thinking to colourise it, I hadn’t considered the strongest things present in 2018’s Main Cybermen gives him an excellent foun- Vortex is Big Finish’s free-to-download difficulty of working with the particular Range stories. dation to return as a villain in the future. magazine. clips that I had chosen. Intrinsically, Warlock’s Cross is a refreshing return some types of shots are simpler to put Warlock’s Cross’ production meets the to one of Big Finish’s great characters, To view available titles and to down- colour to than others. My favourite high standard that the 2018 stories advancing her story and place in the load please click here types of shot to do are static shots, have set. Jamie Anderson continues to world. If you’ve been following Eliza- where the camera is locked off and

23 24 scured by his tie. This causes a little really can’t confusion as to exactly where to draw wait to get the line between yellow and white. “Is me hands on that the playing dice or Dodo’s these, photo- thumb?”, “Is that Katerina’s hair or her graph them dress?”, “Is that Michael Craze or a and get some milk crate?” are all important questions I’ve known Matt Umney for years, firstly new designs I must know the answer to in regard to through Doctor Who conventions, then done for colour. as his work became involved with 3D Wendy Pad- animation and model work. A very tal- bury which It is also important to make sure the ented 3D artist who can examine a she will be colours I have chosen for a shot are photograph and work out exactly how it signing later appropriate for the tone of the story. would work as a detailed 3 dimensional in the year at nothing moves. This means that I can For instance, I chose a pretty groovy model and with the capability to 3D events. The take a single frame to Photoshop, col- palette for a shot in the Dalek Time print and finish the works himself, he remarkable our it by hand, and lay that colour over Machine from The Chase. This is be- has recently produced this magnificent thing is… the whole shot regardless of how long cause I consider The Chase a pretty physical model for me that I need to when Matt has created the item, in- it is. groovy story. If I were doing The Da- use for some artwork, in the absence of stead of ‘making do’ I can have it ex- leks’ Master Plan, it would be different. anything really high quality photo mate- actly the angle and lighting to match The more problematic are those that Bringing these scenes to a new life in rial of the Gods of Ragnarok. me artwork - as you can see from a include a great deal of movement par- colour isn’t quick or easy, but it’s fun if couple of the Colin Baker calendar de- ticularly where the actor moves as well you have the enthusiasm and an eye Matt has worked on many projects, signs…the thing is….could you tell as the camera. The greater the move- for detail. And since I enjoy doing it, I including some 3D work for films and what is real and what isn’t…that’s the ment, the greater the difficulty. It mud- plan to continue doing so. A four-man video games, and had already pro- fun bit. dies the task of keeping track of each project is underway to colourise an en- duced a number of recreated 3D virtual individual element. When something in tire First Doctor episode (featuring the models for me to use on the recent Although very busy, Matt is very ap- shot moves it creates motion blur, so dreaded Daleks). At time of writing, we Colin Baker Sixth Doctor Calendar - the proachable and loves and knows his adding colour to it means that the blur- are already at the halfway point to com- sort of elements that were either too subject, so anybody wanting something riness of the mask needs to be correct- pletion. Looking forward, it is my hope tricky for me to paint (as I would do very specific in this large model scale ly adjusted for each frame as appropri- that one day we will all be able to enjoy normally) or have actual photographs can easily drop him a message through ate. And considering that 1960s Doctor the entire 60s era in living colour! of that weren’t BBC material. twitter or instagram… I’m going to keep building up this large-scale classic You can view some of Kieran’s work at His models are printed in good solid WHO collection of models…. I think You Tube by clicking here plastic, and this one stands at 21cm what would look great, would be a high and as I think you’ll see from the seated Sutekh..... photographs when I lit it, can be made to look much more dramatic than any- Click here to visit Matt’s etsy shop. thing taken of the actual props, this meant I could get different angles, eye- lines, lighting conditions for the design. Matt has also produced a number of other items that I need for photography, including a lightweight, but completely accurate, full scale Earthshock Cybergun, classic 1960’s Cyber chest Who footage doesn’t exist in the best of units, which include flashing lights and quality, it can even be tricky just to dif- a stunning version of the Kroton. Yes, ferentiate one grainy element from an- You can visit Kieran’s ‘WhoSpheres’ no longer do they have an old tarpaulin other. For example, William Hartnell’s website here. wrapped around them, but they grow waistcoat is the same tone as his shirt, from a glowing bed of crystal that would the join between which is often ob- hover and revolve to propel them…

25 26 seen everything in triplicate. A good instructions on how to get a digital copy friend of mine (who actually bought of the photo for use on social media our tickets to the DWE) messaged me etc. What it doesn’t tell you, is that it saying that there was someone I had costs £5 for the download, and that it’s to meet before I left - Jamie Hill. I only valid for ten days. For me if I were knew that Jamie played the Foretold to paying extra for a digital copy of a in the Doctor Who episode Mummy on photo I’ve already just paid for, I’d ex- the Orient Express, and the Monk in pect more time than that. This is some- Well, it’s hard to believe it has been Extremis, The Pyramid at the End of thing I think Showmasters could im- over a year since my daughter and I the World and The Lie of the Land. To I’ve not been to a Showmasters event prove upon. visited the Doctor Who Experience in my surprise Jamie was also a manag- for a few years now, the last I believe Cardiff. For those “Who” are una- er at the Experience. When we found was the final event they held at Earls Anyway back to the event… ware , it was an interactive exhibition Jamie he was actually giving an inter- Court, and when I was there that was showcasing Doctor Who with various view with Christel Dee for the Doctor packed solid. So I headed to the Olym- Sylvester took a few moments during costumes and props from the show. It Who Fan Show. He was a really cool pia expecting much the same. I was his signing session to say a few words started with a short film starring Peter guy. He took a couple pictures with pleasantly surprised to find that whilst for the DWAS social media, and Capaldi, recorded for the Experience. me and signed a photo. Later we still very busy, it didn’t feel anywhere seemed in good spirit. I gave him one A guide took you through a 30 minute- stopped and had a snack in The Blue near as cramped as Earls Court had. of the new DWAS logo badges as a ish adventure following the Doctor’s Box Café’ and saw Christel in the lob- prezzie and it was nice to have a quick instructions to the Tardis console and by downstairs. We chatted for a cou- The event catered to cosplayers with a chat as I’d not seen him myself for a other sets including awaking Daleks. ple minutes (just an extremely nice cosplay zone and special cosplay good number of years since he did a Your goal, obviously, save the planet lady) and we took a couple photos guests, who had their own small booths signing at The Who Shop I don’t know and save the Tardis. Once the day together. to show off their props, weapons and how long ago. was saved, a door opened to the mu- more to those who were curious about seum and you could roam the cos- This was just an all-around great Ex- how to create their own. I know there’s Sadly I didn’t get a chance to chat to tumes, props, etc from just about eve- perience. From the actual Doctor often grumblings about how conven- Colin, aside from the photo, although I ry Doctor, companion, and villain. Who Experience to the BBC Studios tions have been ‘taken over’ by cosplay did pass on a DWAS badge to him as There was also (as always) a gift shop across the street to the sights and these days, but honestly, I don’t see well. (You have a little shop. I love a little everything in Cardiff Bay. I am so glad the harm in it. People have been cos- shop. ) offering a variety of Doctor I was able to spend the time and tuming since comic cons have been It was great to see William Russell still Who souvenirs you can purchase. share the “experience” with my awe- around, it just has a bigger culture being such a popular guest, just like at Since the day my daughter and I at- some daughter Sydnie. Though it’s these days. Cosplayers add an extra The Capitol last year, his queue for tended was the last day it was open, been over a year since we’ve been layer of fun and it’s especially charm- both signings and photos was huge! souvenirs were slim pickings. I was there, it still seems like yesterday. I’m ing when you see little kids getting ex- able to buy an official companion sure the memories will stay like that cited to meet their favourite heroes I’m told that Tom Baker and John guide (programme) and an auto- forever. dressed as those characters. I spent a Simm were exceptionally busy on the graphed print of Camille Coduri (aka bit of time seeking out those in Doctor Saturday as well (I could only go Sun- Jackie Tyler). Who costumes to grab some photos. day as I inconveniently had my little Alas I’m not the best photographer so sister's wedding on the Saturday) The There were a multitude of costumed only a small selection are included with downside with these big guests and people walking around the inside as this piece them being so much in demand that it’s well of outside of the Experience, becoming very hard to actually acquire making it even more interactive. It was Anyway, I couldn’t resist getting a pho- an autograph. I suspect the only way to really cool to see live Cybermen, to with the TARDIS of my youth, and get some autographs now is with a Dia- Whisper Men, and even one of Mrs. then a couple with my two childhood mond Pass and this will become a reg- Rossiter’s Peg Dolls (And it was actu- Doctors, Colin Baker and Sylvester ular thing at future events. Unfortunate- ally Nathalie Cuzner in the costume) McCoy. I was given the physical copies ly this does price out a lot of people, at the exhibit. Since the last day was of these rather quickly. That’s certainly myself included. I think Showmasters sold out, the Experience asked to limit changed, you used to have to wait for need to keep on eye on numbers here your time within to only 2.5 hours, so hours. Remember that? On the leaflet to avoid events becoming too elitist. I my daughter and I made sure we had that comes with the photo, there are did try to get a quick chat with the or-

