Prologue
The TARDIS hurtled through the multicoloured miasma that was the Time Vortex.
Inside the TARDIS, as the incandescent pillar of light above the central console rose and fell steadily, the Doctor stood next to Jack Harkness. Both men had their arms folded and watched their new companion, Katherine de Gallois as she walked around the console and gazed at the golden chamber in amazement. It reminded Katherine of a wondrous cathedral, and she fought the urge to whisper. "But this is magic, it must be!" she stammered.
Jack grinned as the Doctor shook his head. "No not magic Katherine. This is my home – the TARDIS."
"But it was just a blue box! All of this is inside it?" Katherine asked wonderingly.
"You got it!" laughed Jack. "And it travels around too! We can go anywhere we like."
The Doctor raised an eyebrow and his face darkened a fraction "Well, not anywhere Jack. There are some places even I can't get to."
Katherine shook her head, it was so difficult to take all this in. She had never imagined anything like this had ever existed. The strange grinding sound of the TARDIS materialising suddenly hook her from any further thoughts as the Time Rotor slowed to a halt. "What was that?" she asked, looking at the mushroom-shaped console with a mixture of excitement and just a little fear.
The Doctor put a reassuring hand on her shoulder and smiled. "It means we've landed."
Jack leaned over the console as the Doctor checked the co-ordinates. "Well, where are we?" he asked.
The Doctor smiled. "We've left Earth!" He turned on the monitor on the console to reveal an amazing desert of snow and ice with incredible glaciers in the far distance. "This is Callis IV, a fairly remote planet in the year 5000." He looked up at Jack. "Around your time then, Captain!"
Jack said nothing, his eyes avoiding the Doctor, but nodded and gave a brief smile.
"Why don't you show Katherine where she can get changed?" the Doctor asked Jack, looking at Katherine's beautiful deep blue Renaissance dress. "She can hardly explore an arctic planet in that gown, can she?"
1.
The door to the TARDIS opened and Katherine slowly stepped out, looking around her in wonder at the amazing icy landscape of the alien world. Her French gown had been replaced with dark trousers and boots and a warm woollen jacket complete with a fur lined hood that was pulled up over her head. She pulled on thick woollen gloves as she gasped in wonder at the incredible vista around her.
The ground was covered with snow and ice as far as she could see in all directions around her. In the far distance were what looked like rugged mountains.
The Doctor and Jack followed her out and the Doctor turned to close and lock the TARDIS door behind them. He had a short red scarf wrapped around his neck, and his long brown coat was buttoned up. Jack wore a warm hat with earflaps on his head, a scarf around his neck, and his blue military coat was also fully buttoned to keep out the biting cold.
Jack threw his arms around himself and rubbed his gloved hands together. "It's freezing!"
"It's beautiful!" Katherine whispered, her breath swirling amongst the delicate flakes of snow that danced through the air.
The Doctor grinned at his new friend. He loved showing his companions the wonders of the universe. "It is, isn't it!" He scanned the frozen landscape around them. "Let's take a look around then!"
Linking Katherine's arm in his, the Doctor strode off, pointing out interesting facts about alien worlds. Smiling at the Doctor's infectious enthusiasm, Jack followed behind.
***********************
An electronic viewfinder, numbers and ranges flickering on the high resolution display, registered the three figures as they walked in the far distance. The soldier, who was dressed in white combat gear and wearing a sophisticated helmet that contained electronic communication equipment, put down his binoculars and pointed in their direction. His companion, another soldier wearing similar gear, nodded and pressed a stud on the handlebars of the snow-sled that he sat on. The vehicle roared into life as the first soldier climbed on the back. Then with a spray of snow and ice, it sped off towards the Doctor and his companions.
2.
The Doctor heard the snow-sled long before it appeared out of the snow to the side of them, and motioned to Jack and Katherine to stay where they were. The sled came to a stop close to them, the roar of the engine dying away as one of the soldiers leapt off, grabbing the blaster rifle from where it was slung across his back. He walked towards the Doctor as he pushed up a pair of goggles from his eyes. He was in his late thirties or early forties with a handsome, rugged face and a square jaw. His eyes were a piercing blue and a small scar ran across his right temple.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?" the soldier asked tersely, pointing the blaster at them.
"I'm the Doctor, and these are my friends Jack and Katherine," the Doctor replied pleasantly. "We were just looking around, exploring and all that. Our," he paused for a second and produced his psychic paper from his pocket, "shuttle landed just back there. These are our travel documents. Have we done anything wrong?"
