TARDISCI5TARDISCI5

A blue box materializing in your office is not something that happens every day. Parker leapt to his feet in astonishment; files and papers spilling off his chair. His hand crept to his gun. Cowley noticed this and ordered in the sternest tone possible.

"Put it down 7.2." Parker did a double take, staring in disbelief at his boss.

"What?" As though the universe just decided to confound him further the doors to the TARDIS opened and the Doctor stepped out.

"Doctor?" The Doctor looked at him in uncertainty for a moment before realising.

"Oh, don't worry, I've got both your men – they're fine and dandy, excluding headaches – but we need to work fast, the Trickster will be on our trail quicker than you can say Jack Robinson. Actually, nobody mention Jack Robinson. They always seem to appear when you say that."

He bounded past Parker, who gaped at this serious be-suited stranger, and then snatched up some of the files. "Ooh,"

"Who are you?" Parker demanded. The Doctor slipped on his glasses.

"I'm the Doctor."

"Doctor of what?!"

"Everything."

At that moment Bodie and Doyle stumbled from the impossible box, and Parker went a deathly shade of grey. Doyle stood easily; regarding his former partner with something akin to confused interest.

"What the…" Syd began, his eyes flicking uneasily back and forth. "But… you're…" Doyle was older than when he'd last seen him about five years ago. He frowned. Doyle regarded him warily – he couldn't say why but he felt almost defenceless but a tiny flame of joy was flickering. Syd was alive! He was…here but;

"At what price?" Everyone was staring at him. "At what price?" he repeated unsurely. The Doctor carefully placed the papers on the desk and shook his head sadly.

"I'm sorry," he said, "I'm so sorry, but the price…" he glanced over at Parker. Bodie didn't understand;

"What price?" he asked, scared of what the answer would be. The Doctor ducked his head and refused to meet the pair's gaze.

"Where there is death there must always be death." He quoted softly. Then his head came up and he glared at Parker, "you made a deal."

"A deal with whom? The Devil?" Cowley demanded. The Doctor's answer simmered with quiet frustration.

"Wrong demon."

"I haven't made any kind of deal with anyone!" Parker protested.

"What is going on?" Cowley asked and Bodie echoed this confusion. Even Doyle seemed unsure. The Doctor pointed an accusing finger at Parker.

"It showed you didn't it? Offered a future? Yeah, stupid, selfish human and you had to take it!"

"I didn't know!" Shocked at the sudden change in Parker's face Doyle took an involuntary step back, alarmed at this side of his mentor that he'd never seen before.

"You didn't just sign over your own soul – you condemned your own partner to death!" The Doctor yelled.

Bodie moved unconsciously in front of Doyle, sheltering him from Parker. He had only just rescued his friend and was not going to let fate snatch him away again. He glowered at the agent; ready to anticipate any move he could make to hurt anyone in the room, however Parker just seemed lost and nervous – not entirely sure of himself.

"What do you mean?" Doyle asked; the Doctor didn't turn around.

"He killed you. That's what the Trickster does. He offers a chance of change. Syd Parker died in the original time. But he made a deal. He thought he could save himself. One choice…"

"One choice I was happy to help make." The voice came out of nowhere. Doyle shut his eyes in apprehension.

"Jack Robinson," he muttered.

The earthquake hit so hard that the whole world blurred as if they were caught in a giant's snowglobe. Everyone was tossed about by the violent tremors that gripped them. The Doctor grabbed his sonic screwdriver and the blue light shone off his face. The buzzing only highlighted the sharp focus of the attack. Through his limited vision Bodie saw the Trickster rise behind Doyle.

"Ray!" Doyle twisted and tried to scramble away but it seized his shoulder. Doyle screamed as the thin hand compressed about the bone. Bodie flung himself forwards. Doyle's form began to evaporate, slowly, fading, becoming transparent, and he stretched out a desperate hand towards his friend.

"Bodie!" He was too late. His hand passed through Doyle's as the Trickster wrenched him away to God knew where. The last thing he saw was Doyle panicked face.

"No!" Behind the windows the bright emptiness of Limbo began to leak through. "No…"