27 28 ganisers but they were far too busy, ed when the store opened at 10am, which is completely understandable, and having previously attended the I’ll certainly try to catch them another Target book signings there I knew that time. being two hours early wouldn’t be enough... This Spring London Comic Con was billed as a taster to the big event in the Tom Baker holds a special place in the Still dark, I leave my home in South summer and if what I’ve experience pantheon of Doctors for many fans, an London just after 5am to make the bus today is anything to go by, those at- almost mythical creature, so when one and tube journey necessary to get tending in the summer are in for a of his few personal appearances every there, bleary eyed through lack of treat. year is announced, for many fans sleep, I was determined not to miss my there is no length they will not go to chance. At 6.20am I turn the corner show their devotion. and Forbidden Planet comes into view. I am fully expecting to see a fedora, On Thursday 24th January 2019 For- scarf wearing horde waiting. bidden Planet in London gave very short notice of his appearance there to I was the only person there. I would be sign his new book ‘Scratchman’. It was that number 1 of a hundred. to take place on the following Saturday morning. OK, I thought no problem. It It was another hour before more bod- is limited to 100 people? Fine, I’ll get ies started to arrive and after the initial there early. You need a wristband. OK, awkward silence the line camaraderie how do I get that? On the Friday. starts to kick in. The anticipation of Right...... meeting one of our idols leads into the trading of old war stories - which con- Scratchman has been a long time ventions we’ve been to, who we’ve coming, nearly forty years. Originally met, the merchandise bought. conceived in the 70s as a big screen outing for the fourth Doctor co-written Eventually the staff arrived to start by Ian Marter and Tom Baker himself their day and we were issued with the story was largely forgotten about numbered tickets to assure our place after failing to get funding. Aside from in the queue – but nobody was going the odd article in various magazines to move! Eventually I obtained that all- over the years, it was nearly lost to the important wristband, number 1, and it ages, until recently. was guaranteed that I was going to meet the great man himself tomorrow. Anyway, back to the signing, and sat I return home happy, keeping my band at my work desk, the decision took all safe in my wallet like Charlie Bucket of 30 seconds, consequences be with his golden ticket. damned. The holiday form for the next day was submitted and (somewhat Saturday arrives and a brand-new day reluctantly) approved. Now all that was brings a fresh challenge; how early is left was to make sure I was one of too early…? Not wanting to repeat my those 100 lucky people first in line. mistake of yesterday I don two pairs of socks so not to lose feeling in my feet The Friday being a working day ruled from the cold. I head out and arrive out a visit for many, but for me this just after 10am at the appointed queu- was no longer an obstacle. Now, tim- ing area at the back of the shop. And ing would be everything. After all, once again, I am the only person where Tom appears a big crowd fol- there. lows. Wristbands were being distribut-

29 30 Slowly but surely some of the familiar As he passes the book back to me, I conventions. By 12.30 he has already faces from yesterday start to appear present him with a bottle of wine by signed for the initial 100 people allocat- accompanied by new ones, clutching means of a belated birthday present in ed, and so for the next twenty minutes those all-important bands. Tom Baker a colour scheme that matches the some extra wristbands were distributed had already been announced to ap- gothic black, red and white of the cov- to a few very, very lucky people in the pear earlier that morning on Graham er. Looking at the two together he right place at the right time. Norton’s Radio 2 show so in anticipa- agrees and thanks me before asking if tion of his arrival we huddled around a we should take a photo. A book, auto- Leaving the store happy with my copy I phone to listen to another great inter- graph and photo, you don’t need to realise I still have that No1 wristband In 1988 Dee Sadler played the role of view littered with stories told in that ask me twice! I dart around the table which now resides as a memento of a ‘Flowerchild’ in ‘The Greatest Show in inimitable style –he could read the and drop to one knee as if to be Saturday well spent. the Galaxy’ Recently Dee was very phone book and it would still be mes- knighted and beam at the camera hap- gracious to spend some time answer- merising. As Graham thanked Tom, py that I’ve achieved all that I set out to Until the next time Doctor… ing some questions about her life and we all knew it would only be a short do 2 days ago followed by expressing of course her time on Doctor Who. matter of time until the moment we had my thanks and saying goodbye as the ‘Doctor Who - Scratchman’ is available been waiting for arrived, and it had next person files in behind me. RM: Take us back to 1988, how did you been prepared for. get the part of ‘Flowerchild’? DS: John Nathan-Turner had been A little later, ten minutes earlier than watching a sit-com I was in at the time expected, the door was opened and (No Place Like Home) and asked me in the first of us were ushered in. So, I for an interview at TV centre. I think I grab my copy of the book and look up must've read a bit and we mainly chat- to see sat behind a signing table that ted, he was great fun and I liked him familiar face I had waited so long to hugely. The director Alan Wareing was see. Sure there are a few more wrin- there too, but he didn't say much. I kles than the 70’s but there is that think I was offered it the same day. beaming smile and same rich, golden voice “Good Morning! “as he offers his RM: What is the scariest part of an au- hand to shake mine. It is at this mo- dition? ment my mind goes blank, you’d have DS: The scariest part of any audition thought in all that time I would have On the way out I see James Goss and (for me) is the walk to the door. After thought of something to say. I hesitate get my copy signed by him too along that, it gets a bit easier. for a second before the brain finally with the obligatory selfie. Then I am decides to kick in with the realisation recognised by the BBC Book PR as RM: Was ‘Doctor Who’ amongst the that this is Tom Baker, and silence is ‘the guy who showed up so early’, and first tv shows you did? not an option. was thanked, but it wasn’t needed. DS: The first TV show I did was a chil- They had me at Tom Baker –no wait is dren's TV show called "Wuffer", I think “Good Morning I’ve been waiting a too long, no distance too far. (BBC) it was about a dog, if memory long time to see you and I’ve brought from a number of retailers in a number serves. Doctor Who was my third job 99 other people with me who all have As testament to how magic he is; I see of formats including e-book and audio. for them. very good taste in books!”. A second people recording video afterwards Some links are below: passes followed by “I do hope so!” and proudly holding up the Jelly Baby he RM: If I remember correctly, The Great- the booming belly laugh that has en- has offered them as they are instantly Amazon UK est Show in the Galaxy was shot in a deared generations to his tenure of a transported back to that first time they Waterstones UK car park (or something like that) be- role that we all hold so dear. He reads saw him on screen. The Who Shop, London cause of an asbestos problem in the my name or rather my nickname by studio planned for the shoot. What are which I’m better known and looks up Everything was relaxed and well or- your memories of that? puzzled. ”Beef?” and I explain the sto- ganised, Tom is at ease and always DS: My time on Doctor Who was spent ry behind it much to his amusement as the consummate professional, none of on location in the quarry in Weymouth, he signs the title page. I shall not trou- the people attending are rushed which really did look like another planet ble you with it here though. through as sometimes you can feel at and it was freakishly hot too, for so ear-

31 32 RM: That’s a fantastic answer! What I prefer the theatre. I love the process inspires you? and the result. It's great fun rehearsing DS: Being by the sea inspires me, and being part of a company and the whatever the weather. It makes me energy and connection you get from a feel that anything is possible, some- live audience is very rewarding. how. RM: Have you ever forgotten your RM: What is the funniest thing that has lines, or a prop, or choreography dur- happened to you recently? ing a performance? DS: Last week I thought I had thrown DS: I've forgotten props before (once) my iphone in with the laundry and was had to then give an actress totally the crouched by the washing machine DS: Possibly because they realise that wrong object and apologise under my ringing my mobile number with the it's a chuffin' daft job for a grown up or breath. ly on in the year...anyway, I never had landline. I laughed like a drain after- they find something that satisfies them to go into the studio at all, so missed wards. more (hopefully). RM: What would you say is your best out on all the adventures in the car memory from working on Doctor Who? park and only heard about it a long RM: What’s the most interesting thing RM: Do you think you really under- DS: My best memory of working on time after the event. about you that we wouldn’t learn from stood what you were in for when you Doctor Who is kissing Chris Guard your resume alone? decided you wanted to become an over and over again, JNT directed that RM: Who was the naughtiest member DS: I once had to turn down the part of actor? scene and made us do many takes of the cast? a stalker in Brookside, that I really DS: I think unless you have grown up saying he didn't think it looked real DS: I don't know who the naughtiest wanted to do but couldn't for various in an acting family or close to one, no, enough. He smirked throughout. John, member of the cast was as I only knew reasons, and I'm also Viking. I had my not at all, you can only guess at what not Chris, that is. them for a few days on location and DNA analysed. you're in store for. we were working really hard and up RM: You have been on the other side RM: Dee Sadler, Thank you very against it time wise, but John Nathan RM: Why do you think so many aspir- of the table at an audition (watching, much, you’ve been a great sport. Turner told me the filthiest joke on the ing actors end up giving up on their instead of auditioning). What did you first day of filming. dream? learn from that? DS: I have co-produced and cast RM: We will have to save that for a shows in the past and found it's best to convention! What is something that listen to gut instinct, despite the evi- you know now that you wish you knew dence in front of you. when you were first starting out as an actor? RM: Tell me something I don’t know ? DS: Sleep more, relax more and get DS: I've thought and thought about this out in the fresh air. Oh and never one and come up with this (which you smoke, is what I wish I had known may know already) the look and style starting out as a young actor. That and of Bellboy and Flowerchild were based don't eat junk food. Self care, really. on Jim Morrison and his girlfriend.

RM: So - let’s say you are a new addi- RM: I didn’t know that, haha always tion to the crayon box. What colour learning. What role would you love to would you be and why? play that you haven't yet? DS: When I was young, I had a paint DS: There are lots of roles I would love box with a shade called 'Burnt Sienna' to play, then I remember how old I am. in it. The colour was a sludge brown So, the answer is, a stalker...since I and I never used it. So I would be a had to turn such that part down, once. lovely pinky/blue lilac and still be called 'Burnt Sienna' and it would be RM: Do you prefer acting for film or for the most used colour in the paint box. the theatre?

