Chapter Two

The Doctor and Sally were walking down the streets of San Francisco, chatting and talking in the city. They were so lost in their conversation and explorations, they forgot all about Charley.

"I've been meaning to visit Grave for ages now," said the Doctor. "But it kept slipping my mind."

"Shame on you for forgetting your girlfriend," laughed Sally.

"Girlfriend?" Asked the Doctor. "I never thought of her like that."

"You said you kissed her!"

"We'll, I suppose I did."

"And you just forgot her?"

"I never said that. I just forgot to look her up again."

"I hope the Doctor doesn't forget us, Charley! Charley?"

"Where's Charley?" Asked the Doctor. "I thought she was right behind us. Charley! Oh, where have you gotten off to?"

"Could she have gone into one of the buildings we passed?"

"All the shops we passed were closed. Wait! The Church back a block. That may still be unlocked. Most Catholic churches, even in this era, keep the churches open at night for the faithful to visit for adoration. Let's go back and take a look."

The came upon an church with a sign saying, "Star of the Sea" below a beautiful rosette window. The Doctor tried the from doors which opened. As they entered the nave, Sally cried out, "Charley!"

"Quiet, Sally," said the Doctor. "It's not polite to shout in a church.

"Your rather religious for a scientist."

"I respect people's beliefs. While bad things have been done on Earth in the name of religion, for the most part religion has propelled humanity's moral character throughout the ages. It deserves respect."

"How are we going to find her, Doctor?" asked Sally.

"A little echolocation might help," said the Doctor as he drew a silvery want from his pocket.

'Your Sonic Screwdriver?"

"Yes. A friend of mine taught me all about echolocation some time back."

"was he also a scientist?"

"No. He was a dolphin. That's odd. I'm getting a reading back that probably is human, but it's several yards that way, and at least ten feet down. That's beneath the cloisters we passed. Ah! Behind the altar here. I think it's a secret passage."

Sally carefully pulled back the ornate rug behind the altar, and revealed a panel. The Doctor pocketed his screwdriver and pried the panel up. "It is a secret passage, Sally. Shall we?"

"You first, Doctor."

The Doctor jumped down the hole, and Sally followed. They were in a dark tunnel. The Doctor pulled a pentorch from his pocket and led them down the passage. There corridor ended in a vault. Several pieces of electronic devices were arrested around a glass, egg shaped object in the middle of the room.

The Doctor examined the object, as Sally looked about the equipment.

"These are EM detectors and Geiger counters," said Sally as she joined the Doctor at the egg. "What is it?"

"It's a stasis pod, Sally," explained the Doctor.

"Is that like a cryogenic chamber?'

"Not quite. It has the same principle, but instead of using cold to preserve it's occupant, it literally slows down time. You see that figure in there? He's probably injured and is in need of healing."

"What's that symbol? Asked Sally, indicating what looked like a stylized eight.

"Trouble," the Doctor. "That's the Seal of Rassilon. That's a Time Lord in there."