"Then we have but one choice. We must go to this universe."
-the Tenth Doctor
Surrey, England - Thursday 22nd April 2010 AD
"Good time?" the Brigadier asked. "Actually Doctors, what exactly are you both doing here?"
Silence was their answer; the two Time Lords (who were in actual fact the same Time Lord) looking to each other, not knowing what would be the best reply to the Brigadier's question. Eventually however, the Tenth Doctor said:
"Its important, Alistair." It was a poor answer.
"Its important?" the Brigadier questioned, frustrated at the Doctor's vague response. Nonetheless, it was also an answer which made the old soldier fearful. Was it possible that they knew what he and Gordon had discovered? He shuddered at the thought.
"Brigadier," said the Second Doctor, "perhaps its best we discuss this inside. In a more comfortable setting maybe?"
"Yes, that's a good idea," the Tenth Doctor agreed, nervously grasping the Brigadier's arm, trying to usher him into the house. "We should go inside, Alistair. We don't want to discuss anything serious out here, do we?"
"Wait- Hang on! Will you tell me what is going on, Doctor?" the Brigadier protested, though allowed the Tenth Doctor to drag him back to the house. "I mean for God's sake, you haven't told me-"
"Everything will be explained in due course, Brigadier," the Second Doctor simply replied.
The two of them managed to get the Brig back to the house, though the retired soldier kept on demanding what the two of them were doing at his estate. Jamie nearly spilled the beans, but he was told by his Doctor to keep quiet. Doris and Gordon followed, though somewhat nervously; curious and afraid of what the two Doctors were keeping secret. The Captain of course, was more afraid than his step-grandmother; aware, like his grandfather, that the two Time Lords may also know the truth of the Lethbridge-Stewart line.
Of course, they would have to know eventually anyway, the young soldier thought. It's for the Doctor to help us learn the truth about ourselves that we wanted him here.
"Now then," said the Second Doctor, as they all arrived in the kitchen. "Where in this house would it be most appropriate to have our discussion? Somewhere nice and comfortable?"
"The living room, maybe?" Doris suggested. "Or one of the-"
"Yes, the living room will be fine, Doris," said the Tenth Doctor. "It's um, right this way isn't it, if I remember correctly?" He pointed to the kitchen's left door.
"Yes, straight through the landing, the door straight ahead," she answered. "I'll join the four of you in a second. I'm putting the kettle on; you all could do with some tea."
"Oh, that's very thoughtful of you, Doris," the Second Doctor said.
"I'll have mine dark please, Doris," Gordon requested.
They (apart from Doris) trudged off out of the kitchen, through the landing, before arriving at the house's living room. It was a large, spacious room, well decorated, with posh, expensive furniture which could certainly be boasted about by any well off family. The five of them took a seat; either on a chair or on the settee. Doris soon followed, arriving with a tray full of tea filled cups, handing them out to the rest of her company. When she was done, she sat down, taking a sip of her own tea. The Brigadier then asked:
"So are the two of you going to explain why you're here?" He was becoming increasingly frustrated; annoyed that the two Doctors had failed to explain their presence. The Brigadier knew too well that whenever the Doctor's incarnations came together it always signalled trouble. And he greatly feared the news they brought regarded the truths he and Gordon had recently learned. Nevertheless, those truths would have to be discussed; not only did he wish to learn the truth, but he had an instinctual feeling of the consequences which would occur if they were not shared with the Doctors.
"Well, Brigadier," the Second Doctor said, nervousness ever clear in his voice. "I think we should begin with what happened on Cantolis." He turned to the Tenth Doctor, asked, "Would you agree?"
"I'd say so," the future Doctor answered.
"Cantolis?" the Brigadier spoke. "Is this where this whole thing began then?"
"Um, no. Not exactly, Brigadier," the Second Doctor replied. "He, had already found out much of what were going to tell you. But it was on Cantolis were we both ran into each other, so to speak."