33 34 small orb from her utility belt, “Now how panama hat with paisley hatband. He “Where did you get this?” he asked do you work?” The dull metallic orb sat with his left hand resting on the pil- accusingly holding up a small orb. started to vibrate violently, River strug- lar box red question mark shaped han- Bettina patted the secret pocket in gled to retain her grasp around it. dle of an otherwise black umbrella. which she had earlier secreted the orb, “What are you doing?” she said When she sang “That Old Black Magic” it was empty. “You picked my pocket, through gritted teeth. A low rumbling the audience was transfixed as usual that's so rude.” She tried to snatch the sound fill the vault, River looked around except for the one person. The man orb from his hand but he clamped his but saw only the metal storage boxes, took out a long, thin, metallic device fingers firmly around it and put his hand she moved closer to one wall. The stor- and angled it towards her. She could in his pocket. “Hello Sweetie. Just borrowing the orb, age boxes started to vibrate as the see him muttering to himself whilst I'll need it on Parrius Minor. I knew you rumbling sound grew in intensity. She studying the device. When he returned The Doctor glanced at his scanner; the wouldn't mind. River xxx.” quickly backed up to the middle of the his gaze to Bettina she quickly averted readings indicated River was in a room vault but the rumbling sound continued hers. Her gaze swept the room careful- at the end of the corridor. He walked The Doctor dropped the box that used to grow making all the boxes vibrate. ly avoiding his penetrating eyes. Betti- briskly to the door, dropped the scan- to house the orb. “River!” he strode to River returned the orb to her utility belt na caught a glimpse of the strange ner into his pocket, adjusted his bow tie the console, “Knew I wouldn't mind...” and engaged her vortex manipulator man disappearing through the door to and entered. River was standing with he muttered while typing into the TAR- just as the vault exploded. the backstage area, she knew he was her back to him, “River.” DIS Databank, ““Parrius Minor, where waiting for her, she needed a plan. Her “River? What river?” she replied without is Parrius Minor anyway? Why do you mind worked quickly as she continued moving. want to go there?” The Doctor's eyes “Why aren't we landing?” The Doctor singing, what she needed was cover “I just came from Parrius Minor...well widened as he read the screen, he moved to the view screen, adjusted the while she collected her belongings from what's left of Parrius Minor. You blew it bounded around the console inputting frequency and watched the screen in the dressing room. She paid greater up!” the Doctor moved to confront River co-ordinates, the TARDIS de- horror. What had once been Parrius attention to the audience, mentally but there was someone else in the materialised. Minor was now an asteroid field. picking out a few good candidates. room. “Oh. Hello, I'm...Oh. River what “River.” he whispered. “OK...vortex ma- are you up to?” River still didn't move. nipulator emergency transport... where A short time later Bettina made her way “River?” He gently took hold of her arm Parrius Minor did you go?” he muttered whilst press- to her dressing room with a group of and pulled her around until she was River dodged around rocks trying to ing buttons on the console, “How to large men. When she arrived at the facing him. There was no recognition in evade the automated sentries pursuing track you...energy signature! Ah there door she ushered the men inside. As her face. “River?” he repeated. her. “Come on, how long does it take to you are...what are you doing there?” she was about to enter Bettina heard a “I don't know who this River is but I'm hack an operating system?” she com- He set co-ordinates. calm, quiet male voice, but she couldn't not her.” she replied. She tried to take plained at her hand held device. hear what he was saying. Before she a step towards the door, but the Doctor “Finally...input mode...not hostile...” she could make her way inside the men blocked her path. commanded while scanning herself The Dooley Club 1943, New York streamed out. Hesitantly she entered “River, I know you don't remember, but with the device, “do not engage.” Tak- Bettina re-arranged her dress carefully the room; the strange man was stand- you do trust me.” ing a deep breath she peered around a ensuring the secret pockets were easily ing in its centre, his eyes boring into The man who had remained silent rock at the sentries, when they didn't accessible. She had decided tonight hers. She looked away. since the Doctor had entered the room respond she moved out into the open. was her last night at The Dooley Club; “Who are you, what are you doing finally spoke “Who are you two?” He “Access data files, security storage.” people were starting to ask difficult here?” he asked irascibly. asked. “Why are you here?” she studied the screen as it accessed questions. She took a deep breath and “This is my dressing room, who are “Scan me.” The Doctor replied holding plans of the compound. “There you walked out to the stage area. Bettina you?” Bettina replied while casually his arms out to the sides. are.” River oriented herself with the made an entrance, even before she moving around the room rearranging The man watched the Doctor suspi- plans, “It should be right around here...” started to sing, the attention of the au- items of clothing. ciously whilst reaching into a pocket. She glanced around her, looked at the dience was on her. Her gaze swept the The man moved in front of her blocking He then tried another pocket and an- screen again and then looked down room as she approached the micro- her path, “Who are you?” he repeated other before shifting his gaze to River. and stamped a foot on the ground, phone, she had noticed him instantly. It in the same tone. The Doctor's gaze also shifted to River. there was a dull metallic thud. “Buried was as though he wanted to be no- Bettina stepped forward meeting his “About 9 inches long...silver...red bit at treasure.” ticed, and yet no-one seemed to pay gaze, in a flirtatious tone she said the top?” he said. A short time later River was standing him any attention. He wore knitwear “Whoever you want me to be.” whilst River glared at him defiantly, reached inside a metal vault lined along all walls with red question marks all over it, simultaneously adjusting his collar and into her pocket and pulled out the de- with metal storage boxes. She pulled a check trousers, a faun jacket, a cream picking his pockets. vice which was instantly snatched out

35 36 of her hand. “So rude!” she said to the believe?” The Doctor pulled a box from River looked at the man and then back console room, fast asleep. man who ignored her and scanned the his pocket, inside was an insert mould- to the Doctor. “Will it hurt?” The Doctor moved close to River. Doctor with the device. He examined ed in the dimensions of the orb. He “It shouldn't, if you don't fight it.” the “What are you doing?” she asked. the readings. held it out to the man, who reluctantly Doctor replied. “Picking your pockets.” the Doctor re- “You shouldn't be here.” he said placed the orb inside. River began “You aren't filling me with confidence. plied. “Crossing your own time...” gradually easing away from the men. Why do I trust you?” she asked. “You used to be much better at this.” The Doctor put a finger to his mouth, “What is that device?” the man asked “Spoilers.” the Doctor replied, smiling River said nodding towards the man made a shushing sound and said whilst watching the Doctor return the “What are spoilers?” she asked slumped in the chair. “Why are you “Spoilers.” The man's intense eyes box to his pocket. “The energy read- The Doctor smiled again, “Something attempting to pick my pockets?” fixed on him. “Wibbly wobbly, timey ings...” you've forgotten.” “I... I mean he, carries certain items in wimey?” he said hopefully. The man “Even if I could tell you there wouldn't River sighed. “What do I have to do?” his pockets.” glared at him “I'll explain later...?” the be any point, you won't remember this.” “You just have to relax... do you want “Such as?” Doctor said hesitantly. The man pon- “You don't know what it is and yet you to sit down for this?” River glared. “Or The Doctor looked at the man, “Gold dered for a moment and then gave a allow this woman loose with it?” you could stand... standing is fine. It’s a pocket-watch” River reached into her slight nod. The Doctor turned his at- “I don't allow...she borrowed it.” kind of psychic Tetris...do you remem- pocket, rummaged around a little, tention to River. “What's the last thing “She stole it! Interesting company you ber Tetris...?” pulled out a gold pocket-watch and you remember?” keep.” “Can we hurry this up, Duke Ellington placed it on the console. “Swiss army “I...” she paused unsure whether to “It’s complicated. That won't work Riv- is playing tonight?” the man interjected. knife.” River produced the Swiss army answer. “I woke up in a storage room.” er.” The man glanced at River who “OK, OK...are you ready, River?” knife. “Abacus, drawstring purse, sling- “When?” avoided his gaze. River nodded. ”Close your eyes.” the shot...” River placed the items on the “5 days ago.” “How did you know...?” man said as he placed his fingers at console. “You aren't going to help are “Do you remember anything from be- “You were planning to incapacitate him her temples, River sighed and closed you?” fore...snippets, is there anything that in some way or another. It’s not that her eyes. The Doctor watched anxious- “Where's the fun in that?” she replied. seems familiar?” easy to do and we need him con- ly as the man muttered under his “River.” the Doctor said with a pained She thought for a moment, “A fez, I scious.” River looked at the man and breath. After a minute he abruptly expression. River reached into her keep seeing a red fez.” then at the Doctor. stopped muttering, at the same River pockets and retrieved a pen with a “A fez, a red fez.” He said excitedly, “Why do you need him?” started smiling. Another minute passed chain attached and some party fa- reached into a pocket, pulled out a red “We need him to get your memories and the man's hands dropped from vours. “Anything else?” fez and placed it on his head. “It’s still back.” River's temples, he looked around con- “You lost your marbles.” she replied in there, the experiences, the adven- “I won't help you.” the man stated. fused, “Where am I?” carefully placing marbles on the con- tures, the... We can get it all back but “You said it yourself; she is dangerous, The Doctor turned to River, “Hello sole. you have to trust me.” She stared at with or without her memories. She has Sweetie.” she said. The Doctor looked at the marbles for the fez on his head. shaky morals; the only thing that keeps “What did you do?” the Doctor asked. a moment, then picked them up and “You expect me to trust you, wearing her in check is her memories of conse- “I wiped his memories of me.” put them in his pocket. “Back to our that!” quences.” The Doctor looked at the man and then TARDIS. Come on.” He said walking “OK fine, I'll lose the fez.” he frowned “Have you considered a prison?” the back at River. “What else did you do?” to the door. and reluctantly removed the fez and man quipped. The Doctor smiled. “It’s temporary.” she replied. “Our TARDIS, so it’s half mine?” returned it to his pocket. “Please return her memories.” “What's temporary?” the Doctor asked. The Doctor sighed. “Is this the future, a child, travelling “Why do you need me, you could do it “Confusion. We had better get him around the universe wearing silly yourself?” the man asked. The Doctor back to his TARDIS before it wears A short time later River and the Doctor hats?” the man asked. “This woman is looked uncomfortable for a split sec- off.” were standing at the TARDIS console. dangerous, she used an alien device ond, the man noticed. “You can't?” “You wiped his memory; I don't remem- “Where are we going?” River asked. to hypnotise the audience.” “It’s...complicated.” ber where his TARDIS is!” “Consequences.” the Doctor replied. The Doctor smiled. “You're not seeing The man sighed, looked at River and “I do. My vortex manipulator was set “Never heard of it.” her at her best...what alien device?” nodded. for the TARDIS...” The TARDIS landed, the Doctor flicked The man pulled the small orb from his “I don't need my memories back, I'm “The storeroom.” the Doctor interrupt- a switch and an image appeared on pocket. fine.” she said, making for the door. ed. the view screen. “That's not alien...well it is alien...that's The Doctor blocked her path. “River, “The storeroom.” River repeated. “It doesn't look like much.” said River not how she hypnotized the audience. please trust me.” she looked at him. “I watching asteroids colliding. She read a book on advanced hypno- know you're scared. I promise you, The 7th Doctor's TARDIS. “It used to be Parrius Minor.” replied sis that she found in the library; yours I you'll be fine, you'll be better than fine.” The man was slumped in a chair in the the Doctor.

