The Doctor stood back from the central console of his TARDIS, satisfied that they were on their way, and on the trail of the elusive Lord Aranax and Mr.
Springwell. He glanced over at his travelling companions and hurried over to stand with them.

Passepartout was lying unconscious on his back on a wooden table, his jacket and vest discarded, and his shirt opened to expose the bullet wound in his shoulder. Phileas was holding a cloth against the wound to staunch the bleeding.

Phileas looked up as the Doctor approached. "Doctor, we need something to help him. Is there anything in here that might..." He trailed off, his eyes pleading with the Doctor.

The Doctor spun around, and dashed to another section of the console room.
He disappeared behind a pile of books and boxes. He emerged a few seconds later holding an old-fashioned doctor's bag. Opening the bag as he rushed back to the crowd around Passepartout, he withdrew a metallic-looking piece of cloth. He moved Phileas aside, and applied the metallic gauze to the surface of the bullet wound. After a moment of pause, a small "clink" sound was heard, and the Doctor lifted the metal cloth from the wound. The bullet was attached to the odd cloth. The Doctor tossed the bullet and cloth aside, and grabbed another piece of cloth from his black bag. The ordinary-looking white cloth was pressed to the bloodied section of Passepartout's shoulder. The Doctor held it in place for a moment, then lifted his hand. The white cloth remained in place. The Doctor looked up at his companions.

"There," he announced gently. "That should do the trick. As you can see the bullet has been extracted. Now the medical enzymes and chemicals embedded in the cloth will start to work on healing and repairing the wound.
It's imperative that Passepartout get some rest, and not exert himself for the next day or so."

Phileas looked at the Doctor. "Thank you," he said gratefully.

A few seconds later, the console chimed. The TARDIS had arrived. The Doctor hurried back to the console, and operated the scanner screen,
checking the view outside. The display showed a pleasant tree-lined courtyard. It appeared to be night-time, as stars shone above the tops of the trees. The Doctor checked some readings. "Near-Earth atmospheric conditions. Bit more nitrogen in the atmosphere, but not so you'd notice.
Shouldn't affect any of use." He twisted a dial. "Hmm... we haven't arrived *exactly* where I wanted us to, but it appears that Aranax and the control spheres are in fact nearby. Time to head out and stop all this."
He operated the door controls, and headed towards the exit. He stopped and spun about. "I think it best if someone were to stay with Passepartout,
just to be on the safe side."

"I'll stay with him," Jules said.

Rebecca turned to him. "Jules, we're on another world, don't you want to get out there and see... well, everything?"

Jules smiled at Rebecca. "I've alread been to a few other worlds, thanks to our last visit from the Doctor, remember? I think it's your turn, Rebecca."

"If you're sure..." Rebecca said. Jules nodded, and Rebecca smiled her thanks.

The Doctor, Charley, Phileas and Rebecca headed for the TARDIS doors, and stepped outside onto the surface of the planet Riviss.

The four travellers were treated to a wondrous vision. The courtyard was spacious, and decorated with beautiful tree-like plants along several avenues that crossed the courtyard. A wide, two-story building sat nearby.
Above it all, the starry night sky glittered with the pin-pricks of faraway suns. A nearby blue-green, ringed moon dominated the sky, its rings tilting dramatically towards the planet.

Rebecca twirled about, drinking in the glorious view. "It's so beautiful!"
she breathed, awe-struck.

Phileas also gazed up at the sky. "Most impressive," he agreed.

Charley nudged Phileas. "Philes, we've got a job to do, remember?" she said quietly.

"What? Oh, yes. Yes, thank you Miss Pollard."

Charley smiled as she linked her arm with Phileas and led him towards the nearby building. "Please, Phileas, for the last time... call me Charley!"
she giggled.

Rebecca pulled her gaze from the night sky, and found the Doctor standing next to her. She linked her arm with his, and yanked him along, following Charley and Phileas. The Doctor, caught unawares by the arm-linking,
stumbled to keep up with the determined Rebecca Fogg.

The four travellers hurried up the stairs leading to the entrance of the nearby building, and dashed inside.

*****

Lord Aranax and Mr. Springwell yanked open the double doors and hurried inside the room, leaving the bodies of several guards behind them in the corridor. They had made it. The Control Room of the Rivissian Powersource.
Along the wall opposite from the doorway stood a tall, grand machine. It looked not unlike a huge cathedral organ. Instead of pips, long, smooth crystal tubes climbed the wall. Where a keyboard would have been situated,
there was a complex computer panel. A display, a keyboard, and many various buttons and switches faced the two men as they approached the console. On the extreme sides of the machine were two circular recesses. These were clearly designed to house the control spheres.

Aranax looked at Mr. Springwell. "At last, all our dreams will come true!"
the taller man breathed.

Mr. Springwell frowned. "All of *your* dreams, you mean," he groused.

"Why, Springwell, are you having second thoughts?"

