After watching The Trial of A Time Lord, I decided to make an alternate version of the last two parts out of the fourteen parts serial, resolving the what if's and and making Peri a major part of the story, so enjoy and let me know what you think.
Doctor Who
The Trial of a Time lord
The Ultimate Foe
Chapter One
From the other entrance of the trial room, a bronze robed man entered the room where the Doctor, the Valeyard, and the Time Lords continued the trial.
"I came as soon as I could milady" the man said.
"Thank you Keeper", the inquisitor said, "Doctor Do you have any further evidence in your defense"?
"Milady with all due respect have we not seen enough", The Valeyard spoke as he rose from his seat, "Are you not forgetting article seven, and irrefutable charge which faces the Doctor, that of genocide"?
"I shall deal with that charge in due course Valeyard", Inquisitor told him, "Now kindly don't interrupt me again".
The Valeyard bowed respectfully, and the Inquisitor returned to the Doctor.
"Doctor Do you have any further evidence in your defense"? She asked the Doctor.
"No Milady", the Doctor answered, " But I would point out, that much of the Rail yard's so-called evidence, was a farrago of distortion, which would have had Ananias, Baron Munchhausen, and every other famous liar blushing to their very toenails, much of the evidence was not as I remembered".
The Valeyard looked at him with a somewhat smug and amused look.
"Do you still maintain the matrix has been tampered with"? The Inquisitor asked.
"Yes madam I do" The Doctor told her.
"All I do not yet understand who did it and why", he continued.
"Your accusation would laughable if it were not so outrageous", the Inquisitor told him, "However, as you see, I have summoned the Keeper of the Matrix".
"Keeper", she said to the bronze robed man
"Milady", the Keeper rose from his seat.
"You have heard the Doctor's allegations, is it all possible for the data stored within the Matrix to be tampered with in any way"? She asked him.
"Quite impossible, my lady", he answered with confidence.
"No one may enter the Matrix without the key of Rassilon", he said as he has on a key hooked on his chest piece.
"And by whom may the key be used"? The Doctor asked him.
"Qualified people, for inspection, once in millennium, perhaps", he stated, "to replace a transductor-".
"But keys can be copied, you'll agree", the Doctor interrupted him.
"The Key of Rassilon never leaves my possession" the Keeper said very firmly.
"Except in the hands of those "qualified people", the Doctor argued.
"This is a ridiculous allegation, my lady", the Valeyard jump into the argument as he rose from his seat, "The Doctor is challenging the evidence of the Matrix on the grounds that it has been tampered with, a charge he is totally unable to substantiate".
"That is accepted", the Inquisitor said, "Doctor, wild accusations of malfeasance do not constitute a defence".
"The Matrix can be physically penetrated the Keeper has admitted as much", the Doctor continued with the argument, "Now, much of the evidence you saw was at totally at variance with my own memory, therefore it has been deliberately distorted".
"And who would do such a thing, even if it were possible "? The Inquisitor asked.
"Somebody who wants my head, such as", the Doctor told her he turned pointed at the Valeyard, "The Valeyard".
The Valeyard chuckled lowly menacing at this accusation.
From the exterior of the space station, a time light stream burst out from one of the landing bays, three capsules began to pull into the bay.
As they land outside the trial room, one opens up and reveals to be Sabalom Glitz, wondering where he is.
"Let me out of here", said a muffled voice.
"Dibber what's happen to your voice lad"? Glitz asked, as he opened the capsule.
When the capsule opened, instead of Dibber, he finds a redheaded young woman in the capsule.
"I'm not Dibber", she told him as Glitz helped her up, "neither am I a lad, and what's more there's nothing wrong with my voice".
"Hello can someone open this for me"? Said another muffled voice.
Glitz walk to the other capsule, he opened it up and revealed a dark haired young woman.
"Well Peri, said Glitz as he helped her up, "Seems you got pulled into this as well".
"Glitz", she said, "Where's your friend Dibber"?
"I don't know", he answered.