37 38 River was shocked. “Did I do that?” they used to have didn’t matter any- blue shirt from the floor. Already she The Doctor took the box containing the more. She hadn’t truly realised it be- could feel the bliss evaporating from orb out of his pocket. “This orb, the en- fore, but as the sapphire water mas- her mind and a harsher reality setting ergy, it’s complicated.” saged her ankles, she knew that, final- in. It had been nice while it lasted. “You said it was an energy key.” ly, she had moved on. “It is, but it’s a specific key.” PART ONE “Graham O’Brien, if you don’t give me “To what?” And with that realisation, she pushed that wrench right now, very bad things “River.” he said as a warning and then The sparkling water lapped gently over herself up, took a deep breath, and are going to happen to you!” changed his tone. “Why were you on Yasmin’s feet, sending her further and stretched her body in preparation for a Parrius Minor?” further into her own little world. For swim. The Doctor held tightly onto the metal- “I overheard some people talking about once, she felt as if she had nothing to lic panel that was holding back hun- something buried on Parrius Minor. Front crawl to start, she thought. May- dreds of deadly, sparking wires. Anoth- How could I resist?” worry about. She was sitting beside a pool in the middle of a star ship that be the breast stroke as a change of er malfunction. Was it her repairs? “And was there something buried on pace? She supposed it didn’t really That didn’t make any sense! She had Parrius Minor?” could take her anywhere. Absolutely matter as long as – made all the calculations and consid- “Yes, there was. It’s a shame it blew up anywhere. The Evergreen Fields of before I found out what it was.” Elysia? Done. The Shimmering Cav- ered every possible outcome. This A pipe on the ceiling burst, bellowing should not have happened. “That explosion could have killed you; erns of New Mondas? Got the T-shirt. out a torrent of hot steam. Typical. the energy wave must have been im- Literally. Anywhere and everywhere Graham frantically searched high and mense.” was open to endless adventures and, “Sorry,” said a voice over the intercom. low around the main control console, “Is that why I lost my memory?” asked occasionally, heart-pounding chases “Wait, hold on… Graham, where’s that sweat dripping down his neck. River. from irritated locals. wrench? No, the –” The Doctor took out his sonic screw- “I swear, I put it right here!” driver and scanned her, “You were This really was a dream come true. It cut off. Yasmin could recognise that lucky, no permanent damage.” He voice anywhere. The Doctor had a way The Doctor’s arms faltered, causing pocketed the sonic, set the co- What could be better? Having a lolly on of speaking that was hard to forget; it the panel to slip. Her two hearts began ordinates and set the ship in motion. a sun-baked beach? A trip to the Baha- was different to anyone else she’d met, to beat faster. “Ready for an adventure? There's a mas? Nice, but no dice. Everything she filled with both comfort and excitement, moon that phases out of existence and knew was so pedestrian compared to and a promise of safety even in the “In a minute, this whole room’s going to back in again in the...” River moved the tranquillity of floating gently across catch fire and send us into the nearest very close to the Doctor, “What are you direst situations. Most of the time. Sud- the stars. She felt light and feathery, denly, the intercom came back online supernova!” doing?” he asked. like she could float away into true bliss “I have a present for you.” she took with screeching static. at any moment. A light bulb switched on in Graham’s hold of his hand into which she placed “Ah, there we are,” said the Doctor, head. two spoons. Even the memory of a childhood friend, sounding very proud of herself. “I gave it to you,” he said, pointing ac- now on bad terms, could not shatter “Attention crew. If you’re feeling woozy, cusingly at the Doctor. “You used it to the peace. They had always talked or having an out-of-body experience, I fix the intercom!” about going on their own adventures, would just like to let you know that just the two of them, exploring every we’ve been losing oxygen very, very “Then where is it?” she shouted. inch of the world before they grew too slowly for about half an hour now. In old. Then they turned into teenagers, fact, we almost died! But no worries, it’s A million possibilities ran through her real life happened and everything disin- all fixed now. So, uh… yeah, you might mind, but to no avail. Graham ran over tegrated. Now Yasmin was fulfilling be feeling really weird. That’s normal. and knelt beside her, shoving a hand those dreams, but her friend was not Should stop in about ten minutes. I into her left coat pocket. He pulled out by her side. hope. Doctor out.” the wrench and quickly tightened the panel back into place. She had new friends now. Perhaps that Yasmin felt the heat from the steam was why those familiar anxiety butter- building up around her. She took a Slowly, the Doctor let go. “Right,” she flies that so often plagued her were deep breath and walked towards the said hesitantly. “Good. Well done.” now absent. All of those arguments back of the room, picking up her pale

39 40 Graham leant against the wall and slid of equipment have malfunctioned and No one had anything more to say, so The Doctor made a silly face and stood down to the floor. our life support nearly failed. Obviously, she took that as unanimous agreement up, rubbing the remaining sand on her this is not a coincidence.” and grabbed hold of a large lever. Be- coat. “You’re worse than me,” he said. “How fore she could pull it, however, the old did you say you were?” “So, let’s leave,” Ryan said, yawning. TARDIS lurched to the side, almost “Doctor, look.” Yasmin’s voice was unu- “Just get us out of here.” sually quiet. The Doctor and Graham The Doctor ignored his rude question throwing everyone to the floor. The Doctor regained her balance and turned around to see her and Ryan and flew towards the nearest views- The Doctor pushed the mobile views- looked around, perplexed. “That wasn’t looking out towards the east side of the creen. Her memory wasn’t fading with creen on the control console around so me, I swear.” TARDIS. Not far off, a magnificent age. Don’t be silly. She was just pre- everyone could see. It was currently crumbling ruin stood alone amongst the occupied. She tapped her fingers on showing a brown, unremarkable planet The lights flickered as they all felt a dusty sea, the only visible sign of civili- the console’s glossy surface and with what looked to be a sandstorm rumbling vibration, gradually growing sation. searched for answers, looking at every covering most of the surface. more violent. Ryan grabbed hold of measuring system the TARDIS had Yasmin and Graham by the arms. The “Hey, Doctor,” said Ryan, starting to The Time Lord fixed a fiery gaze on available. Doctor knew what was coming next – a shiver. “You figured out why it’s so cold Ryan. “I found that the TARDIS has total emergency shutdown. “Hold on yet?” None of this was her fault. Something been receiving a communication of tight,” she said, turning to face her was playing with her head. For a while some kind from Sirius IV. A sort of puls- “No, I haven’t,” said the Doctor, step- friends. “I hope you like drop rides.” now, she’d been seeing snapshots of a ing wave, like a beating heart. Trouble ping closer. “Give it some time, would long-lost memory that wouldn’t disap- is, I can’t figure out what it’s saying – Yasmin shook her head. “No, no, no. you?” She noticed the frown on Yas- pear. Images that made her hearts and Sirius IV has been dead for over Don’t do this to –” min’s face. Curious. “What’s on your ache. She’d kept quiet about it, for the ten thousand years.” She stepped clos- mind, Yaz?” most part, save for some squeamish er to Ryan. The TARDIS fell sharply into the dreams. They had guided her here, to planet’s atmosphere and landed with a Yasmin opened her mouth to say this section of space, yet she couldn’t “I don’t know what’s down there, but if loud boom. It toppled slightly, but man- something, but turned away from the figure out why. It was driving her mad. something or someone is calling to us, aged to stay upright. After a few ruin first. “I don’t know,” she said cau- we cannot ignore it. And that is not up minutes of haunting silence, the door tiously. “Does anyone else feel like Yasmin entered through the nearby for discussion.” creaked open. The long, grey coat and their chest is tingling?” doorway and frowned at Graham. “You multi-coloured shirt of the Doctor ap- alright down there?” Ryan nodded. The Doctor and Ryan looked at each peared; a stark contrast to the deep other with concern. Ryan shrugged. Graham nodded. “Just about,” he said. “Hold on,” said Yasmin. “What if that browns around her. something has bad intentions and the “No, can’t say that I do,” said the Doc- “Enjoy your swim?” She knelt down and scraped up some TARDIS… I don’t know… breaks per- tor, looking back into Yasmin’s eyes. sand, letting it flow through her fingers. Before Yasmin could respond, the Doc- manently?” “What kind of tingling are we talking tor raised her eyes. “Yaz, get Ryan Interesting composition – finer than she about here?” down here. We need to talk.” Graham crossed his arms. “Yeah, I was used to. Ryan emerged from be- want to keep all my essentials, thank hind with a black woollen coat, followed Graham walked towards Ryan and The Doctor paced back and forth in you.” by Yasmin and Graham with yellow and tripped over a particularly large rock, front of her captive audience. Ryan orange raincoats. Graham walked to letting out a frustrated yelp. Yasmin could hardly keep his eyes open – he A strange rhythmic beeping came from the front and basked in the view; a sighed. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s just had been in the middle of a power nap. the control console. The Doctor smiled. bleak, empty horizon of sand and flat nerves. Actually, you know what, forget Yasmin and Graham seemed more “This old girl’s never let me down be- plains. The Doctor raised her head and about it.” alert, although Graham’s hair was a bit fore!” she said, rubbing her hands to- laughed. “Oh, don’t you look dapper!” of a mess after recent events. gether. “If there’s something dangerous The Doctor raised her vision to the ruin down there, we’ll stop it. If it’s friendly, Graham turned around. “Oi!” he said. in the distance. Time Lord senses were “Something’s been tampering with the we’ll help it. Simple. We’ve done this “This is your wardrobe, remember?” far greater than a human’s, but even TARDIS,” said the Doctor, placing one sort of thing before. You know the drill.” she couldn’t feel anything unusual from hand in her coat pocket. “Ever since we here. But she could see. This ruin had started drifting through this sector, bits a design she recognised from her trav-

