A Temporal Carol

By Mathieu Leader

Chapter One Adric Returns:

The Doctor sat in his TARDIS, alone and tired after returning from his venture to Mars dealing with the Flood and was again companionless.

As the Doctor was sleeping in his tartan paisley pyjamas he was awoken by the heavy clunk of chains.

The Doctor shouted "Who are you and how in hell did you get into the TARDIS?"

The clunking continued.....

Then a pale apparition of a young teenage boy appeared, with short black hair with brown eyes covered in silver metal chains.

The Doctor said angrily "Who and What are you I have the strange feeling that we've met before?"

The apparition said softly "I was in life I was your companion Adric Kelchec, I'm here to forewarn of the consequences of you flouting the rules of time recklessly?"

The Doctor shouted "W-H-A-T Have I done wrong Adric?"

Adric said calmly "You leave a trail of blood and death in your wake,"

Adric pointed to the floor, and then suddenly a pool of blood flooded the TARDIS with skeletal remains.

The Doctor said shakily "I've dealt with ghosts before but how can an ethereal manifestation cause such horror?"

Adric said quietly "It does not matter Doctor your quest of righteousness has blinded you if you keep going along the path you are treading I see the end of time arrives!"

The Doctor said curiously "What does the end of time mean?"

Adric said sadly "It means that your life ends and The Gate awaits for you Doctor,"

The Doctor said pleadingly "Is there a way I could prevent or delay the End of Time?"

Adric said coldly "There is no way of stopping the End of Time but you can halt the End of Time if you heed the three spectres that will come here tonight's warnings they will heal the sorrow you have festered in this incarnation,"

The Doctor said shakily "When will these spectres arrive?"

Adric replied calmly "The first ghost will arrive at midnight,"

Then suddenly the TARDIS walls melted leaving a gaping black hole and the ghost of Adric said softly "Take my hand," the Doctor gripped Adric's hand and went through the hole.

The Doctor saw to his horror the transparent figures of Torchwood staff hovered over the ruins of the Torchwood Tower crying....

The Doctor said fearfully "Why are they crying?"

Adric said sternly "These, people are trained to deal with alien threats, and act as humanities frontline to alien invasions Torchwood itself was inspired by you. But you take their glory away from saving lives and these ghosts watch helplessly as the Earth is attacked by aliens unable to do anything..."

The Doctor said arrogantly "So what I'm the Doctor do I ever get paid or a thank you for saving the day at least I can regenerate!?"

Adric said darkly "You still have that nasty pride about that still shines as bright as day. Illuminating your supreme authority over all you survey as the last Lord of Time!"

Adric said calmly "Humans are selfless and willingly to defend their own kind,

Adric said grimly

"Which is more than you ever did the Time Lords asked you to defend Gallifrey, you took your own agenda too far and watched gleefully as the Citadel burnt away enjoying their screams of sheer dread. As you fled with your tail between your legs,"

The Doctor shouted bitterly "They had what coming to them they never did stand a chance against the Daleks!"

Adric said sadly "They had a chance even they restored your foe the Master to life again to defend them. But you refused to assist the Master in protecting the Cruciform the Key to Time in the Time War but you took it away from them,"

Adric said tearfully

"You could not put aside your selfishness and stubborn nature and for that everyone of your race became exterminated, other than you and the Master and I respected you when I was alive. Now I'm disappointed in whom you are now,"

Adric said excitedly "Time to take you back to the TARDIS!"

Adric grabbed onto the Doctors hand and suddenly they flew in a flurry of snow and the Doctor landed on his back in the TARDIS.

The Doctor said happily "Thanks for helping Adric,"

Adric said softly "Theta Sigma, it's not going to get any easier I let off pretty easy compared to what the others have in store for you now Doctor I'd advise you to get some rest Doctors orders,"

The Doctor sighed "Ok,"

The Doctor fell asleep soundly.....

Then suddenly the Doctor awoke as the cloister bell rang loudly in a red light a man dressed in a sleek white shirt with a black bow tie was playing on an accordion appeared.

The Doctor said eagerly "You're me, when I used to play the bassoon,"

The other Doctor said swiftly "It's an accordion actually lad,"

The other Doctor said surprised "Gosh I look young when I'm older!"

The other Doctor said curiously

"Do you still play the accordion?"

The Tenth Doctor replied meekly "I still play in private and what incarnation of me are you?"

The other Doctor replied curtly "Your silly and playful second incarnation sir and you are the terrific tenth my current form but not for long though,"

The Tenth Doctor said sarcastically "Let me guess you are the Ghost of my past,"

The Second Doctor said ecstatically "Yes we can reminisce about how you used to play with the radon blocks in the nursery, or how you use to go fishing with that hermit on the mountain. Or how our dad took us to see the Matrix at work after all he was the Keeper of the Matrix!"

The Tenth Doctor said coolly "Perhaps, I should prescribe my younger self some Ritalin I forgot how hyperactive he was,"

The Second Doctor shouted "You'll do no such thing!"

Then the Second Doctor said cheerily

"As Doctor, we're about to take a sightseeing trip into our past to see how much better you where in your younger days,"

The Tenth Doctor said despairingly "I feel a migraine coming on perhaps I should take an aspirin on the upside it'll kill me and I would not have to put up with my retarded self,"

To Be Continued