"Who are you"? The redhead asked.
"Sabalom Glitz", he said bowing.
"Perpugilliam Brown", said the young woman, "But my friends call me Peri".
"And you are", asked Glitz.
"Melanie known as Mel", the redhead said.
"Are they like you here"? He asked.
"I don't know", Mel said, "should we go and find out"?
He laughed and let her go first and Peri, and began walking through the corridor.
Back in the trial room the argument continued about the Matrix being with.
"There is only one way to rebut the evidence of the Matrix, Doctor", the Inquisitor told him, "and is to produce witnesses that can support your version of events can you do that"?
"Of course I can't, you know I can't", the Doctor exclaimed.
"Then we must accept the Valeyard's evidence", she said.
"Any witnesses I might produce are scattered all over the universe", the Doctor retorted, "and all through time. How can I find them now"?
"Procrastination, my lady", said the Valeyard, "The Doctor's only…"
He stopped when he looked at the entrance.
Mel, Peri, and Glitz, entered the trial room, the Doctor looked at them, but his eyes fixed on Peri.
"Doctor"! Peri ran to the Doctor and embraced him.
He felt relieved that Peri was in fact alive.
"How is it you're here"? The Doctor exclaimed, "Last I saw you, you were trapped on Thoros Beta, what are you, Mel, and Glitz doing here"?
"I was sent, wasn't I"? Glitz said, "Not my idea, mind".
"Same here", Mel said, "What have you been up to"?
"Be silent, the Inquisitor told her, "Who sent you"?
"That's the beak isn't it"? Glitz said smugly, "They all look the same, don't they, carved out of something hard and nasty".
"You said you were sent here, Sabalom Glitz", the Inquisitor inquired, "By whom"?
"By me Madam", a voice came from the Matrix screen.
They all turned their attention to the screen to see a man in all black, a goatee, and slicked back hair.
"Oh no, now I really am finished", the Doctor announced.
"Oh no not him", Peri exclaimed.
"Who's that"? Mel asked.
"Just one of my oldest enemies", the Doctor answered.
"This is entirely irregular", the Inquisitor said, "Who are you sir"?
"I'm known as the Master", the man on the screen told her, "And as you see I speak to you from within the Matrix, proof if any be needed not only qualified people can enter here, or the fact that Miss Perpugilliam Brown is still alive".
"But you haven't got the key of Rassilon", the Keeper told him.
"I got a very copy Keeper," the Master said showing them a key, "Just as the Doctor said was possible".
"This is an independent inquiry appointed by the high council", the Inquisitor informed him, "To investigate serious charges"-
"Madam I know", the Master interrupted her, "I followed the trial with great interest and indeed amusement, but I must intervene for the sake of justice".
"Justice"? The Doctor questioned, "Pay no attention madam, he has no concept of what justice is, he'd see me dead tomorrow".
"Gladly Doctor", the Master admitted then turns his attention to the Valeyard, "But I'm not prepared to countenance a rival".
"My lady I must propose an immediate adjournment", the Valeyard said.
"I'm sorry, Valeyard", the Inquisitor told him, "The evidence for the prosecution is completed, the ball, as the Doctor might say, is out of your court".
"Doctor", the Master said, "I've you sent three star witnesses, I knew you'd need them".
The Doctor turned his attention to Peri, Mel and Glitz.
"With due respect sagacity" the Valeyard said, "The matter of witnesses is for to decide, we've seen enough to know that Glitz is admitted criminal, any testimony from him must be therefore dubious in the extreme"!
"But not from me", Mel told, "I'm as truthful, honest and about as boring as they come".
"This court is not, for the moment impugning your integrity, young lady", the Inquisitor said.
"Let's Sabalom Glitz speak", the Master told her.
"Criminals have been known to speak the truth, Valeyard", the Inquisitor told him, "Especially when their own interests are not at stake".
"My point, my lady", the Valeyard argued, "Is that this person who calls himself the Master, whoever he might be, should not be permitted to produce surprise witnesses".