He then went onto explain all what had happened on that planet which no longer existed. He told them about the Weeping Angels, their flight back to the TARDIS and how in the end they had no choice but to destroy Cantolis; preventing the angels from ever troubling the universe again. Cantolis' destruction had shocked the Brigadier and his family, but they recognised that the two Doctors had little choice. No, what had effected them far more was the prior genocide committed by the malevolent angels. How an entire race had been wiped out in a number of hours by those accursed creatures. Doris in particular had said:
"Those poor, poor people. An entire planet destroyed for mere hunger. I don't think I've heard anything as unpleasant."
"Yes, it is horrible," the Tenth Doctor noted sadly. "But the angels have no qualms in how they feed. As far their concerned, the only life which matters is there own. Guilt and sympathy are concepts alien to them; the only emotion they really know is there own lust."
"And that, as I explained, is why we destroyed Cantolis," the Second Doctor pointed out. "The Weeping Angels had to be stopped from ever causing such harm again."
"Doctor," said the Brigadier directly to the second incarnation of the Time Lord, "you mentioned that a guardian of some kind brought the two of you together on Cantolis. Who is this guardian?"
"Yes, the White Guardian," the Second Doctor replied, the Brigadier's question triggering the memories held in his mind. "Well, I think my successor would me more appropriate for this. As well as anything which he had discovered before I met with him."
"I agree," the Tenth Doctor said, before bringing his attention to the Brigadier. "Alistair, despite what you've seen with me during your UNIT years… the universe is even greater than you suppose. There are things in time and space which even I can't understand. And the Guardians are one of them. I've travelled through time, seen so much, but the Guardians… well, they are the one of the few beings I'm tempted to say which are supernatural. The Time Lords, the Halldons, even the Eternals, could not explain what the Guardians truly are. But there are some things which are known of them. There are two of them; the White Guardian and the Black Guardian. They seem to be anthropomorphic personifications of good and evil in the cosmos, with the White of course representing good, and the Black representing evil. They're so old that they predate the first big bang even; and they are also timeless, existing outside the boundaries of our universe. But they are limited. Their power is immense, but they contradict each other. In order to maintain the balance between themselves, they are constricted in how they are able to influence temporal events. And to fulfil their wishes, they often require the need of agents. Agents such as myself."
"And so the White Guardian has need of both you," the Brigadier recognised, though he was still in some awe from what the Doctor had told him of the Guardians. "But why? What does he need you for, Doctor?"
The Tenth Doctor gulped.
"Well, Alistair. It concerns you."
A chill shot up the Brigadier's spine, fear shaking his very being. It was confirmed; the Doctors were here to discuss him.
"What do you mean, Doctor?" he asked, keeping himself under as much control as he could exert.
"Alistair, there is something terrible which could happen. Thousands of years into the future, on the Ood Sphere, I met with a race of beings I know well. The Ood they are called. And the Ood have the gift of prescience. Its limited, but they are able to foresee future events, and even past changes in the timeline. And now, they have foreseen one such a change. A paradox. A paradox which will lead to the Daleks annihilating everything in existence."
"The Daleks?" Captain Lethbridge-Stewart asked gravely. "No, not them again."
"I'm sorry to say it, Captain;" the Second Doctor said, "but my successor is telling the truth."
"But yah didn't explain why there still about, Doctor," said Jamie (to the Second Doctor), who was puzzled and afraid. The Second Doctor had explained to him everything what his future self had told him, but Jamie had still been left wondering how the Daleks had managed to survive. "I mean, when we met the Daleks, they were destroyed. Yah said it was their final end."
"I did, Jamie," the Second Doctor admitted. "But I must confess, I wasn't telling you the complete truth. Even when those Daleks rebelled, turning against the Emperor, I had a feeling that the Dalek race would endure. And now it seems they have."
"Though, that's a moot point anyway," said the Tenth Doctor. "Because the paradox concerns their very creation."