41 42 els many times before, bringing with it arms out expectantly. When the rough archway, decorated with what Ryan Ryan did as she said. He knew better a tide of uncertainty, dread, and most stone fell into her palms, she examined thought were old Egyptian drawings. than to question her judgment. The of all excitement. it up and down as carefully as she Hieroglyphs, if he remembered correct- Doctor turned back to the surface of the could, joining the indents and crevices ly. But they couldn’t be – this was Sirius archway and ran her fingers along the The walls had crumbled so much from together in her mind. What was once IV. left side, for a purpose only she under- centuries of merciless erosion, but it faded started to appear in perfect clari- stood. After a minute, she stopped ab- was easy to tell that they were all slant- ty as all the pieces fell into place. “We can always huddle for warmth,” ruptly, put her hands in her pockets ed towards each other, never quite said a smiling Yasmin, standing by his and turned towards him. reaching a central point yet clearly She dropped the rock with a muffled side. wanting to. It was a design that had thud. There was an eerie moment of “Alright, come on up. I think it’s fine.” He looked at her and smiled back. been used on so many planets over silence. Sometimes it was her presence over Ryan made sure the other two were the course of history, one that could Ryan stood by her side and waved a anyone else that put him at ease. Why following, then jogged to the Doctor’s withstand earthquakes and inspire hand in front of her face. “Hello? You was that? Did she remind him of home, side. “Hey, what are we actually deal- people for generations. A beacon of alright there, Doc? What’s going on?” back when home was worthwhile? Or ing with here?” he asked, keeping a boundless potential and progress. perhaps there was something else bub- low voice. The Doctor snapped her head towards A pyramid. bling under the surface. Yasmin put an him like a possessed doll, making him arm around his waist, no doubt sensing The Doctor stared blankly. “I don’t The Doctor felt a tingling sensation of jump. “Everything’s fine,” she said qui- his anxiety. For a few brief moments, know,” she said. “We’ll probably find her own. She rubbed her hands togeth- etly. “Let’s move”. he felt his worries drift away. And then out once we’re inside.” er. “Right, team,” she said, stepping The trip across the desert was mostly Graham appeared, throwing his arms Ryan laughed. “Oh, come on,” he said. past Yasmin. “We can’t stand here all uneventful, taking about ten minutes to around them both. “I’m not a moron. I know that my brain’s day. There’s a sandstorm covering get to the ruin’s entrance. Ryan should like a peanut compared to yours, but I most of the planet and I don’t want to “Great idea, Yaz,” he said. “I love a have been used to the alien atmos- think I deserve a bit more respect. And be here when it gets back. Let’s get to group hug.” phere of a distant world by now, but he so do they.” that ruin, find out what sent the signal still found himself buckling under the Yasmin threw his arm off. and rush back to the TARDIS. Hopeful- reality of it all every now and then. The Doctor’s expression faltered slight- ly she’ll be in working order by then.” Here, standing by an ancient doorway “On second thought, maybe not.” ly. “I told you, we’ll find the answers She turned around and pointed at the that seemed ten times bigger up close, inside.” blue box. “You hear me? You’re our Ryan did the same and gave Graham a that feeling was worse than ever. one lifeline! Don’t let me down!” playful punch. He looked towards Yas- Right on cue, Graham and Yasmin The Doctor hadn’t made things any min, but she had already positioned reached their position. The Doctor “It’s a machine,” said Graham. “You’re easier. She was unusually silent; more herself in front of a stone pillar, closely turned her back and gestured for every- talking to a machine.” than he ever thought possible. Some- examining the markings. Ryan sighed one to follow. For a brief second, Ryan and walked up the cracked, dusty thought he had seen a spark of terror in The Doctor glared at him and began thing about that rock had set her on stairs, hoping to reach the Doctor be- her eyes. Graham caught his attention trudging across the sandy sea. Then edge. He didn’t know why she wouldn’t fore she did something rash and unpre- and pointed towards the Time Lord with she stopped. An uneasy feeling began come clean – what was the point of dictable. a frown. Ryan just shrugged. to take over. “Graham,” she said, eyes keeping up a false pretence if no one fixed on the ruin. “Bring me that rock.” believed it? Then again, stubbornness A sandy breeze whistled through lean- Through the massive, stone archway was part of her charm. ing columns and half-broken stone was a short corridor about the same He looked at the one he’d tripped over blocks, sending a shiver up his neck. size, filled with more faded hieroglyphs a minute ago. “Why?” Ryan tried to button up his coat further than it would actually go. “Doctor,” he Something about this place felt wrong, and torches that were somehow still lit. “Just do it,” she said. “Come on! Hurry said, muscles twitching. “The cold’s even by alien standards. Of all the things he’d seen so far, that up!” was the most unnerving. At the end of getting to me now. You figured out an The Doctor turned around and held out answer yet?” the corridor was another archway, simi- Graham sighed and picked up the her palm. “Not yet, Ryan,” she said. “I lar to the first, and through it, a glimpse heavy object with both hands, groaning The Doctor walked up a short staircase don’t know if it’s safe. Just stay there of a larger chamber. under its weight. The Doctor laid her and stood before a massive square for a bit, okay?”

43 44 The Doctor kept walking, never looking Yasmin slid her fingers between his. flower to grow, and water was nowhere “Go on,” said Yasmin, forcing a smile. back, clearly determined to find what- “Ryan, there have been so many times to be seen. “We can handle it.” ever had brought them here. But Ryan in the past I thought we were going to couldn’t shake the image of fear in her die. So, so many. But she always came The Doctor bent down and examined The Doctor gave a gentle smile of her eyes. He hadn’t imagined it. The Doctor through. Always. I don’t know how, but the cracks up close. She rubbed her own. “I love your optimism, Yaz; I al- was afraid of something, and if even even when it seemed pretty certain we index finger on one of them and licked ways have. But I’m not sure that’s go- she was scared, they were in for a were done for, she found a way to get the residue. “Yep,” she said, spitting it ing to be enough this time.” out. “There’s definitely soil under there. bumpy ride. She usually had more con- us out alive. She’s like a magician. Yasmin’s smile disintegrated. “Why?” fidence in herself, powering through Trust me, this time will be no different.” Interesting.” any situation without buckling under “This is the tomb of an Osiran,” said the Ryan looked deep into her eyes. “Do Graham noticed that Yasmin and Ryan pressure. had wandered off nearby. He gestured Doctor, fidgeting with her hands. “A you really believe that?” highly advanced, extremely powerful The four adventurers walked through for them to come over, like he would Yasmin smiled gently. “Yes. And so have done to a couple of toddlers. species, now extinct, that influenced the second archway into a much bigger countless civilisations across the uni- room, circular in shape. As Ryan should you.” Those two had become so close re- cently, and so very much alike, that verse. Including yours.” looked up, he saw the four sides of the Graham reached the Doctor, holding ruined building converging towards the they always seemed to drift into their “The crazy-haired people were right,” tight onto his new discovery; a single own universe. It was nice to see, but it sky, reminding him of the pyramids in flower, reddish purple in colour, reflect- said Ryan, dumbfounded. Egypt. Interesting. There was a sense also made him feel a bit out of place – ing the light coming down from the sky. did Ryan really need his granddad “Oh my god,” said Graham, remember- of uncanny familiarity here, coupled “Doctor, look at this!” he said, louder with the surreal. Maybe aliens did build treading on his toes? ing those baffling TV shows. “It was all than he expected. “An actual, living true!” the pyramids on Earth. Maybe those flower!” The Doctor ran her fingers through her crazy-haired people on TV were right. blonde hair and stood up, looking as if The Doctor moved closer to them with The Doctor stared curiously at it, and Yasmin poked his shoulder. “Hey, her mind was working out a thousand a scowl. “You think this is funny?” she then at him. “You mean, it was living,” sums at once. In fact, it probably was. shouted. “This is serious! We’re in a Ryan. You’re looking a bit out of it right she said. “It’s dead now, isn’t it? Where now.” Suddenly, her eyes widened. “We need situation more volatile than anything did you find it?” to get down there,” she said quietly. you’ve ever experienced! If we don’t He rubbed his eyes and yawned. He’d “It was just growing out of one of the “Graham, help me examine the centre tread carefully, not only will we be va- actually forgotten how tired he was. cracks in the floor, all by itself.” of the room.” porised, but possibly the entire solar “Yeah,” he said. “There’s something system! Maybe even the galaxy! How about this place that’s blowing my The Doctor carefully plucked it from his Mysterious as always. They walked to many people will die? How many lives mind. Hard to comprehend, you know?” hand and sniffed. “Well, it’s not poison- a large, circular tile on the floor, per- will go unlived?” ous, so that’s good.” fectly situated in the middle of the Yasmin smiled, watching Graham run chamber, and the Doctor bent down “So, let’s leave!” said Yasmin, the ten- over to the Doctor. The Time Lord was Graham rubbed his hands on his coat. once again. Yasmin and Ryan joined sion in her voice increasing. “We can currently examining everything with her “Yeah,” he said. “I probably should them. wait by the TARDIS until it repairs itself hawkish eyesight. have thought about that.” and go somewhere else! Let this place “Have you found something?” asked go untouched!” “I know how you feel,” said Yasmin. The Doctor nodded. “I agree. Show me Ryan. “Seems a bit too close to home.” exactly where you found it.” “It’s too late for that!” said the Doctor, “Yes,” said the Doctor, dusting away as rubbing her face. “The signal we re- “It’s not just that,” said Ryan. “It’s her.” Graham led her over to a part of the much sand as she could from the tile’s ceived on the TARDIS wasn’t a signal ground that was more cracked than surface. “And I think it’s time I told you “What do you mean?” at all; it was an extension of the Osi- others. He wasn’t a professional gar- what we’re really dealing with here.” ran’s being; reaching out from its rest- dener by any stretch, but simple rea- “Haven’t you noticed? She’s scared. She stood up and sighed. Graham ing place. I should have realised earli- Nothing scares the Doctor. So, what soning led him to believe that there er. That’s why it was damaging the was soil underneath. But soil and sun- crossed his arms – he didn’t like where does that mean for us?” this was going. TARDIS. Osirans are creatures of im- light were only two ingredients for a mense psychic power, and if left un-