"Not yet, but this is hardly a place for tourists," the soldier replied bluntly.
The Doctor handed the soldier the psychic paper and Jack grinned as he scrutinised it before handing it back to the Doctor. "These seem to be in order, but we'll have to register them at the base," the soldier told them. The grin on Jack's face faltered at the news.
"What are you doing here Captain?" asked the Doctor, putting the paper back in his pocket and noticing the rank insignia on the sleeve of the soldier's white jacket.
"I'm Captain Hans Bergen, Doctor. This," he indicated the other soldier on the snow-sled, "is Corporal Connor. We're on a perimeter patrol."
Connor nodded in greeting to the Doctor and his friends. He was younger than Bergen, no older than twenty five with sandy close cut hair and a lean, boyish face.
"I didn't know there was any military activity on Callis IV?" said Jack carefully.
Bergen avoided Jack's question. "You're in a restricted area and we've received information that there maybe an unauthorised ship landing here. We thought that you might be it."
"I'm sorry, we didn't know. Why is it restricted Captain Bergen?" the Doctor asked.
"Because of the prison" Bergen replied simply.
3.
"There is a prison here," gasped Katherine in amazement, "in this hostile place?"
"One reason why we're here Miss," Bergen replied curtly.
"And the other reasons?" the Doctor asked quickly.
"Yeah and who were you expecting us to be?" added Jack.
Bergen looked at them very carefully but ignored their questions. "I think its time we returned to the base and got those clearances authenticated," he replied. Bergen turned and started to walk back to the vehicle. "If you can climb onto the back, there should be enough room, just hold on tight."
The Doctor, Katherine and Jack exchanged glances but the Doctor shrugged and nodded. They walked over to the snowsled and climbed aboard. Bergen took his place next to Connor and put his helmet and goggles back on. He twisted around to the Doctor and his companions. "If we encounter any trouble, do exactly as I say."
The Doctor wrapped his scarf around his neck. "Are you expecting any trouble Captain?" he asked lightly.
Bergen muttered something that the Doctor couldn't quite hear under his breath before nodding to Corporal Connor. Connor pressed the ignition stud and the vehicle roared into life. With a grin, the Doctor caught hold of a nervous Katherine as the sled began to accelerate and race across the ice.
*****************
In the inky blackness of space, a magnificent spacecraft roared towards the icy white planet that was Callis IV. It was small but sleek, powerful and clearly expensive; a top of the range model with powerful ion engines and a streamlined shape that would be the envy of many a space pilot.
Inside the gleaming cockpit of the ship, two massive bronze robotic arms that ended in thick fingers, moved across the flight controls with incredible delicacy considering their size. The planet loomed large on a screen at the front of the cockpit and the robotic arms pushed a lever forwards, nudging the ship into descent.
"Hurry," said a confident male American voice. "Find the best place to land and as close to the base as we can." A hand that wore an expensive black signet ring pressed a control on a panel. "I'll send the signal."
4.
The ride on the snow-sled only lasted for a few minutes, although that was more than long enough for Katherine who although enjoyed the ride, would have much preferred a horse!
Jack however, grinned with exhilaration. He loved speed and the faster a vehicle could travel, the more he enjoyed the ride.
The outline of several metallic grey buildings could soon be seen in the distance through the falling snow.
"It's an early Sanctuary Base!" shouted the Doctor gleefully over the roar of the snow-sled engine as they approached the buildings. Sanctuary Bases were common in the future as Earth expanded further across the galaxy and all followed a basic modular design.
Connor expertly brought the snow-sled to a halt and they all climbed off. Bergen walked to the main hatchway and tapped a series of letters and numbers into a code panel at the side of the hatch. With a low grinding of metal, the hatch rolled slowly to one side revealing a dimly lit metal corridor that stretched into the base.
Bergen ushered the Doctor, Jack and Katherine inside, waited for Connor to join them, and then pressed another control on the wall of the corridor to reseal the hatch behind them.
"It's nice to get out of that cold!" gasped Katherine, throwing back her hood and pulling off her gloves. Jack nodded and took off his hat and put it in his pocket
The Doctor grinned. "Just as well I remembered my scarf. I used to love scarves!"
With a gesture from Bergen, they started to walk along the corridor when suddenly from a side corridor came the whirring of machinery approaching them. From around a corner rolled two silver robots. They were about five feet in height, a domed head that containing a single blue lens, two small metallic arms that ended in pincers, and legs that ended in small caterpillar tracks like a tank.
