The Four Doctor
Chapter Three: The Marshes of Miqua
(For those of you wondering about continuity: For Eight, this story takes place between the events of the 1996 film and The Last Great Time War. For Nine and Rose, it's between "Father's Day" and "The Empty Child". For Ten and Donna, it's between "Midnight" and "Turn Left". For Eleven and Amy, it's between "Victory of the Daleks" and "The Time of Angels".)
Within Eleven's TARDIS, the Four Doctors were hard at work, building devices to locate the parts of the Key to the Eye of Eternity. Their companions, unable to comprehend their techno-babble, and feeling they'd just be in the way, busied themselves by looking around.
"Ooh, very swish." said Donna, admiring the TARDIS interior.
"Yeah." agreed Rose, turning to Amy. "Your Doctor must have got a hell of a good deal on his trade-in."
"I'll have to take your word for it." said Amy truthfully, having not seen the other TARDISes' insides.
"So, you're both redheads." noted Rose of Donna and Amy. "Is that what the Doctor does? Just... alternates between hair colors?"
"I wouldn't know." replied Donna. "Your Doctor seems so different from my Doctor."
"I didn't even know there was a 'my Doctor.'" Rose admitted.
"It's weird, alright." admitted Amy. "But it does explain why my Doctor was going on about his face and 'new mouth' when I first met him."
"He's not bad-looking, your Doctor." Donna told Amy. "Seems a bit too young, though."
"Yeah, and I get stuck with a Doctor who looks at least twenty years older then me." interjected Rose.
"Done!!" cried out Eleven, the Doctors' collective work finished.
The companions came over to see, witnessing each Doctor holding what looked like a metal divining rod with bicycle handles.
"What are they supposed to be?" asked Donna, slightly underwhelmed.
"Wibbley-Wobbley Detectors!" proclaimed Ten proudly.
"What?" asked Rose.
"It's very simple." said Nine. "The Key to the Eye is a source of power in itself. Even in pieces, it gives off enough energy to make the space around it slightly... wibbley-wobbley.
"Hence, the Wibbley-Wobbley Detectors." finished Eight.
"Now, here's how it's going to work." started Eleven. "We'll split up, and go after each piece at the same time. We want to beat the Black Guardian's agents to them, after all."
"Split up?" repeated Nine.
"Is that a problem?" asked Eleven.
"Not for me, but maybe for him." said Nine, gesturing at Eight. "He's on his own."
"I'm between companions at the moment, yes." huffed Eight. "But I think I can handle a little scavenger hunt by myself!"
"No chance, mate." snorted Nine. "You're too wet behind the ears. A problem I don't have, by the way."
"A good thing, too." said Eight. "With ears that size, you'd be carrying around a couple of small lakes."
"There's no time to argue!" proclaimed Eleven, exasparated. "Everyone, into your TARDISes, hurry! Once you've found the Key part, come right back to Eye of Orion, and wait for the others to arrive."
The three other Doctors left Eleven's TARDIS, and entered their own. Each one vanished in turn.
Eight's TARDIS landed in a marshy swamp, deep in the heart of the planet Miqua. Needless to say, he wasn't thrilled at his surroundings, but he had a job to do. Holding forward his Detector, he started moving through the swamp, changing direction as the device beeped more and more regulary.
After what seemed like hours of searching, Eight happened upon some sort of village. Entering through the front gate, he was suddenly beseiged by a group of spear-wielding green-skinned humanoids.
"Oh, hello." said Eight nervously. "How do you do? I'm the Doctor."
"One of the spear-wielders, a tall fellow with an elaborate headdress, stepped forward.
"I am Mudge." he declared. "Leader of this village. What business do you have here, stranger?"
"I'm looking for something." Eight said. "Something old and metal." According to my device, it is here, in your village."
"So." mused Mudge. "Another mysterious stranger has come seeking the claw of gold."
"Another?" repeated Eleven. "Who else is here?"
"That would me." replied a taunting voice.
From behind a group of villagers, a slightly portly, mischevious-looking man in a black hood walked into view.
"The Meddling Monk?" asked Eight. "That takes me back. How have you been, old man?
"Quite well, quite well." replied the Monk. "Considering you left me to die in a frozen wasteland!" he snarled. Turning to face the crowd at large, he roared "You see? You see the kind of man this is? He sabotaged my transportation device and left me for dead! is that the kind of man you want to take possession of the claw of gold?"
"Don't listen to him!" declared Eight. "He is a liar and a charlatan! An agent of the Black Guardian! Certainly not the kind of man you want to take the claw!"
"Enough!" boomed Mudge. "It is said that the claw of gold was once part of a great and terrible weapon. Our tribe have pledged our selve to keep the claw safe, and out of the hands of those who would use it for evil."
"That's what I want to do, too!" said Eight. "Give me the claw, and I promise I'll keep it out of evil hands!"
"That is what the other stranger said." replied Mudge. "There is only one way to decide which of you gets the claw: the duel of the just."
"A duel?" inquired the Monk. "How perfectly barbaric!"
"It is our belief that it is the righteous who are the greatest fighters." explained Mudge. "The one who prevails must truly be the one who seeks to use the claw for good."
Eight and the Monk were lead inside a circle of stones, and each were handed a staff-like weapon, covered in spikes.
"Let the duel begin!" cried Mudge.
Neither the Monk nor Eight were particulary fond of violence, but that didn't mean they didn't know enough to defend themselves. The Monk swung his staff with ferocity unbecoming of his stout form, and Eight parried with a strength belying his benign appearance. Undaunted the Monk swung back again and again. His face, known to wear a mischevious grin, was contorted with a snarl that seemed completely unnatural, and his eyes were buring with hate.
"Someone's got a few anger issues." noted Eight, defly avoiding his opponant's blows.
"You stranded me on that miserable ball of ice." hissed the Monk. "If not for the Black Guardian, I would have died. Now I shall pierce your side, and leave you to die as you did me!"
"The Monk lunged at Eight with all his power. However, his anger had made clumsy and unfocused. With one swift move, Eight knocked the staff out of the Monk's hand and knocked him onto his back. As Eight held the Monk down with the flat of his staff, Mudge declared "The righteous one has triumphed!"
Eight let the Monk up, and the meddlesome Time Lord turned tail and fled. Eight was then led into Mudge's shack, where the Miquan leader brought forth an ornate box, opening it to reveal the first Key part.
"Thank you." said Eight. "I can assure you, your trust in me will not be misplaced."
"I pray so, Doctor." said Mudge solemnly. "If it were, all life everywhere would pay the price."
"That won't happen." declared Eight, just as solemnly. "I promise you."
"Farewell, Doctor." said Mudge, bowing deeply. "The greatest of luck to you."
Departing the village, Eight mused at how relatively simple his mission was. 'I hope the others have it this easy.' he thought as he entered his TARDIS. Activating the console, he failed to notice a black-cloaked individual ducking behind a pillar.
To Be Continued...
(Doctor Who and all associated characters are the property of BBC Worldwide.)