"No, Lord Aranax, it's just that..." Springwell trailed off, uncertain how to continue.

"Go on," Aranax said, a hint of intimidation creeping into his voice.

Springwell looked up at Aranax. "You've still not told me what is to be my role in the new government."

Aranax laughed. "Whoever said you would have *any* sort of role?"

Springwell frowned again. "But I thought... after all my help..."

"Well, you thought wrong. You were simply the closest person I could find when I decided to embark upon my quest to find the two control spheres. Did you think I actually *chose* you because of any sort of 'qualifications'?"
Aranax chuckled. "You must be more foolish than I had hoped."

Springwell's anger simmered. But before he could speak further, the doors behind them burst open, as the Doctor, Charley, Rebecca and Phileas rushed inside. Aranax spun around, holding his pistol out in front of him.

"You see?" Aranax growled at Springwell. "You can't even lock the doors,
for crying out loud!" He reached into a pocket and pulled out one of the control spheres. He tossed it at Springwell. The shorter man looked at the small metallic globe as Aranax continued. "Get over there and get ready to place this in its recess. The two spheres must be inserted at the exact same moment."

Springwell looked over at Aranax.

"Aranax, stop this at once," the Doctor demanded. "You cannot continue this madness."

Aranax laughed harshly. "And why not, Mr. Curly-Hair? This planet is my birthright. It is mine to control, and control it I shall!"

Phileas spoke up. "As I understand it, the people have spoken. They no longer wish to be led by your kind, no longer wish to be ruled by a monarchy."

"They've chosen their leaders," Rebecca added, continuing the thread. "Your day is done, I'm afraid."

"You see, Aranax?" the Doctor continued. "Even people alien to your planet know that you're finished. You don't have the right to rule the people."

"The people?" Aranax scoffed. "The people are fools, they don't know what's best for them. That *I* am best for them. I mean, just look at Springwell here. He fell in love with an alien *whore* for goodness' sake!"

Springwell narrowed his eyes, and frowned at Aranax. "Don't you *dare* call Rachel that!" he hissed.

"I shall call whomever I want whatever I want whenever I want, once I have complete and utter control of this world," Aranax said, smiling. "And why stop at this world? I'll figure out a way to increase the mind-control power of this machine, and become master of even more planets. It's only a matter of time."

"But that's no way to rule, Aranax," the Doctor said. "To completely blank people's minds into blindly doing your bidding..." The Doctor shook his head sadly.

Aranax waved at Springwell with his gun. "For some people I don't need the machine. Springwell, prepare to insert the control sphere."

The Doctor turned his attention to Springwell. "Mr. Springwell, you cannot possibly want to allow this to happen."

Charley stepped carefully forward, pleading with Springwell. "What about Rachel, Mr. Springwell? What would she think about all of this? If you do this, you'll never see her again, do you realize that?"

Aranax fired a shot over Charley's head. "Shut up, little girl!" he snarled.

"I say!" Phileas snarled angrily. "Show her some manners!"

Aranax ignored Phileas, and pulled out the second control sphere, and side-stepped over to the recess opposite from Springwell's, keeping his gun trained on the intruders. "Ready, Springwell?"

Springwell looked at the control sphere, then at Aranax and his gun.
Looking over at the Doctor and his friends, his gaze settled on Charley. "I have to do this," Springwell said quietly.

Aranax laughed. "On the count of three. One...two...three!" Aranax pressed his control sphere into its recess, while Springwell did the same at the other end of the machine. Lights began to twinkle on the front of the machine as it powered up after centuries of silence. The crystal tubes leading up the wall began to glow, pulsing with light. A powerful thrumming noise filled the air, as Aranax laughed again. He held one hand on the control sphere as it rested in its recess, and cackled as he felt the power thrum from the sphere into his palm. "At last! In a few moments, this world will be mine!"

The power built, and the Doctor looked sadly at his friends. "I'm sorry,"
he said simply.

"Don't be," Springwell said. He looked at Aranax and frowned angrily at his fellow Rivissian. "Aranax, you bastard! You've had this coming for a long time!" With that, Springwell yanked his control sphere out of its recess,
and hurled it away.

The power building with the Powersource machine became unbalanced, now that there was only one control sphere. The glowing tubes flickered, the lights on the control panel blinked in rapid succession, and a tremendous surge of energy channelled straight into the remaining control sphere, which Aranax still held his palm against. The energy charged through the sphere, and crashed into Aranax's body. The power from the machine ripped through the Rivissian's skeletal structure, blazed through his internal organs, and sparked its way to Aranax's skin. His flesh charred quickly, and his body fried and melted into a thick, ugly pool of blood, flesh, and tissue.

The power died away as Aranax died, and quickly fizzled to nothing. The machine hummed down to silence.

"Good grief," Phileas said as he frowned at Aranax's remains.

There was a moment of silence. Then the Doctor turned to Springwell. The short Rivissian pulled his gaze away from Aranax's mess and met the Doctor's eyes.

