By Cameron Sanantonio
EPISODE ONE
The room was bright white, with little round cubbyholes around the perimeter of the hexagonal space. It was almost antiseptic in it’s whiteness. In the center of the room was a hexagonal console, covered with switches, levers, knobs, and gauges. The gauges measured everything from temporal coordinates to the temperature of any of the ship’s six million rooms.
In the corner was a hatrack with a long knitted scarf and a large floppy hat attached near the top.
On the other side of the room, a tall man with curly hair stood, contemplating the console in the center of the room. Suddenly making a decision, he rushed to the console and set a few of the controls. He flipped a switch and pulled a lever, and with a "Squeeee! Squeeee!" sound the lit central column of the console started going up and down.
"Where are we going now, Doctor?" asked a beautiful but bored looking woman who had just walked into the console room from the side entrance. She was wearing a brilliantly white gown, and had her hair down. Her name was Romanadvoratrelundar, and frankly she didn’t want to go on any adventures right about now.
"Ah! Romana!" said the man named Doctor. "I’ve been trying to decide what to do now. We have five of the six segments to the Key to Time, and the tracer can’t seem to pick anything up." He thumped the console near the tracer port, with the device silent. "It’s not setting coordinates, and it’s not showing us anything! So! I’ve decided that we need a bit of a vacation. We’re on our way to Stravomueller Beta… the stars in the sky are so condensed by the proximity to the core of the Galaxy that…"
"I know about Stravomueller Beta," said Romana, rolling her eyes. "Unlike some people, I actually passed Mutter’s Spiral Astrophysics 101."
"Hmph!" said the Doctor. "Well, you haven’t seen the dry ice falls yet, so let’s go!" He slapped the console, and again the "Squeeee! Squeeee!" sound filled the control room.
"But the key to time…" started Romana.
"…can take care of itself for a change. We’re in a time machine, we’ll go back a few eons and nobody will ever know what happened."
With a sudden Star Trek Shake, the TARDIS sideslipped a few hundred meters and few thousand years, throwing Romana and the Doctor against the far wall. With a painful squeal, the TARDIS attempted to right itself in the Time Vortex, causing the interior to shake violently. The motion shook loose the recharge cable from K9, who was anchored to the bottom of the console. "Master?" the robotic dog asked plaintively.
"K9!" shouted the Doctor. "I can’t get to the controls! What’s happened?"
"Master," started K9, extending his sensor stalk upward toward the console. "Data indicates that the TARDIS has struck a black hole, or other similar material."
"Black hole shmack hole!" shouted the Doctor. "This is a TARDIS. Even a black hole couldn’t cause so much rustle! They aren’t that powerful an extension into the Time Vortex…"
"Only the first shake was the Time Vortex, Master," explained the dog. "Sensors indicate that an emergency landing has been engaged and that the shaking is being caused by the environment outside the TARDIS."
The Doctor smiled to Romana. "Sounds exciting!"
"Sounds dangerous," she said, chidingly.
"Exactly what I said! Come on!" The shaking had subsided, allowing the two Time Lords off the floor. "Let’s see what the bustle is all about." With one final look at the central console, the Doctor smiled and pulled the lever, opening the main doors.
—–
Outside the TARDIS, Romana looked around. "Positively ancient."
"Isn’t it though!" The Doctor ran to a quivering panel on the wall and attempted to pull up information on it. "Positively human! I love the archetecture."
Romana scoffed. "Human. Bah. Looks like a brewery." She squinted. "Where are we? Which human empire?"
"None!" shouted the Doctor. "This is even before the First Great and Bontiful Human Empire, before even the New Roman Empire! We’re very early in the Humanist Era… in a time period I usually make sure to avoid…"
"Because it’s dangerous?" asked Romana.
"No! Not dangerous! I avoid it because it’s boring." The Doctor waved his hand around. "A few centuries of peace and prosperity. No empire, a federation! A federation of various lifeforms and civilizations, banding together to boldly go where nobody had gone before! A time of exploration and enlightenment. Sure, there were a few wars here and there, but right now, we’re in a bubble of calm. A few years ago, the Battle of Cheron took place, and the Romulan Star Empire has calmed down. The Klingons are too busy killing each other to harm the new alliance, and exploration is the fact of life."