"You pretend not to know me, do you"? The Master asked, "I'm surprised by the shortness of the Valeyard's memory".
The Valeyard just stared at him intensely.
"The Doctor may, in his defense", the Inquisitor said, "May call witnesses to rebut your evidence, after which you may cross them, that is the procedure, Valeyard".
"My lady", the Valeyard said bowing.
"If I might intercede", the Master started to ask.
"You have no part", the Inquisitor interrupted him, "In these proceeding, sir".
"Corporeally, of course not, but I'm present and enjoying myself enormously", the Master said.
"Doctor, please examine your witnesses", the Inquisitor said.
"Yes, madam", the Doctor said turned his attention to Glitz.
"This is real machonite, you know", Glitz said while examining the pattern of a wall piece, "Worth a few grotzis today, your Honor".
"Glitz", the Doctor called.
"I could make a fair offer", Glitz continued not paying attention to the Doctor, "On a job lot…"
"Glitz"! The Doctor said louder.
"Do a very good deal, what"? Glitz asked annoyed.
"You were sent here by the Master", the Doctor inquired.
"Well, he's a business partner, so to speak" Glitz informed him, "We've had a few nice little tickles together".
Glitz gestured with the money gesture.
"Yes", the Doctor interrupted, "This court isn't interested in your sordid business deals, Glitz".
"Very, good Doctor," the Inquisitor said, "Keep him to the point".
"When we last met, you express interest in a box", the Doctor continued.
"Right", Glitz answered.
"What was in that"? The Doctor asked.
"I don't know", Glitz continued, "Scientific stuff, so he said".
He pointed to the Master.
"Stuff that the sleepers have been nicking from the Matrix for years", Glitz continued.
"The Matrix"? The Keeper said surprised, "My Matrix".
"Right", Glitz answered, "Well, it seems the sleepers had found a way to break into the Matrix, and they were creaming of this high-tech info to take back to Andromeda".
"But they operating from Earth", the Doctor stated.
"Course that was their cover, wasn't it"? Said Glitz, "They knew that the Time Lords eventually would trace the leak".
"He's lying, my lady"! The Valeyard said firmly.
"I don't think so, Stack yard", The Doctor informed him, and "It all begins to make very good sense".
"That's it Doc"! Mel said excited, "Now we're getting at the dirt".
Peri giggled knowing that the Doctor hates being called that.
"Doc"? He winced but quickly recovered and went back to Glitz, "Carry on, Glitz, what happened next"?
"Well, eventually," Glitz continued, "The Time Lords did suss out the leak, so they wanted to wipe out all the sleepers, so they used this, uh, magno, Magno…
"Magnotron"? The Doctor inquired.
"That's it", Glitz said.
"Well, that can only be done by an order in high council", the Doctor said.
"Of course, Doctor", the Master informed him, "To protect their own secrets, they drew the Earth and its constellation billions of miles across space…
"Causing the fireball which nearly destroyed the planet", the Doctor finished.
"Of little consequence in the high councils planning", the Master continued, "The robot recovery mission form Andromeda sped past Earth out into space, Gallifreyian secrets were saved, except that at the first intimation of the coming fireball, the Andromedans were able set up a survival chamber for the sleepers.
"So that's why Earth was renamed Ravalox", The Doctor deduced, "That sanctimonious gang of hypocrites were covering their tracks"!
"Exactly", the Master reveled, "It takes time, Doctor, but you eventually get there".
"They put an ancient culture", the Doctor said angrily ignoring the Master's insult, "Like the Earth to the sword for the sake of a few miserable, filthy scientific advance"?
"Big market for them, Doctor", Glitz informed him, "So he said, worth a lot of grotzis".
"All my travelling's throughout the universe, I have battled against evil", the Doctor told everyone, "Against power-mad conspirators, I should have stayed here, the oldest civilization, decadent, degenerate, and rotten to the core, power-mad conspirators, Daleks, Sontarans, Cybermen…, they're still in the nursery compared to us, ten million year of absolute power, that's what it takes to be really corrupt"!
