The Lekar swiped through the air and conjured up a throne. He sat, attentively, and smiled.
"Hang on...created by the Time Lords? What kind of idiot do you think I am?"
"One who finds value in the little things. They said I was a little thing, you know. But let's not dwell on the little things. We're all big things now. Questions?"
"Who are you?"
"Let us just say...that there's a world, my world, where the Time Lords were evil and corrupt but oh so good. Imagine that a man, a member of their ranks, rose to the top and established a reign."
"You're-"
"I'm the version of you from my universe, yes. Perhaps that's why I have such a hatred for you."
"Another thing. Your friend here said it wasn't about the box, this Devil's Cage. All the Vortex stuff."
"He's correct to a point. I rarely tell him everything. You see, we're not trying to open the box. We're-"
"Trying to get the box. You're ripping the Vortex apart because you can't reach it! Another question- why do you know the Time Lords?"
"Your people saw our universe, and being as inquisitive as they usually are, decided to test someone from it. They took me, and accidentally brought the Servant. I was probed for seven days, tortured to the brink of my existence. All because your people were stupid and blind enough to think we wanted to wage war!"
He slammed down his fist and almost began to froth at the mouth with anger. The Servant didn't even flinch.
"And one final question. Well, two really. First, you're calling him your servant when he's anything but, secondly if you have so many people you ascended over to rule, then where are they? You at least have enough for an army."
The Lekar looked at the Doctor and laughed.
"The Servant's make-up is of no importance. As for-"
"Woah there, you didn't answer my question."
"Yes, well-"
"I need an answer!"
"He's not-"
"What?"
"He's a Likron! There, does that answer your question? Highly adapted, but still a Likron."
"So that's how he controlled them before. Leader of the pack. Only they were androids, so."
"As for your other question. I prefer a more subtle approach to invasion."
"Oh, so it's an invasion now." Maxine said, mockingly. The Lekar laughed.
"It's many things, Maxine Vaughn. You'll see soon enough just how many things it is. Some might say, eleven things."
The Doctor stared at him.
"Threats won't get us anywhere."
"Neither will small talk, Doctor. Now, where do we start. What's your name?"
"The Doctor"
"No no no. Your real name. The one which you run from, yet it drags behind you like a ball on a chain. Doctor who, exactly? Who are you, really, in those hearts?"
"You know who I am."
"Of course I do. As much as you know me, Doctor. So how about we see how much you know. You and your friend are to be tested in what you would call a Labyrinth of Memory. Let the games begin, as you confront the demons of your past."
Walls of mist rose around them, cutting off the world from them. There was a faint hum, interjected with a slight metallic screech.
"What is this place?"
"My mind. Lekar's put us in some kind of coma, made us beat this little game of his. I'm sorry for getting you into this."
"I've been in worse."
They laughed, only to erase the tense atmosphere.
"So, what, we have to get to the middle?"
"Yeah. But we don't have any idea what's between us and the middle."
They walked cautiously down the corridor they had found themselves in. Immediately a figure sprung up from the also-misty floor. It was a man, hunched over, covered in dirt and grime. He wore primitive animal robes, which still left skin visible.
A disembodied voice rang out, with the words
"I, Kal, am not afraid of fire. I will make my creature make fire!"
which prompted the figure to run at them, but go straight through them and disappear like a ghost.
"Know him?"
"Yeah...he was a caveman in 100,000 BC. Come on, got to keep moving. Who knows what else we'll find."
lllllllllllllllllllllllllll
They found themselves at a four-way junction.
"How do we know which direction to take?"
Four figures sprung up in front of each path. One wore black robes and a sort of half skull-cap, half kippah style leather hat. The next wore monk robes, and had a chubby face. The one next to him wore an odd, almost velvet outfit and had black greased hair, a black beard and a welcoming-but-nauseating grin. The final one was short and wore the same clothes as the Doctor, and had a squashed face.
"One of us is telling a truth." said the Valeyard.
"The others all a lie." said the Monk.
"Only simple answers." drawled the Master.
"Unless you want to die." said the Dream Lord.
The Doctor looked at each of them, disappointed.
"Right, so I presume I can only ask yes or no questions. So, right away I can eliminate the Valeyard and the Dream Lord. I always lie to myself."
The respective outcasts knelt down and bowed their heads.
"Ok, now these two."
He looked at the Master.
"Global domination."
He turned to Maxine.
"It's the Monk. I'm sure."
"How?"
"Not even a glimmer in his eye when I brought up domination."
"But that doesn't prove he's lying." she groaned, pointing at the Master.
"Trust me."
He dragged her by the hand and stood in front of the Monk.
"Geronimo!" he yelled, as they hopped past the apparition.
"Won't you show mercy to your own-" yelled the apparition of the Master, as it along with the others vanished into mist. They kept on walking again.
"How far away can this middle be?!"
lllllllllllllllllllllllllll
The Lekar looked to the Servant, while keeping an eye on the Doctor's mind.
"Let's serve him something difficult."
lllllllllllllllllllllllllll
They found a door.
"Wonder what's inside."
She pushed it open. Inside was dark.
"Can't see."
Suddenly a light flashed on.
"Oh no."
The room was a sprawling circle. In one area was a squad of Daleks, surrounding what looked like a tower-sized Dalek that had tubes coming out of it. Across from them was a group of small, troll-ish things in purple armour. Next to them were a group of metal men, and next to them was a trio of giant crabs. She knew these were Macra, not Maroc.
"Exterminate!"
"Sontar-ha!"
"Destroy them!"
The Macra just clicked.
They turned and saw the door disappear.
"Right, you up for fighting?"