"So, no fighting?" asked Romana.
"Well, some, but nothing really big."
"How, then, do you explain that?" Romana pointed to a group of young security officers running toward them, phasers drawn.
"What?" asked the Doctor, shocked.
"Who are you!" shouted a burly security guard. "Never mind that! We’re under attack! Civilians to the escape pods and shuttlecraft! Go!" The squad then turned to a side hallway.
"Attacked! Escape pods!" shouted Romana. "So much for peace!"
"This is wrong, so wrong! Lets go forward and take a look." The Doctor and Romana made their way forward dodging Starfleet officers left and right. Apparently the battle had rejoined, as the craft was being flung back and forth, and officers were streaming to the shuttles. "Ships of this time period usually had a command area forward and up called a Bridge," started the Doctor… just before they came face to face with the windows.
"Oh… my," said Romana.
"That is one big ship!" shouted the Doctor.
The ship responded by spraying the ship with missiles.
"Look!" shouted Romana, pointing to the side. "What quaint little boats!"
"Not boats, Romana! Shuttlecraft! And that bully is firing rockets at them! Why, I’d like to get my hands on…"
"This ship is shooting the missiles down with some kind of laser weapon!"
"Good show!" shouted the Doctor, peering at the shuttlecraft.
"Doctor…"
"What now, Romana?"
"Doctor, that big ship is getting closer."
"Nonsense!" shouted the Doctor, "I can feel the gravity dampeners. We’re the ones mov…" He stared at the other ship.
"Doctor… I think we’re going to…"
"Collide! It must be worse than we thought! Come on, Romana, back to the TARDIS!"
Romana and the Doctor spun around, running as fast as they could back to the TARDIS, weaving in and out of similar looking corridors, trying to remember the route back, and hoping they had time. They dived into the TARDIS.
"Collission imminent, Master," stated K9.
"I know that K9!" The Doctor and Romana hurled themselves at the console.
"What coordinates!" shouted Romana.
"No time!" shouted the Doctor, grabbing the "Emergency Jump" lever and giving it a tug.
—–
With a "Squeeee! Squeeee!" sound, the TARDIS dematerialized out of the hold of the USS Kelvin seconds before it impacted the Romulan battleship, changing the course of future history.
—–
Inside the TARDIS, the Doctor, Romana, and K9 watched the Time Column nervously. An "Emergency Jump" is dangerous at any time, but in such close proximity to such an outpouring of energy as a high speed collision, followed by the yank from the Vortex caused by the Black Hole… any outcome was possible.
"Squeeee! Squeeee!" The sound of the rematerialization circuits is welcome to the time travelers, signifying that they’re going to live through the landing. With a "thrumm!" the ship shivers to a stop.
"Where are we?"
"Sensors indicate a landing on the large vessel which was attacking our last location," stated K9.
"Why did we go there!" shouted Romana.
"Well, you see…" starts the Doctor before being interrupted by K9.
"Proximity to the black hole caused a fault in the Type 40 TT capsule emergency launch sequence, locking on to the nearest gravity source but forward between 10 and 100 years."
"Thank you K9, I was just about to say that." The Doctor huffed. "Well, since we’re here, and the TARDIS needs to recharge after an Emergency Stop, an Emergency Landing, and an Emergency Jump. Lets take a look, shall we?"
"And this isn’t dangerous?" snarked Romana.
"Well sure it’s dangerous. But we’ll haven K9, won’t we?"
"Master!" said K9, wagging it’s antenna tail.
"Lets go." Said the Doctor.
—–
Stepping out of the TARDIS, The Doctor, Romana, and K9 survey their surroundings.
"Where are we?" asked Romana.
The Doctor started gesturing in the air. "Well, if this ship follows any sane construction pattern, I think we’ve settled down in… settled in… where are we K9?"