"Doctor…" Peri tried to calm him down.
"Take it easy, Doc", Mel said doing the same.
"Doctor, these unseemly outbursts…" the Inquisitor began.
"UNSEEMLY OUTBURSTS"? The Doctor interrupted angrily, "If I haven't visit Ravalox, as I then thought of it, the High Council would have kept this outrage carefully buried, as presumably as they have for several centuries"!
"I must agree", the Master said, "You have endearing habit of blundering into these things, Doctor, and the High Council took full advantage of your blunder".
The Doctor listened to him, as the Master told him this.
"Explain that"! The Inquisitor demanded.
The Master turned his attention to the Valeyard.
"They made a deal with the Valeyard", he informed them, "Or as I've always known him, the Doctor, to adjust the evidence, in return for which he was promised the remainder of the Doctor's regenerations".
The Valeyard watched angrily at The Master, as he was exposing the truth.
"This is clearly…" The Valeyard attempted to object, standing from his seat.
"Just a minute", The Doctor interrupted, "Did you call him the Doctor"?
"There is some evil in all of us, Doctor, even you", The Master said, "The Valeyard is amalgamation of the darker sides of your nature, somewhere between your 12th and final incarnation, and I might say, you do not improve with age".
The Doctor looked at the Valeyard with shock, the Valeyard made no attempt to deny it; he stared at the Doctor with an intense glare.
"Madam," The Doctor said to the Inquisitor, not taking his eyes off the Valeyard, "This revelation should halt this trial immediately, surely, even Gallifreyan law must acknowledge that the same person cannot be both prosecutor and defendant".
"The single purpose of this trial", The Inquisitor told him, "Is to determine the defendant's or otherwise on the basis of the evidence that has been presented, anything else is, for the moment, irrelevant".
"WHAT"? The Doctor exasperated.
While that was going on, The Valeyard slipped out of the courtroom swiftly, not notice by the Time Lords or the guards, Peri and Mel notice from the corner of their eye.
"Doctor"! Peri and Mel called at the same.
"Valeyard"! The Inquisitor yelled.
The Doctor chased after the Valeyard.
"Come on Glitz," yelled the Doctor.
"What"? Glitz said.
"We need him", the Doctor informed him.
As they exited the courtroom in the corridor, to find the Valeyard is nowhere to be found.
"But he hasn't had time", said Glitz surprised of how quickly he vanished.
"Must be another way out of here", the Doctor deduced.
"He's gone", said Glitz
They stopped in front of a stain glass window, when Peri, Mel, The Inquisitor, and the Keeper came out as well.
"The seventh door", The Keeper told the Inquisitor, "He must have had a key".
"What"? The Doctor asked.
"The seventh entrance to the Matrix", The Keeper informed him, walking past Peri and Mel to the door.
"Well, quickly man, open it", The Doctor told him, "He must be brought back".
"I agree", The Inquisitor said.
The Keeper gave the Doctor the key, and he put it on a scanner, the stain glass window slid open exposing a white light.
"You'll never find him", The Keeper told the Doctor, and "The Matrix is micro-universe".
"Don't go, Doctor", Mel urged.
"I must", The Doctor told her, "Perhaps nothing in my life has ever bit so important".
He entered the door and grabbed Glitz's arm.
"Come on, Glitz", the Doctor said.
"Me"? Glitz said as he was pulled in.
"Doctor"! Peri yelled chasing after them.
"Doctor"! Mel yelled attempted to chase after them but stop by the door, and the door closed.
"Be silent", the Inquisitor announced, "come, let us return to the trial room".
"Why"? Mel inquired, "There's nobody to try anymore".
"Come along, both of you", she told Mel and the Keeper.
The Keeper put the key back on his chest piece, while Mel looked back at the door.
In the Matrix there is a dark alley the ground covered with hay, rotten food, dirty rats running all over the place, suddenly loud hum pierces the air and a white light down and the Doctor jumps out of it and the light vanishes, the Doctor recollects himself, discombobulated from the journey.