The Doctor stopped abruptly at the sight of the robots, putting his hands out to stop Jack and Katherine, but Bergen just smiled. "Don't worry Doctor these are just servo drones for the base."
He had hardly stopped speaking when a small panel on the chest of both of the robots dropped down to reveal a small but deadly looking laser weapon.
5.
Jack quickly flattened himself against the wall as the Doctor pulled Katherine behind him. There was a short hum as the robots lasers powered up.
"What the Hell?" cried Bergen as he and Connor leapt for any cover.
The robots fired, their laser beams lancing out, but fortunately missing everyone and striking the walls with sparks and smoke. Connor and Bergen reacted quickly. They drew blaster pistols from belt holsters and fired at the two robots. Their aim was excellent and after a few shots, the robots were destroyed in a shower of sparks and flame leaving just charred and smoking metal shells.
"I don't get it? Those things are on our side!" Connor said in amazement.
The Doctor glanced at Jack and then at Bergen who looked both angry and worried. He pushed back a sleeve to reveal a wrist communicator, and tapped a button, raising it to his mouth. "This is Bergen," he said urgently, "please respond Control?" He paused, waiting for an answer, but received only static.
"What are those things Doctor" asked Katherine fearfully gripping his arm.
"Simple robotic drones," said the Doctor, "machine servants, probably used for maintenance and guard duty when it gets too cold at night." He walked up to one of the still smoking remains of the robots and prodded around inside of the exposed head casings.
"We have to reach the Control room," interrupted Bergen. "Something's wrong here!"
"Spot on Captain," replied the Doctor, using his sonic screwdriver for a second before pulling out a complex piece of electronics from the robot's head.
"You've disconnected its' memory core?" asked Jack, looking over the Doctor's shoulder.
"That's right Jack," smiled the Doctor, blowing on the piece of electronics. "Now if I can just find a place to examine it properly?"
"You're joking!" said Bergen shaking his head. "Security may have been compromised and I'm getting no signal from Control."
"All the more reason to look at this before we go blundering in then!" the Doctor grinned.
Captain Bergen considered for a moment and then nodded. "All right, this way." He beckoned for Connor to take a rearguard position and then with his blaster rifle held up in one hand, he started down the corridor.
The Doctor nodded to Jack to keep hold of Katherine as he put the memory cortex from the servo-drone into one of his coat pockets. Taking care to move quickly but quietly, the group moved deeper into the base.
6.
After a few minutes, Bergen stopped next to a hatch. "This is Lab 4," he whispered, "it should be empty." He pressed the control pad next to the door and flattened himself against the wall as the hatch slid open, clearly expecting laser fire, but all was quiet from within.
The Doctor peered into the empty lab over Bergen's shoulder and smiled. "Perfect!" he grinned and ushered Jack and Katherine inside. Connor entered last, closed the hatch, and took up a guard position next to it. The Doctor strolled over to a workbench close to a computer station, pulled out his glasses from his jacket and started to examine the memory cortex of the destroyed drone.
Katherine came to stand next to him and he paused and looked up at her. "Are you alright Katherine?"
She nodded. "I never believed places like this could exist," she paused, "so far from France. I don't understand any of it!" she whispered.
The Doctor smiled gently. "The universe is a big place, but you're doing fine."
She smiled back at him, grateful for his understanding nature.
Bergen interrupted them. "What have you discovered Doctor?" he demanded.
"That these robots were reprogrammed," replied the Doctor.
"That's obvious!" yelled Bergen, starting to lose his temper.
"Reprogrammed remotely," continued the Doctor, unabashed at the Captain's outburst. "See," he indicated a part of the core, "there's a satellite receiver inbuilt to the circuit." He whistled in admiration. "Whoever did this certainly knew their robotics!"
Suddenly, there was a shout from Connor at the hatch. "I can hear more drones coming!"
"If they find us here we're trapped! Take cover everyone!" Bergen yelled.
Connor reacted with a soldier's instincts and instantly retreated, kneeling down, his blaster rifle aimed at the hatch. Bergen crouched by a table as Jack dragged Katherine behind a console for protection. Only the Doctor remained unmoved, watching the hatch carefully.
The hatch opened and three drones rolled in, the panels in their chests already opened and revealing the small but powerful laser weapons within. The three robots pivoted around, surveying the room for potential targets as their laser weapons powered up, ready to unleash their deadly energy.