"Master? It appears we are in the shuttle deck area."
The Doctor and Romana looked around the deck, and the Doctor’s eyes fell on a large white ship that seemed so out of place.
"What is this!" He walked toward it. Should we take a look?"
"It’s closed up, Doctor," said Romana.
"Oh, is it. K9, please?" The Doctor gestured to K9, who rolled forward and extended his sensor stalk. Whines and squeals like an old-style modem emitted out of K9 and his counterpart computer in the ship, and with a hiss the ramp extended.
"Good dog, K9! Come on," said the Doctor.
"Master," said K9, "If it pleases you, I’d rather stay and talk with this computer. It’s not often I get to talk to such a logical intellectual equal to myself."
"Good boy. Come on, Romana." They made their way into the ship.
—–
"Well, this ship doesn’t look at dreadfully retro like the rest of this godforsaken era," said Romana, laying a hand across a console.
"Oh, be nice Romana. I find it kind of quaint."
"Says the Time Lord who flys around in a police box."
"Low blow."
The Time Lord and Time Lady made their way through the spartan living quarters of the ship toward the engineering section.
"Well, I must say!" said Romana. "These engines don’t seem so bad."
"Dear Gallifrey!" shouted the Doctor.
"What! At least I’m saying something nice," said Romana.
"Not you, this!" And with a gesture, the Doctor pointed toward a large clear tube containing a large ball of red stuff.
"Red matter!" shouted Romana. "What is Red matter doing here?!"
"This is old!" said the Doctor. "Impossibly old. Like old old. Next I’ll expect somebody to show up covered in Huon particles being chased by a Racnoss."
"That’s perposterious!" shouted Romana.
"Then explain the red matter," started the Doctor, before being interrupted by K9.
"Master!"
"Not now, K9!" shouted the Doctor. "What is it?"
"Two humanoids carrying phased energy hand weapons have just entered the bay. They are heading for this vehicle."
"Good boy!" said the Doctor. "Lets leave. You keep an eye on this ship K9."
"Master." answered the robotic dog.
"Lets go."
—–
The Doctor and Romana made their way toward the edge of the bay, attempting to evade security. Their attempt failed.
"Halt!" shouted the Romulan. "How did you get on this ship!"
"We’re… travelers. Just on a quick stop. Ship had some problems so we landed…"
"Oh shut up, Scarf." shouted the guard. "Come with me. You’re going to see Nero."
"I thought you said the New Roman Empire wasn’t for a few more centuries?" chided Romana.
"Shutup, Cupcake. Come with me." The guard shoved into them both, frisking them for weapons. He pointed at The Doctor. "Empty your pockets!"
The Doctor reached in to his pockets and started pulling out various items. An idol from Betelguise II, a Martian salt shaker, a Freiberger, a paper bag. "Jelly baby?" asked the Doctor to the Romulan. The Romulan guard slapped the bag out of his hands. "Huh," said the Doctor. He then pulled out a small metal pipe.
"What’s that?" asked the Romulan Guard.
"A whistle. Want to try?"
The Romulan grabbed the whistle and blew on it, producing … no sound whatsoever. With disgust, he threw it to the deck. "I don’t have time to play with you old man!"
"Old man!" shouted the Doctor. "I’ll have you know I’m not a day over 600!"
"Liar." said Romana.
"You’re coming with me," ground out the Guard.
"Except for one thing," said the Doctor.
"What’s that?" said the guard, clutching his gun.
"K9… now!"
And with a warbling whistle, K9 let out a beam which knocked the guard to his knees.
"What took you so long, K9?" chided the Doctor.
"Master?"
"We almost died!"
"Master?"
"And it would have been your fault."
"Master?"
"Oh, do leave him be," said Romana.
"Master, the ship was taken away by one of the humanoids. I was just about to board when you called."
"Oh, I’m not really angry. Who’s a good boy, K9?" The Doctor leaned over, scratching under K9’s metal chin.
"I am, Master."
The Doctor picked up the whistle.