45 46 checked, they can cause disasters be- Sitting down facing the blue skinned, “I’m sure you can guess,” he threw yond your imagination. I can’t let that corn haired girl he rested his elbows on back hating these games she played. happen.” the fake wood of the desk, they seemed to be alone in the vast library “Ah yes you need my help to provide a Graham tried to understand what he but of course they weren’t. Tanith acti- distraction, something spectacular and violent; all right Mr Independent I can was hearing, but only one thing stood vated a sound barrier just to be on the do that – for a price.” out. “Does that mean it’s still alive?” As safe side. soon as he asked, he knew he would Anxiously Smith inserted his key into “My scanner has been active for two Yes he'd expected no less. Tanith, like regret hearing the answer. the lock of the small flat he rented, hours,” Smith tried to keep the agitation most here, was a mercenary amongst eyes darting left and right to see if he out of his voice; he didn't do panic but other things. “In a way, yes,” said the Doctor. “I don’t was being watched. He rarely was but there was no hiding the fact that he Contriving to look humble he sat back, know how, I don’t know why, but the old habits die hard and Smith knew was rattled, “...which means the time “I don’t have any money.” Osiran in this tomb is still functioning.” better than most how complacency can ship has been here at least that long.” get you killed. The high cheekbones rose higher in a Graham felt a primal fear surge into his Still not looking up the raven haired smile, “Oh come off it Smithy I wasn’t The flat was unremarkable, some bland veins. Memories of old horror films woman blinked her hazel eyes, “What born yesteryear, you own a TARDIS, it photos although none of him, small makes you think the hunter is after you, must be crammed full of valuable stuff started flooding into his mind. If there pieces of memorabilia, tatty chairs and I mean you aren’t the only fugitive – antiques, rare books, jewels even was one thing he never wanted to see, a very small television. The only thing here?” gold.” Tanith emphasized this last it was a mummy. And especially not a that stood out was the dusty sphere on word. psychic mummy that could vaporise top of the TV, that glowed a soft sky “My scanner can only pick up one par- him within seconds. blue. Drawn to this Smith frowned, his ticular type of time ship, a TARDIS.” “Maybe,” he hedged knowing he had early warning system was telling him Tanith would know what a TARDIS little choice here but to barter for his Yasmin took a deep breath and that a particular type of time craft had was, she knew most types of time ship freedom. stepped forward. “What do we do, arrived flown by a specific occupant. then?” and her gaze was questioning. “Don’t be coy with me it doesn’t suit Hurrying over with a frown he rested a “Then you need to move on don’t you, you,” The woman hissed, “I want a bil- palm on the sphere and the spectrum The Doctor took her hand and grabbed where is your own craft parked?” lion in gold – dust, coins or bullion I hold of Graham’s, then gestured for became brighter, a mix of purple shot don’t much care but that’s the price and them both to hold Ryan’s. The Time through with red, as he connected to Smith was too shrewd to tell her that, it’s payable immediately.” the homing device he'd secreted some “Close by,” his voice was ironic and Lord made sure they all had her atten- A small flat white pad, no bigger than a tion. “Simple. On my mark, we jump. time ago. Once he knew how long the guarded; this was one secret he would ship had been in the Meta Zone he re- saucer was pushed towards him with a Understand?” never reveal. alised he had to act immediately. hand-shaped screen on the top. With a “What’s wrong Smithy, don’t you trust sigh Smith turned his right hand over They all nodded. Graham took a deep “I need to see you right away,” Smith me?” and touched the pad with his ring; at breath. spoke hurriedly into the ring on his right once both ring and pad glowed cherry index finger. “No it can’t wait, a time His smile told her that he wasn't a fool red and crackled. Tanith eyed her wrist “Good. Ready… and… jump!” craft has entered the Zone. Yes of and not to treat him like one while his watch and nodded, course I’m sure. Do you imagine I of all voice softly purred, "of course I do," To be continued... people wouldn’t be aware of such an without any sincerity. “Transmat completed. Very good,” she purred sitting back with a contented incursion? I need a time and a location” "So go, I won't try to stop you." Smith waited, then a soft thank you smile. escaped his lungs. “The instant I take off I’ll create a tem- “Well?” Smith didn’t try to hide his im- poral trace that the hunter will be able Tanith didn’t look up as he approached patience; he couldn’t hang around here to follow,” he said, “I’ll be no better off for much longer. her desk in the library, he knew the in the long term.” rules. If she had history books strewn “Well, what?” Tanith threw back at him? around her he was to keep away, but if A shrewd operator who knew every- she was reading a newspaper it was thing about the zone, Tanith speared “Aren’t you going to do something, fine to approach. him with a probing glance, “So what do make a call, organise an explosion; do you need me for?” a time-jack?”

47 48 The laugh was rich and mocking, “Stop had an inbuilt sensor calibrated to device in his left hand – it was throb- "You're dying," Smith said softly and under-estimating me Smithy I know Smith. Good grief, couldn’t he think of bing softly, another source of agitation. not unkindly like it saddened him. what I'm doing, do you imagine I have- something more original than that? He thumbed on the device’s weapon- n't got something already in place? software, this might be a trap and he "Not now I have you." Righting herself Now trot along to your ship and await "Let the games begin," she sighed didn’t plan to get caught now. with an effort she kept her blaster fixed my signal.” stepping over the threshold of her craft. on him, "Your blood contains the cure I The attack seemed to come from eve- Moving out into view with short, hurried need." In considerable pain the Rani knew the rywhere. The air around her boiled and steps he made his way towards the amputation of her arm hadn’t worked, seethed with colour and sound, a fierce third tree on the left, his ship was be- How much would she take – some of it, the arm had regrown almost immedi- radiation of reds, blues and greens out hind it and not visible even from the half of it; surely not all of it? ately and appeared normal but the of which shapes emerged big and hos- balconies which overlooked the quad. "I could help you," he offered, "We DNA destroying virus was still in her tile. Some were like huge silver spiders; could work on this together." system she hadn’t removed it; merely others were just flashing zigzags of The air ahead seethed and twisted, its point of entry. She still required a angry burning light. warping out of shape to disgorge a fe- The look scoured him with its contempt. new infusion of genes from one of two male figure. Not Tanith, oh no this ap- "All the preliminary research has been Time Lords, all she’d done was buy She didn't open fire on them - why parition was far worse. The tall raven done, all I require now is...." herself some time; it was time she waste ammunition! She squeezed the haired beauty, majestic in her arro- ring on her right index finger as they gance had eyes that flashed with an He finished for her, "A test subject," the would put to good use. words were thick with disapproval." lunged at her. Their metal and plastic inner fire. Her ship had penetrated a rift in time, claws and teeth told her they were "Yes one willing to make a sacrifice in cyberforms, artificially transmuted kill- Smith raised his weapon in warning one that led to a pocket dimension only to have it kicked from his hand. the name of science." known as a Meta Zone. There were ing machines vicious and deadly but Gripped by the throat he was slammed Smith recalled this woman at the acad- many of these and the only way to ultimately crude and in this case inef- back against a statue and pinned there emy how reckless and arrogant she'd reach them was via a time craft of ad- fectual. with incredible strength. been then, disdainful of safety proto- vanced design. Each zone was cus- Their bites and slashes hit only thin air, cols and the sanctity of life; results tomized – some were ecclesiastical in The Rani’s features twisted into a cruel their target having vanished without were all she cared about no matter who nature, others were scholarly or sport- rictus of triumph, “Got you,” she cried. trace, melting away like a witch of leg- got hurt. ing, a few were gambling dens, but all end. “Why don't you just leave me alone,” he attracted outcasts and renegades on choked? "Tutor Vardek always said you were the run from someone or something. Smith hadn’t reached his TARDIS. He callous." Typical thought The Rani that ‘he’ didn’t trust Tanith and thought she "Sorry I can't do that." She hiked up a would be in a place like this. Her sen- might be following him or at least scan- sleeve to reveal a tracery of scar-like "That fool, he was a snivelling coward sors had already scanned the residen- ning him so he'd taken a circuitous tissue worming under her flesh; genetic like all of them back then but I'm not cy permit database of the zone and route doubling back on himself a few decay and pretty advanced too. In her here to go over the past; well not that come up with the name Smith. The de- times and keeping a lookout for a tail. free hand was a small grey cube, "Oh I part of it." licious irony didn't fail to put a smile on The gold he’d given her could be easily found your homing beacon in my TAR- A voice cut into the cruel diatribe and her pale features, what a creature of retrieved, that didn’t concern Smith; DIS and just the sort of crass stupidity emerging from behind one of the taller habit he was; how predictable. what did was that Tanith's distraction I've come to expect." statues with a raised blaster of her The Rani rose from her sofa and went might fail; his hunter was no fool she “Oh very clever,” he spat. own, Tanith gave a triumphant smile. over to the external viewer. She could was almost as cunning and resourceful “I don't think so,” she said. “The recep- see that she had materialised inside as he was much as it pained him to “More than I can say for you,” she tion was designed to bring you here some large building that might be a admit it. snarled, ”Thanks for the reception com- church with its pillars, colourful win- mittee by the way, pity you didn’t do where we could deal with you more dows and shrine-like centre. She Tanith was clever and ruthless but she your homework.” discreetly. I take it you know this wom- scanned for weapons – none, force was also crude and obvious; she an Smithy?” lacked the sophisticated subtlety of a "I thought you'd be too smart for that, fields – none, guards – none. But there “Oh yes,” said the little man, “I know Gallifreyan. but I assumed I would have more wrig- was a red flag on her system, oh good gle room." her all right she’s called the Rani and a trap she liked traps especially those Smith's TARDIS was on the far side of she comes from my home planet.” she set herself. a quad bordered by trees and statues The Rani's laugh was sharp and mock- “Smithy is that what you’re calling your- Grabbing a weapon of her own she of heroes. Standing by one of the latter ing but soon broke up into a hacking self?” She turned to Tanith, “Butu has headed for her ship’s door, the weapon he surveyed the terrain with a small cough, "Damn this disease," she clutched at her own chest. he told you his real name? I suspect

