The Crucible of Time. (chapter 2)

The Doctor looked at the console and scratched his head. He then rushed around to view the Time Vector Generator; ''That's not right .'' he said to himself.

''I was in 1986...south pole...I sent the TARDIS to Oxford of the the same year...''

He re-checked everything just in case he was still confused by his regenertion...but no, The TARDIS had clearly been knocked off course!

The Doctor felt quite relaxed..but puzzled. Then he looked around the TARDIS...no companions...he looked at his young reflection...and the puzzled feeling gave way to another feeling...an over whelming feeling of curiousity...even excitment!

He rumaged through pockets in his other coats and filled his new coat. He found the Sonic sunglasses and discarded them. He then found The Sonic Screw-driver and put it in his inside pocket. Then with just some toast he wrapped in a handkerchief, He opened the TARDIS doors!

The TARDIS had landed in a small wood and the Doctor stepped out into dappled sunshine. He made his way through a gap in an old stone wall. Once he was out of the trees he saw the Oxfordshire countyside and in the distance Oxford itself. There was no point using the TARDIS to travel the mile or so to his originally intended target since the same problem might acure again...,''best to walk.'', he thought to himself.

He took out the sonic screw-driver, ''yes,'' he said to himself, ''strange readings indeed!''

Before long he had entered the outskirts of town and along the way he passed a house where Builders (construction workers) were at work,singing (or trying to)to the small radio on the wall.

The Doctor stopped and listened and one worker stopped to look at him strangely dressed in their eyes.

''Let me guess; was that released in 1973?'' he inquired.

'' ' You joking?You're two years out; that's their latest; Number 7 in the charts!''said the worker.

''So'', The Doctor said to himself, '' it's been released this year''...it was 1975! The TARDIS missed by one mile and 11 years!

In town he passed many students from the university...many on bicycles, some enjoying the sun and talking. The Doctor took the sonic screw driver out again and got peculiar glances from the students. It was only when he passed two sat on the grass that he was spoken to.

''What's that you're doing?'' said one.

But the Doctor showed little interest and without even looking up from the sonic just remarked,''just trying to find the source of this time ripple''

''Time ripple?!'' one said with incredulity.''

The Doctor looked up and saw the two. The one that spoke had dark brown hair,was about 25 years old and had by his side books on physics...the other of about the same age, had longish fair hair and held a guitar and had a book on the Symbolist poets by his side.

''You're not going to find ripples in time, ''said the dark haired one,''...anyway Einstein showed that time and space are aspects of the same thing...I.E. space-time.''

Before the Doctor could say anything the other spoke up,

''He also said that large gravity waves could travel through the fabric of spacetime.''as if to correct his friend.

''Thank you...err, ''said the Doctor fishing for his name.

'' I'm Tom Whitfield...and this is James Morton.'' said the student with longer hair.

''Well thanks Tom...you're on the right track.'' The Doctor replied, ''...you see James, I took for granted that either everyone knows that or they can't grasp the concept so it's best to simplify, But'' he continued, ''I'm dealing with vector shift reactions that are more time-like than space like...although my calculations will always consider the whole space-time for all travel vectors within this universe. Then you have to look at the quantum effect with in the Higgs field...oh, sorry have I lost you? I'm...err...Smith, Doctor John Smith.''

''You make it sound like time travel is possible,'' said James, a little perturbed.

''True scientists have to keep an open mind, James'' replied Tom.

'' You don't even study that much anymore, Tom'' said James, ''...since you started being a musician. But you were better at it than me...eh,where's that Smith chap going!''

''An open mind; that's the spirit Tom.. ''called the Doctor from a distance, ''Seen anything strange around here lately? ''

''Apart from you.'' James muttered under his breath.

''Not really...although there were some strange lights coming from Eynsham way'' said Tom pointing to the distance.

The Doctor did some calculations, ''Of course!'' he said, ''time-space-reverb...now the calculations are tracking the source!''

Then he marched off almost running. About a mile out of town he came upon a Forest and the readings on the sonic pointed there.''O.k. ,'' the Doctor said without turning, ''you can both come out now!''

Slowly and rather embarrassed Tom and James stood up from behind a edge..they'd been following him!

''Either go back or stay very close...I need to know what's in here.''

''There's nothing strange about this place...well,apart from the ancient crater; Mirkhol.''

''What's that ?'' asked the Doctor.

''Well, ''said James, ''There's a sort of crater...but it's over a thousand years old...they can't agree on what made it.''

''Hmm, interesting.'' The Doctor said as he moved deeper into the forest.

Soon they reached a spot where the sonic was making a noise, ''Infra-red beams! I think we may have triggered someones intruder alarm! Quick in this ditch!'' said the Doctor but had to follow it up with: ''Come on,something's coming!'' Prompting James and Tom to do as they were told.

The three crouched in a shallow ditch and the Doctor gestured for them to be silent. Eventually The Doctor looked over the top of the ditch and the others joined in.

''What's that ! ''said James as he beheld a figure walking through the undergrowth.

''shhh'' exclaimed the Doctor'' as yet more figures appeared.

They were bluey-grey with some other colours on their chests. They were shortish except a few rather tall ones, but they all had huge shoulder muscles, biceps and forearms. Their heads were bold, almost like that of a bee or ant except that the mouth and eyes were more human-like, though their eyes were large. Some walked bare chested or with ragged mantels but some had what looked like body armour which had black fur on the back, making them look like bumble bees. Also, each held what must have been a gun.

Suddenly and without warning James made a leap out of the ditch and began running back the way they had come! One of the figures fired his gun (a laser) but it missed. Then the Doctor appeared, hands raised, ''Don't shoot; we surrender!'' he said.

The Alien beings forgot about James and closed in on The Doctor, Guns raised.

''You too!'' said a harsh voice to Tom who found himself being dragged out of the ditch , loosing his guitar in the process. Then one of the taller aliens approached , raised his gun and pulled the trigger!