"Master, this ship has just entered Warp Drive chasing after the shuttle."
"Well, I have a feeling that this ship doesn’t belong to the Good Guys." He pulled out his Sonic Screwdriver. "How about we wreck a little havok before we go?"
"Master?"
"Do you think that’s wise?" asked Romana.
"Romana, this ship should not be here. My time senses have been going off overtime since I stepped foot out of the TARDIS."
"Mine too."
"So, I say, give the good guys a little help, hmm?"
"Yes, but what can we do?"
Just then, the ship started to shake.
"I think they’ve engaged battle again." said Romana, looking at the ceiling.
"Correct, Mistress."
"Well, come on. We’ll sabotage something on the way. K9, keep a look out."
—–
The Doctor, Romana, and K9 were bustling down a corridor, when the ship was hit with a large explosion, knocking them to the walls.
"Master, Mistress. I believe the ship has collided with another."
"I gathered that, K9," said The Doctor. "But which ship?"
Suddenly, an alarm blared. "Everyone, evacuate! Red matter!"
"Red matter!" shouted Romana and the Doctor.
"The shuttle, Master." said K9.
"I know it was the shuttle, K9!" shouted the Doctor. Then he gasped. "That’s it! Romana, this ship has collided with the shuttle!"
"Yes, Doctor," said Romana, patting K9’s head.
"That means that the red matter has been released, and will create a black hole!"
"Master, this ship is equipped with a chronaton stability device which will keep the black hole from forming."
"But this ship has a chronaton stability device!" shouted the Doctor. "That will keep the black hole from forming. Drat it all!"
"Master, we may be able to sabotage the stability device…"
"By reversing the polarity flow!" shouted the Doctor.
"Brilliant," said Romana, rolling her eyes.
"Master, a main control conduit runs along the length of this corridor."
"How convenient!"
—–
Small bits of red matter floated around the superstructure of the Romulan ship, but the chronaton stability device kept the red matter in compact little balls, and kept them from contacting the ship’s surface.
The USS Enterprise opened fire on the Romulan ship with renewed gusto, battering down it’s defenses.
—–
The Doctor jumped out from below a console. "I was able to disable only the backup field generators. The mains are still protecting the ship."
With a large shake and rattle, the lights went out all over the ship.
"Master, the mains are down."
"Good dog, K9!"
"I didn’t do it, Master."
"Doesn’t matter, let’s go!"
"Master, Mistress, red matter conversion in 60 seconds."
"Like I said, let’s go!"
—–
The Doctor, Romana, and K9 rushed to the TARDIS and ran inside.
"Initiate dematerialization, Romana!"
Romana ran to the console and dematerialized the TARDIS just seconds before the black hole opened again, and they were safely in the Time Vortex.
"Good job, Romana! And you too, K9!" The Doctor took off his floppy hat and scarf and hung it on the coatrack.
"Are you sure they’re going to be OK?" asked Romana.
"Oh, no," said the Doctor. "I’m sure all the Romulans have already died in the radiation field."
"Not the Romulans, Doctor. The Humans. I looked up the databank just before we left. They attempted to destroy the Earth with red matter."
"Ahh, but they failed. I’d expect nothing less from the Human race. Nah, they’ll be fine. I caught a glimpse of the ship’s name that was attacking the Romulans. As long as Earth has a USS Enterprise, they’ll be just fine. I can’t believe you didn’t recognize the ship."
"Mutter’s Spiral Ancient History was an elective at the Academy."
"Well, it looks like they are going to be fine."
"Master."
"What is it, K9?"
"The Tracer."
Both Time Lords looked over at the tracer, beeping and sending coordinates to the computer.
"The sixth key to time!" they both said.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" asked the Doctor. "Lets get this quest over with."
—–
The USS Enterprise ejects it’s warp cores, causing a massive explosion, throwing it clear of the black hole. Just outside it’s sensor range, The TARDIS rotated in space. With a "Squeeee! Squeeee!" the TARDIS faded out on it’s way to it’s next adventure.