"Oh", He moaned, "Oh, what an unpleasant journey".
He looks around to see where he's at, looking at the melancholy alley, a bell tolling in the distant, seeing a sign with a cholera epidemic, hearing distant voices calling for a doctor.
"What an unpleasant place", He stated out loud.
He went by the cholera sign. Deciding not to go that way began walking in the other direction, wondering where Glitz is.
"Glitz"? He called no answer.
He walked further out of the dark alley.
"Glitz"? He called again
Instead he heard a maniacal laugh in the distant, assuming to be the Valeyard.
Then he heard children singing London Bridge is falling down as he walk further away from the alley, then he heard the Valeyard's maniacal laugh again.
As he went from the alley he came across a pottery factory, hearing a music hall piano playing and people laughing and enjoying the music.
Then he heard a loud hum and looked to see it came from the alley, he thought it was Glitz.
"Doctor"! A young woman's voice called, he realized it was Peri.
"Over here Peri"! The Doctor answered.
Peri went in the direction she heard the Doctors voice, found him across the court yard, she ran up to him.
"What are you doing in the Matrix"? He asked.
"I didn't want to be around by those Time Lords", She answered.
"Why"? He asked.
"I'll explain later", She said.
"Alright", he said not pushing the subject.
"What is this creepy place"? She asked.
"The Matrix", The Doctor said, "Set in Victorian London".
"I was trying to trace the Valeyard", He continued, "So far he's well hidden".
He walked next to a barrel of water, stopped to examine it.
"Hmm I can't believe you're in there" He said out loud looking at it more closely.
Suddenly two hands came out of the water, and began to pull the Doctors face with inhuman strength into the water.
"Glitz"! The Doctor yelled, "Peri"!
Another loud hum and a light came down and Glitz exits it, he looked for the Doctor.
"Help"! Peri yelled.
"Doctor"! Glitz called.
"Hurry, man"! The Doctor answered.
Glitz ran from the alley and found the Doctor on the ground coughing, with Peri kneeling beside him.
"What's going on"? He asked.
"He was attacked", Peri answered.
"I don't know whether what just happened to me was real or an illusion", The Doctor told him.
"Looks like someone's had a go at you", Glitz said.
"Do you mind"? The Doctor asked.
"What"? Glitz asked.
"Water", the Doctor told him.
"Oh", Glitz realized, "yeah, sure".
He went to the barrel to get water; the Doctor rubbed his head, feeling his hair wasn't wet.
"We're not in the world any longer, Peri, Sabalom Glitz", the Doctor told them, and "whatever attacked me was in that barrel".
As the Doctor told Glitz this, he picked up a handful of water, only to throw it back in.
"Or was it in my mind"? The Doctor continued.
"How can we be in a different world"? Glitz asked, "We just step through a door, that's all"
"Into the Matrix", the Doctor told him, "where the only logic is that there isn't any logic".
"Yeah, I knew this was a mistake", Glitz told him, "My grip on reality's not to good at the best of times, here this is for you".
He gave the Doctor a piece of paper, the Doctor read it.
"Now, if you don't mind telling me, how do I get out of here"? Glitz asked.
"It's from the Master", the Doctor said.
"I know", Glitz informed him, "I've just given to you, and he said it might be useful"
"It tells me where the Valeyard has his base", the Doctor said reading the paper.
"The Fantasy Factory", Glitz read the paper out loud, "proprietor JJ Chambers".
Then Organ music began playing, showing a red and yellow neon sign saying The Fantasy Factory on the pottery factory.
"So that's where he got to", the Doctor said.
The Doctor walked closer towards the Fantasy Factory, urge Glitz and Peri to follow him.
"So why does the Master helping me", the doctor asked rhetorically.
"Yeah, well, I'm sure you find out, I'm off", Glitz said starting to leave.
"No, come on", the Doctor told him grabbing his arm; "I want you to meet my darker side".
"I've done my bit", said Glitz.