"Well done, Mr. Springwell," the Doctor said.

Springwell smiled weakly, then slid to the floor, shaking. A tear fell from his eye. He curled up and hugged his knees to his chest and began rocking quietly back and forth. "Do you think Rachel will be proud of me?" he whispered.

Charley approached Springwell and crouched down next to him. "I'm sure she will be," she said gently as she hugged him.

Springwell smiled slightly. "I wish I could tell her."

Charley looked back at the Doctor. "We can take you back, can't we,
Doctor?"

"Of course," the Doctor answered, smiling.

Rebecca looked at Phileas. "Well, Phileas, our first visit to an alien planet."

"Indeed," Phileas said.

"What do you think?" Rebecca asked.

Phileas thought for a moment. "I liked it much better outside than in here,
of that I am quite certain."

The Doctor stepped over Aranax's remains, and plucked the control sphere from its socket. He walked across the room, and picked up Springwell's discarded sphere. Looking at the two control spheres, the Doctor quietly sighed. He slipped them into his pockets. "Time to take care of these for good, this time," he said softly.

Charley helped Springwell to his feet. "I think we should be going," she said, "don't you, Doctor?"

The Doctor nodded, and helped her guide Springwell out the door. Rebecca and Phileas followed, slowing their pace to hang back a short distance from the others.

Phileas held out his arm, and Rebecca quietly took it.

"Phileas," Rebecca said.

"Yes, Rebecca?"

"What exactly is going on between you and Charley?"

Phileas stopped. "I have no idea what you mean."

Rebecca smiled up at him sweetly. "Of course not, Phileas. Just checking."

They resumed their walk.

Up ahead, the Doctor and Charley continued to assist Springwell as they emerged from the building and headed towards the TARDIS.

"Charley..." the Doctor began.

"Yes, Doctor?"

"What exactly is going on between myself and Rebecca?"

Charley laughed. "I have no idea what you mean."

The Doctor frowned slightly as they reached the TARDIS doors. "Neither do I, I'm afraid."

*****

Passepartout sat up as the Doctor, Charley and Springwell entered the TARDIS.

"How did it go?" Jules asked.

"We won, Aranax has been defeated," Charley reported. "All in a day's work."

"And it looks like Passepartout is doing better!" the Doctor said with a huge grin.

Passepartout smiled back, a smile that grew a hundredfold as Rebecca and Phileas, still arm in arm, entered the TARDIS. "Master! Miss Rebecca! You are being well!"

Phileas and Rebecca rushed over to Passepartout.

"As are you, Passepartout," Phileas said, smiling. "Well done!"

Rebecca hugged Passepartout gently. "I can't tell you how pleased I am to see you looking so well," she said.

Jules cleared his throat. "Welcome back, everyone," he said.

Rebecca looked over at Jules. "Oh, Jules, I'm so sorry... you missed everything once again."

"That's becoming the story of my life," Jules said.

"Oh, don't worry, Jules," the Doctor called over as he helped Springwell into a nearby plush chair. "The story of your life holds many more surprises for you and your friends." Having gotten Springwell comfortable,
the Doctor strolled over to the control console. "Now, I think it's time we got you all back to where you belong." He threw some controls, twisted some dials, and the TARDIS dematerialized.

*****

A short time later, the TARDIS reached its destination. The Doctor opened the doors, and he and Charley led the way outside.

The Doctor and Charley emerged into a large, wide room, filled with hundreds of people. Far on the other side of the room, past the crowd of people in front of the Doctor, a stage was set up, and a man stood at a podium. The Doctor could barely make out what was happening on stage. He stood up on his tiptoes. Phileas, Rebecca, Jules, and Passepartout bumped into the Doctor as he squinted to make out what was happening on the other side of the hall.

The man at the podim tapped his microphone, the sound echoing through the hall. He cleared his throat. "And now, the moment you've all been waiting for," the man said. "Please join me in welcoming to the second annual AuroraCon... ladies and gentlemen, our friends Michael, Francesca, Michel,
and Chris!" Thunderous applause boomed throughout the hall as the crowd jumped to its feet.

The Doctor's eyes widened. He spun about, and began shoving his companions back into the TARDIS. "Back, inside, quickly! We must leave, now!"

"What is it, Doctor?" Charley asked. "Why the sudden rush? Daleks?
Cybermen? What??"

Rebecca and Phileas tumbled back inside the TARDIS, as the Doctor pushed Jules and Passepartout none-too-gently inside the time machine. The Doctor dragged Charley inside with him, muttering, "We've got to leave, now... dire consequences... terrible disruption of the space-time continuum... No time to argue! Hurry!"

He slammed the door shut behind him.

The man at the podium paused, as a strange grinding, wheezing sound echoed from the rear of the convention hall. Peering into the dim back corners of the hall, he saw nothing. He shrugged, and continued with the introductions...

...THE END