49 50 not, so let me introduce him,” she took point blank range in the stomach. The smoothly contoured room over 60 feet "Why me and not the Master? Surely a step back, “he used to be known as pain was intense, searing, he felt as square with a humming central column he's a perfect genotype too. Couldn't the Doctor.” though his insides were being cooked made up of softly rotating horizontal you find him? Has he eluded you?" in their own juices and with a piercing rings. Smith saw the change come over Tan- Features tight with fury the tall woman scream he fell clutching himself legs ith. So, she knew the name. It meant Coming to rest on a flat grey couch gave a shuddering sigh, "You were twitching. something to her. Had their paths Smith felt himself gripped tightly as the easier to find, Smith. Indeed, you crossed in the past? "Impressive," voice dripping with pleas- anti-grav pack was removed, he could- couldn’t have been more obvious. But ure the Rani stood over him, "But I n’t move a muscle below his neck. I'll catch up with your nemesis in due Her face twisting with disgust the girl need him alive so don't do that again." Deftly his ring was removed and placed course. His death is also long over- reared back. "Is this true," the voice The brilliant but cold eyes regarded on the console, and then his wound due." was brittle. "You're the Doctor?" Smith, entirely devoid of sympathy. He was inspected. “You’re in the grip of a regeneration could see that to her he was just a re- He managed to appear almost contrite. “Good,” The Rani drawled, “Instant tis- crisis, aren’t you?” The words held source a means to an end. "What if I am?" sue regeneration,” she showed no fur- mockery, “After all you are getting on a "The terrorist; the man who incites re- “I don’t intend to kill him so quickly,” ther interest in his healing abilities. In- bit?” Tanith responded, “He hasn’t suffered stead plunging a needle painfully into bellion and insurrection; who causes The Rani’s features blanched but she enough yet, and believe me he’s going his throat just barely missing his wind- utter chaos?" didn’t rise to the bait; she clearly had to. I’m going to inflict on him all the pipe, several c.c.'s of pink cloudy fluid more pressing business. She looked "That's a rather negative spin on things; pain, misery and indignity that I can were removed and studied. pale to Smith, tired and run down with a I prefer to think of myself as someone think of.” who facilitates positive change." "This should be enough," she mused, hint of dark under both eyes. Even the Rani seemed impressed and "If it isn't I can always take more." Speeding away she didn’t even offer a "My world ended up in flames because few cruelties eclipsed her own, she was All he could do was croak in response, parting shot, it was most unlike her to of the Doctor. He came to Jodra out of without doubt utterly atavistic and his throat on fire. let anyone get the last word in. nowhere and sided with the minor gold amoral. resistance movement, helping them to "Extract all you want," Tanith didn't He blinked up at Tanith, “I can’t move,” “Later perhaps,” she said, “I need to undermine and overthrow the silver sound all that concerned, "then he's he said. take him to my ship.” hegemony." mine." “I know.” The cool eyes betrayed no “Then I’m coming with you,” Tanith in- Smith recalled Jodra, a world torn by Eyebrows arched and mouth curled emotion. She picked up his ring from sisted, grinding her high heel into ethnic cleansing - silver on gold, tor- into a lopsided grin the Time Lady the console, studied it for any financial Smith’s wound. Giving a high-pitched, ture, imprisonment and massacres. shook her head, “I’m taking this to my value, then clearly having decided it drawn out scream Smith almost fainted, lab to be processed. You stay here and didn’t have any, she put it back on his "I ended 500 years of oppression," he squirming uselessly. said flatly. try not to kill him just yet, I won’t be too finger. The ring glowed softly giving off Pushing the other woman aside the long. If you get bored feel free to begin a barely perceptible sigh. "You condemned my world to perpetual Rani placed a small adhesive pack on torturing him but don’t kill him without He felt the magna-couch lose power civil war. Order collapsed, the economy Smith’s chest. At once he felt gravity me being present. I've been looking and sat up, feeling a twinge from his was destroyed and my family lost eve- lost all control over him and he levitated forward to that for a long time.” wound as he did, but it was nothing rything we ended up on the streets into the air, to a height of about six feet. scrambling to survive. In the end I had Smith frowned his voice a little strong- serious. Satisfied she turned and marched in er, “Why have you extracted fluid from to flee the gold death squads and come “Thanks for shooting me.” His tone was the direction of her TARDIS. As Smith my thyroid gland?” he asked. here." dry. floated behind her he felt his gunshot “It will help shore up my own genetic The Rani looked triumphant enjoying wound begin to heal. Non-fatal wounds resources and cleanse me of this ac- “I had to make it look convincing.” this little falling out amongst friends. always regenerated quickly - it was a cursed virus." Time Lord gift. Tanith followed, her gun “Oh you did. For a moment I thought "I'm sorry," said Smith. "I had no idea, I you were really going to torture me.” acted with the best intentions; I always holstered, her features losing much of "A virus of your own creation - no doubt try to improve things." their malicious heat. also inflicted on countless other unwill- “It did cross my mind,” Tanith did not ing victims." Disguised as a coniferous tree the seem to be joking. “How do you want to "Improve things," Tanith exploded, "I play this?” lost everyone I loved, everybody I Rani’s ship enveloped Smith turning "That Doctor, is none of your concern," cared about," and then she shot him, at from leaf and bark to a darkly tinted but she threw back.

51 52 Smith had gone over the options, but "Convenient fictions that I made up for “I can’t, it’s got my arms.” well as…” he paused and frowned, “I only one made any sense. you; convincing at first glance but ulti- didn’t expect this. It complicates mat- Smith made no move to approach Tan- mately bogus. You are not what you ters. The Rani has prisoners aboard “We need to take control of this ship. ith. He went to one of the roundels on think, Tanith. Would you like me to her TARDIS – her test subjects.” You go to terminal five and initiate the prove it, for there to be honesty be- the wall, prized it open and fumbled synchronic relay matrix.” tween us at last?" He walked over to inside. Tanith didn’t seem surprised or inter- ested, “She rules a planet of primitive He was impressed when she didn’t ask the console and made to operate the “Smith,” Tanith cried, as a talon closed humanoids, whom she uses in her ex- him what this was. Finding the terminal controls. He could see the rage in her around her neck. periments.” with ease she pressed all the right but- shocked expression. He could tell she “I’m going as fast as I can.” tons. felt betrayed and used - and with good Smith took a step back to rub his chin reason. thoughtfully, he had intended to trap “Are you really him; the Doctor I “Unlike you I can’t regenerate,” Tanith the Rani in the Vortex for a century or mean?” "Tell me what's going on Doctor, or I'll cried with most un-machine-like hyste- shoot you again - this time fatally." ria. two. She wouldn’t age or die but her “Does it matter?” Smith didn’t stand up. prisoners would; assuming that she He knew he needed to gather his "Oh, I'm not the Doctor," he grinned No answer was forthcoming, then the didn’t kill them by some other means. strength. twisting a black dial. murderous pincers fell slack, releasing Tanith and began to recede back into “What’s wrong Smith? You’re surely not “Yes, as a matter of fact it does. I was- At once the whole console erupted into the console. She grabbed her amputat- intending to free these creatures?” n't lying about all the bad stuff he did.” violent movement, seeming to come ed limb and held onto it tightly. alive like some monstrous creature “They might be useful to me, I may just "Actually you were." roused from a deep sleep. Pincers “Thank you.” pay a visit to this planet of hers to see what I can learn."” Head jerking up she frowned, "What do burst from its surface on long concerti- Smith smiled back, she was welcome. you mean?" na-like arms, vicious sharp edged met- He pointed at a screen, the test sub- al talons that grabbed Tanith by the “I didn’t expect her to have upgraded jects would be in the medical bay with "All that stuff about Jodra, all very emo- arms and torso. the console so extensively,” he said. “It the Rani. If he freed them he’d be free- tionally gut wrenching and full of pa- should be safe now. I’ve also locked ing her; it was a dilemma. thos." One of her arms was severed at the her in her own medical bay for the time shoulder, cut clean through but there being.” “Step back,” Tanith barked, “Or I’ll "It happens to be true," she snarled. was no scream, no blood. The arm was shoot you again.” Making his way gingerly over to the "It happens to be a programme which I electronic a prosthesis, the exposed shoulder was also full of circuitry. console he reached out slowly and ca- Smith paused, regarding her calmly. fed into you, soon after I arrived here - ressed it. When he spoke, it was barely above a one of several ideas I implanted." "What the hell," she cried, "My arm is whisper. “I saved your life Tanith.” robotic." “Help me reattach my arm,” Tanith was Hands falling away from the console struggling. “You stole my life; tricked me; altered she straightened, looking at him in con- "Your entire body is, I'm afraid. You see my sense of self – step away from fusion and resentment, "Implanted?" Tanith, you're a security drone. You “Later, first I need to ensure that the those controls.” were the guard who escorted me into Rani never returns to this zone or "Oh yes, dear Tanith. It was essential tracks me down so easily again. I’ve Complying, Smith folded his arms. “The that you saw yourself as a renegade the Zone, my first watcher - and a diffi- cult conversion. It took a lot of tinkering been wondering how she found me in Rani could be held prisoner here in this like me, a terrorist hiding out in the the first place and….ah here it is,” zone, there are containment pockets, Zone." to re-programme you, to convince you that you were another renegade; a bio- Smith felt indignant, “She’s got my Data fissures of nul-time,” he explained. Extract from Gallifrey, DEs are sup- "I am in hiding. You know that," she logical entity; a real woman. “I don’t want her living here, even in posed to be sacrosanct.” cried, thinking about shooting him stasis. She’s a bigger menace than you again, he could tell. "No," the shriek was heartfelt almost human. "That’s not true." If Tanith was interested in this it didn’t are.” show on her face, “And the stuff she "Alas, I'm afraid not," he chuckled re- "I could take you with me. There's no "I'm afraid it is," Smith was grinning took from you?” membering how useful she'd been to reason why you should remain in the him, how she'd kept the drones and now, enjoying himself. "You've been most helpful to me Tanith a real asset." “Thyroxin, an essential part of our re- Zone - not now," he purred, thinking gangsters off his back. generative and recuperative powers; how useful she could be to him; how "I don't understand what you're saying; “Help me damn you!” there must be something wrong with deadly she was with a blaster. He had I have vivid memories of my life and “Throw me your weapon.” her at the DNA level - some form of never travelled with a companion, it history." decay. Time Lords can degenerate as might be fun.