"Pop in and say hello", the Doctor said putting his arm around Glitz shoulder, "you'll be perfectly safe".
As the Doctor removed his arm, the Factory began to illuminate very bright lights.
"What's going on"? Glitz said curious.
Then the entrance door bursts open and a harpoon descends towards them, impaling Glitz collapsing to the ground, Peri screamed at the horrid act.
Back in the trial room the Inquisitor questions the Master on the evidence.
"Assuming I accept what you say about the evidence against the Doctor, how much of it have been contrived"? She asked.
"For a lie to work, madam, it must be shrouded is truth", the Master told her, "therefore, most what you saw was true".
"It is obvious that the young woman lived", The Inquisitor said.
"Yes the delightful Miss Perpugillam Brown", the Master stated, "That was clever of the Valeyard, exploiting the affection the Doctor had for her, but then of course, the Valeyard would know precisely how the Doctor felt".
"What really happened"? She asked.
"What I'm about to show you is the actual evidence of the events on Thoros Beta" the Master informed, "let's start with Croziers experiment on Miss Brown, this will shock you".
The screen began to show the event of Yrcanos rescuing Peri, the Doctor being removed from time with his Tardis, the time bubble is in fact surrounding Peri and Crozier, stopping them in their tracks, but as Yrcanos and Tuza headed for the lab, when they attacked the guards, little did they know, a shadowy figure was following them, he had a phaser and killed Tuza, pointed the phaser at Yrcanos.
"How predictable, for a war lord such as yourself", the man in the shadows said, "Peri is not going to be your bride, seeing as how you won't live long enough to enjoy it".
The voice was very familiar, as he revealed himself as none other than the Valeyard, shocking everyone watching.
"And what makes you think I won't kill you first"? He asked.
"Simply because you have no weapon at your disposal", the Valeyard stated.
"VAROONIK"! Yrcanos yelled and charge at the Valeyard.
The Valeyard fired three times, Yrcanos falls dead at the Valeyard's feet, and the Valeyard laughs at the dead fool.
"Varoonik, indeed", the Valeyard stated, kicking the corpse.
As he began to deactivate the time bubble, he heard a Tardis engine, he quicken his pace enters the lab, and he came face to face with the Master carrying Peri into his Tardis.
"You interfering fool"! The Valeyard seethed, "can't you leave anything alone"?
"Unfortunately, Valeyard", the Master stated, "Seeing you are more evil, therefore I cannot allow you to destroy the Doctor".
He closed his Tardis doors, and dematerializes.
The Valeyard growled, knowing the Master thwarted his plans.
As the screen cut out there, bringing back the Master.
"As you see, the Doctor tried to save Miss Brown, but the Time Lords intervened, removing him from time, but the Valeyard had been on Thoros Beta, observing the incident, killing Yrcanos in the process, when the time bubble was still in place, I was able to penetrate the bubble and save Miss Brown".
"A very disturbing piece of evidence the Valeyard had removed", the Inquisitor stated.
"Is there anything we can do to help"? Mel asked.
"You'll catch a cold laying there", the Doctor told Glitz.
"You're a hard man, Doctor", the still alive Glitz said, surprising Peri, "I could have been killed".
"Not if you're wearing mark seven postidion life preserver", the Doctor said pulling the harpoon out of his chest.
"Yeah, well, whoever threw that harpoon didn't know that". Glitz said getting up, "So much for illusions, anyway, I thought it was you he was trying to kill".
"Yes, he's playing games", the Doctor said, "wants to humiliate me first".
"Oh, I see", Glitz said sarcastically, "he humiliates you, by throwing harpoons at me, makes a lot of sense".
"Both of your presences makes his task more difficult" the Doctor told Glitz and Peri, "he knows that, he also knows that together we can fight him."
"Look, Doctor", Glitz told him, "I'm a small-time crook, with small-time ambitions, one of which is to stay alive, I'm sorry Doctor, I wish you every good luck, but I'm on my way, I've done my bit".
He begins to leave; Peri just shakes her head at him leaving.
"If you leave and I die", the Doctor informed, "what future do you'll have"?
Glitz stops at the Doctors statement.
"As the only witness to events here", the Doctor continued, "The Valeyard will be forced to seek you out and kill you".
"All right", Glitz conceited, "I'll help you"
"Good man", Doctor said, "now button up your life preserver, and let's get on with it".
The three of began to head to the Fantasy Factory.
Back in the trial room, The Inquisitor is livid about events that have happen.
"In all my experience", the Inquisitor said, "I have never before had to conclude a case, in both the absence of the accused and the prosecutor".
"One and the same person, madam", the Master informed her.
"So you've said, but can you prove that"? She inquired.
"I know them both", he answered, "but I suggest you question the High Council, they set up this travesty of a trial, making a scapegoat of the Doctor to conceal their own involvement".
"Is there any reason, why I should accept that allegation from a renegade Time Lord"? She asked.
"Yes, if you're concerned with learning the truth", the Master informed her.
"What is your interest in this matter"? She asked, "Not, I think, concern for the Doctor".
"Oh, indeed not", the Master chuckled, "the Doctor's well matched against himself, one must destroy the other".
"How utterly evil", said Mel.
"Thank you", the Master said taking the statement as a compliment, "I think I lay shades more odds on the Valeyard, though the possibility of their mutual destruction must exist, that would be perfect".
"You're despicable"! Mel said disgusted.
"Am I to take it some based desire for revenge is your motive for interfering"? The Inquisitor asked.
"There's nothing more purer and more unsullied, madam", the Master informed her, "than the desire for revenge, but, if you follow the metaphor, I've thrown a pebble into the water, perhaps killing two birds with one stone, and causing ripples that'll rock the High Council to its foundation".
He laughed at this, with extreme relish, while everyone with outraged by this statement.
"What more could a renegade wish for"? He asked.
The Doctor, Peri, and Glitz, entered into reception area to find a middle aged clerk at his desk writing in his ledger, they approach the desk clerk.
"How do you do"? The Doctor said, "I think we're expected".
The clerk just continued writing in the ledger, as if they weren't there.
"Are you sure we're in the right place"? Glitz asked.
The Doctor rang the bell on the desk, and the clerk looked up at them.
"Yes"? The clerk asked.
"We'd like to see the proprietor, please", the Doctor told him.
"Do you appointment, sir"? The clerk asked, "Mr. Chambers only sees people by appointment, most particular about appointments is our Mr. Chambers".
"I think you'll find that we're expected", the Doctor informed him.
"What is your name, sir"? The clerk asked.
"I am known as the Doctor", the Doctor told him, "and this is Miss Peri Brown, and this is Mr. Sabalom Glitz".
"Hi", Peri introduced herself.
While Glitz bowed, the clerk didn't acknowledged them just went turned the pages of the ledger.
"If this Valeyard wants you dead, he's got a funny way of going about it", Glitz said to the Doctor.
"I've told you, its called humiliation", the Doctor told him.
The Doctor looked at the clerk, whose slow pace was making him impatient.
"Could you hurry up, please"? The Doctor asked, "We haven't got all day".
"There are procedures to follow, sir", the clerk said, "necessary routines to be completed, even when I found your names, there are many forms to inscribed, before you can move on to the stage of processing, processing is very important in this establishment, I'm sure you will understand that such things cannot be rushed, sir".
"Oh, I don't know", the Doctor told him, "I've always been bit of an iconoclast by nature".
He rushed to the office door, Peri and Glitz followed him.
"You can't go in there, not without an appointment"! The clerk yelled.
As they entered the office, they come across another clerk that looks exactly like the other clerk, except this one is wearing glasses.
"Ah Doctor", he said.
They look back at the other clerk, who was back at his work, they look at the clerk with glasses, and then they close the door.
"Well, at least you're expecting us", the Doctor said.
"We all are", the clerk told him.
"Your look-alike there wasn't", Glitz said.