53 54 Smith chuckled, removing his hands gramme for a personality. Really Tan- She was right of course. He took out "But not for the two of us," he snarled. from the telepathic circuits, "There, it’s ith, you disappoint me” the pendant from where he kept it hid- done,” he sighed. den under his collar and depressed the "How do I know I can trust you?" So that was all he thought about her, blazing red gem at its heart. At once his "You need me; we need each other." “What is?” Tanith barked, “What have she was a tool; a robot; not a real per- hair grew darker and longer; his fea- you done?” son. tures darker; his eyes became a deep- Before she could deny it but Tanith “What I had to.” His tone carried a hint “The Rani is a danger to us all surely er shade of green like those of a rep- spoke, "Where are we going – and who of menace. “What was necessary – you can see that.” He could hear her tile. He gained a good four inches in are you anyway?" Her weapon veered under the circumstances?” efforts to sound reasonable. “She height and broadened out. The trans- between the two of them. would try to take over the zone, either formation completed, he gave a low, The Master and the Rani both ignored that or destroy it; she’s a monster.” familiar chuckle. her questions. The Rani couldn’t believe her eyes, “There are all kinds of monsters," he "You," she rasped, shock mixing with "Must we keep this glorified talking what she was seeing didn’t make any responded, "some more pernicious anger, "I might have known." sense. dummy?" The Rani was withering. than others. If you only knew the things He had thought she'd work it out soon- TISSUE REJECTION DNA INFUSION I've done.” "She may be useful to us, if nothing er. Maybe her age or her genetic illness else, she's a good shot." UNSUITABLE "Perhaps you should tell me." had slowed her down "I see my genes weren't to your taste. How sad." he "Where do we begin looking for the A low moan escaped her lips, this He smiled. It would take too long and couldn’t be happening. The Doctor was mocked. Doctor, anyway? His time trace has he was in a hurry. Maybe he should eluded me." an ideal donor. All the data suggested dispose of Tanith after all Perhaps she "Where is the Doctor?" an obvious de- it. He had a 98% match with her, had she outlived her usefulness. The mand - only his DNA could save her “I am quite certain that I know where to whereas that fool the Master only had a idea of having a companion had been now. find him. Miasma Goria, your adopted 55% match. Damn the man, had he in an attractive one, but probably foolish. home. He's gone there to free your some way altered his DNA or added "Why don't we hunt him down togeth- poor slaves while you're away. It's typi- something to it that was anomalous to Around them the ship hummed and er," he offered? cal of his bleeding hearts.” her? vibrated with more vigour, its lights She seemed to consider his offer for a The Time Lady stood there, hands on dimmed then brightened, the time rotor moment. "A truce?" she spat with con- She dragged herself over to the medi- revolved. hips, a picture of incandescent rage. cal centre door; it refused to open. tempt. "That do-gooding pest! How dare he! “We’re on the move,” Tanith declared, ACCESS CODE ALTERED. "An alliance; he is after all a mutual Oh I see. It was the Doctor who bugged “You fool, you’re taking us away from enemy." The idea of having this witch my TARDIS not you, you just piggy Smith, it had to be; that cyborg Tanith the Zone.” as his ally amused him. backed onto his technology." didn’t have the technical skill. Very “Oh, it’s not remotely foolish.” Smith "And what would you get out of it? Oh The shrug was noncommittal, did it re- clever she thought but not clever gazed over to his left, where a ghostly enough and going over to a new addi- of course, you need my TARDIS. ally matter now? column of light was resolving itself into You're trapped here, aren't you. What’s tion to her TARDIS that stood in one a solid shape fizzing with anger. So an "He bugged you but I bugged him," corner she entered the narrow cubicle wrong with your TARDIS? Doesn't it Smith revealed, "That's how I know internal transmat; he'd been after one work?" and worked a touch pad. of those for centuries. It was said to be where he's gone." a feature only of the type 80 capsule "The Doctor scrambled my demateriali- "You bugged the Doctor's TARDIS?" but clearly the Rani had adapted her sation matrix," it left a bitter taste in the Tanith jabbed her gun into Smith’s craft brilliantly. mouth to admit he'd been outwitted "He never knew." Smith boasted proud neck leaving him in no doubt as to her again, outplayed and marooned here of his foresight, but his hubris was cut resolve; there would be no more “Who are you?” The Rani’s voice crack- with no way to escape other than by short by the sound of a familiar voice, games. Their alliance was at an end led with fury. stealing another TARDIS. coming from Tanith. unless he did as she instructed. “Send “I thought you’d already worked that The Rani's expression slipped into "Oh hello, you’re both there. That’s this time capsule into the vortex and out,” Smith’s tone was deceptively mild. make sure it stays there,” she snapped. scorn, "Ha, he's too good for you." handy. I don’t want to spoil your fun, but I’m afraid I found your little device “I thought so too but clearly not. I think Inwardly seething Smith gripped the “I don’t take orders off a security it's time to reveal yourself.” quite a long time ago. You weren’t drone,” he said softly, his eyes glacially edge of a console, his mind coming up quite clever enough Master. Anyway, hard. “An artificial tool with a pro- with punishments to mete out to his sorry to butt in but I hope you don’t greatest enemy.

55 56 him to do. Frazer later posted on twitter The ship lurched violently. The Master – “I loved the chat, people who have clung to the console fighting for control. never seen Patrick's Doctor! Great! “ "We're veering off course." he barked, "shifting back through space and time, Wendy Padbury was recently asked at but I don't recognise these coordi- the Utopia event what she thought of nates." the Twitch marathon to which she re- The Twitch online viewing marathon plied “You mean people love Zoe in "It’s the planet Karn," said the Doctor continues, and due to the number of almost sadly. "With any luck the Sister- missing episodes, we jump straight to Doctor Who on Twitch? They all sound lovely!” hood will give you some of their elixir, season 5 and Tomb of the Cybermen. mind, I secreted a little relay device on provided you ask nicely. I need all of This is a traditional Doctor Who story Tanith. That’s how I am able to talk to my blood." and I think it is marvellous. It pleased For the most part the people in the you now.” Twitch chat have indeed been lovely, me greatly that the Twitch crowd "Damn you, Doctor." stamping her foot, however the last couple of stories have thought so too. There was much love "Doctor…!” the Rani interjected, "I need the Rani looked to be on the verge of a seen some spoilers posted, ruining shown in the online comments, for your help. I'm ill." tantrum. She turned angrily to the Mas- things for this new group of viewers. I both Victoria and The Doctor, but the ter, “And damn you too”. But he could hope this doesn’t continue as it’s been "Yes, yes… I know." The tone was not character that everyone seems to have unsympathetic. "I'm transmitting the only chuckle; then the chuckle turned a joy watching folks experience these into a loud guffaw. For all that he hated really taken to is Jamie. formula for a temporary cure that will adventures for the first time. his life-long adversary, he knew that he alleviate your symptoms." We move on. For some reason The would always rather admire the Doctor. I was very surprised to see the notable "Temporary? What do you mean tem- You had to see the irony in it, the skill Ice Warriors is dropped and instead we go straight to Enemy of the World drop in viewing numbers for The Sec- porary? How temporary? I need a of the Doctor's machinations. They ond Doctor. The figures were on aver- which again, people seem to like. transfusion of Time Lord blood, and were he thought quite masterful. age between 10,000 – 12,000 for Hart- his," she cocked a thumb at the Master, nell and yet for Troughton they were There was some question as to how "Is no good at all." down to 6,000 – 8,000. If anything, I The Web of Fear was going to be had expected the figures to go up. I’ll shown. When episode 3 arrived, it was be keeping an eye on them as the mar- the reconstruction that was used. This confused a few people with questions athon continues. such as “Is anyone else experiencing COSMIC MASQUE 1 1977 lag?” being asked! Once it had been explained what a reconstruction was The first ever edition of Cosmic the comments changed to "POWERPOINT 1965", "TELESNAPS Masque, and possibly the first fan ARE BETTER THAN NOTHING", fiction magazine, was published by "META SLIDESHOW", "MORE MISS- DWAS in 1977. Edited by John ING EPISODES PLEASE". I’m not Peel and Steven Evans, it con- sure about that last one. Once we got tained new stories for all four (yes onto episode 4 comments included "I all four of them) Doctors. miss the slides", "It moves!" and "RIP tele snaps". As with pretty much every- Our facsimile largely replicates the thing so far, it is all taken in good fun style and layout of the original mag- and I find it positive that there were azine and can be bought from our over 8000 watching a recon!!

eBay site—click here to view I think the high point of the second Doctor’s run on Twitch was The Mind Robber. This was received extremely well and at one point Frazer Hines himself turned up in the Twitch chat, which I thought was a great thing for

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