"He is the exception", the clerk told while putting a feather pen behind his ear, "the very junior Mr. Popplewick isn't permitted to expect anyone".
"Ah", Glitz said, "what's he talking about"?
"I think its called bureaucracy", the Doctor told him drolly.
"I prefer to call it order", the clerk said firmly, "and the holy writ of order is procedure, I'm sure agree".
"Oh yeah, of course", Glitz laughed.
"For example", the clerk continued, "you wish to see the proprietor, now the correct procedure is to make an appointment".
"But we're already expected", the Doctor countered.
"But the junior Mr. Popplewick isn't allowed to expect anyone"! The clerk retorted.
"Well, you knew we were coming", Glitz said, "Why didn't you give him a nod"?
"And upset the procedure"? The clerk asked angrily, "the junior Mr. Popplewick has his pride, too".
"I don't understand any of this", Glitz said, "Here we are, waiting to duck a terminal knuckle sandwich, and all this screeve's going on about is whether we've got an appointment or not".
"Is there no way to expedite the procedure"? The Doctor asked.
"Expedite"? The clerk said, "I am a senior clerk, sir; to me the procedure is sacrosanct, my work is celebration of all that is perfect, why speed perfection"?
"Because your employer wants me dead", the Doctor answered.
"You seem to have found the one little weakness in our procedure, sir" the obvious Senior Mr. Popplewick told him, "would you sign this"?
He handed the Doctor a piece of parchment.
"What is it"? The doctor asked.
"A consent form, sir", Mr. Popplewick told him, "The corridors in this factory are very long and dark, should you unexpectedly die, our blessed proprietor, Mr. JJ Chambers, insists he inherits your remaining lives".
"Obviously, the Valeyard doesn't trust the High Council to honor their side of the bargain", the Doctor stated.
He put the parchment on the desk, about to take the feather pen from his ear, only Mr. Popplewick put his hand up stopping him, he gave the Doctor the other feather pen, the dipped the pen in ink.
"Sign that and you're a dead man", Glitz said stopping him.
"Don't sign it Doctor", Peri said to him.
"We're in the Valeyard's domain", the Doctor told them, "he can try and kill any time he likes, and I'll sign my remaining lives to Mr. JJ Chambers".
He signs the parchment; throw the pen back on the desk, and the parchment back to Mr. Popplewick.
"Are you sure about this"? Glitz asked him
"Absolutely", the Doctor answered and turned to Mr. Popplewick, "now can we see your proprietor"?
"The waiting room is through there", he told the Doctor pointing the door reading the parchment, and "you will be summoned as soon as your signature has been verified".
The Doctor walks to the door, which has waiting room inscribed on it, Peri and Glitz follow him.
"This is madness", Glitz told the Doctor.
"Not if it precipitates my meeting with the Valeyard", the Doctor retorted.
He opens the door, only to be in the middle of gloomy beach side, a cold wind blowing aggressively.
"This is a very odd waiting room" he said examining the beach, "where are the hopelessly out-of-date magazines, hmm Peri, Glitz"?
No one responded
"Peri, Glitz"? He called louder.
Instead he gets the Valeyard's maniacal laugh, the Doctor turns looking for him, but he's nowhere in sight.
"What have you done with them"? The Doctor called.
"Look to your own predicament, Doctor", the Valeyard voice told him.
The Doctor looked down to see hands coming up from the mud grabbing the Doctor's legs with inhuman strength.
"This is an illusion, I deny it"! The Doctor denied.
The hands continued to hold him firmly
"Not this time", the Valeyard's voice declared.
"This isn't happening"! The Doctor continued.
The Doctor began prying the hands off, while more hands came up from the wet mud getting one off, till the other caused him to trip and fall to the ground, more hand grabbing him, The Valeyard continued laughing.
"You are dead, Doctor", the Valeyard taunted.
The Doctor began sinking into the sand, with the hands pulling him in.
"Goodbye, Doctor"! The Valeyard taunted again, laughing again.
To Be Continued...