"And the Ood told you that as well?" Gordon asked.
"No, they had no idea why the paradox was being brought about. But the Guardian did," the Tenth Doctor replied. "It was after I had left the Ood Sphere. During mid-flight the Guardian came to me, and he told me what the cause was. Many years ago, during my fourth incarnation, the Time Lords sent me on a mission to Skaro; homeworld of the Daleks. And I was sent to the point of their very creation. My mission was to prevent the Daleks from ever being created. But I failed, the Daleks survived, living on to spread their hate across the universe. I failed. But as I know now, my mission on Skaro was not completely in vain. I had managed to delay their evolution by a thousand years. However, as the Guardian foresaw, if the paradox comes into effect, then my actions on Skaro would never have occurred."
"Which leads to the outcome of the paradox," Captain Lethbridge-Stewart realised in horror, mouth agape. "Good God."
"Yes, your right," the Tenth Doctor answered in a grave tone, wishing that these events had never come about. And he now feared greatly how Alistair would react when he told his old friend the paradox came from him.
Oh, Alistair. What I'd give for this not to be so.
"But, Doctor," the Brigadier said. "How does this involve me?"
The Tenth Doctor sighed, trying with all his will to keep his emotions under control. His old friend had to be told the truth.
"The cause…. the cause is you, Alistair."
There was a stunned silence.
And Brigadier Sir Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart could not believe what he was hearing.
No, it can't be, he denied futilely. Me? I'm the cause? Lord, no. And this… this all must be connected to my real identity. Why? Why did this have to happen to me? No! No! No!
"W-what…. how is this so?" he asked trembling in dread. "How I am the cause, Doctor? You must-"
"You're never born," the Doctor's tenth self answered.
"W-w-what?"
"If the paradox forms, then you'll have never have been born in the alternative timeline." He looked away for a moment, a tear falling from his eye, before turning to face the old soldier once more. "Alistair, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
The Brigadier was speechless; unable to put into words how was now feeling. Sadness, confusion, fear, all permeated his mind. What was going on his life?
His grandson was also lost for words. How in Christ's name can this be happening? It's like some bizarre nightmare. What? What is going on?
The Tenth Doctor then spoke. "Alistair-" he said, but he was immediately cut off.
"How? How can this be happening, Doctor? Why does it have to me? Everything!" the Brigadier cried.
"Alistair-"
"Silence," the Brigadier commanded, executed in such a manner that it instantly stopped any attempt by the Doctor to speak. And had the emotional tornado of the Doctor's revelation not swept through the group, the strange tone in which the word was uttered would have greatly concerned the Time Lord. Instead guilt raced across the Doctor's mind, disturbing him immensely. Indeed, why did have to be Alistair?
Alistair, why?
"There are some things you do not know, Doctors," the Brig said, totally livid. "Things that I should now tell you."
"Alistair?" exclaimed Doris. "Alistair, what are you talking about?"
"The past, Doris. The past," he replied. "My past."
"I don't understand, Alistair," she sighed sadly.
"No, you wouldn't would you, Doris?" the Brigadier snarled. "You have no idea how I-"
"How dare you!" Doris screamed at him. "How dare you! You I think I don't know how you must feel right now? That after all these years-"
"You don't! You can't possibly know! And you why, Doris? Because you don't know what I know. I'm not who you think I am."
"What?"
"Alistair," the Tenth Doctor said, getting extremely worried, "what is it? What's bothering you?"
"I'm not who you think I am," the Brigadier repeated, though his tone was now milder. "And I'm not who I thought I was. I'm something else."
He paused briefly, as the rest of the group stared at him in awe. And only his grandson knew what he meant; the terrible truth.
"Since I was a child, Doctor, I've been having dreams. And these dreams have filled me with dread. The fear that I am not Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart."
"Granddad-"
"Alistair, please-"
"But it seems I wasn't the only person to have such dreams," the Brigadier continued, then turning to his grandson. "Gordon too has had similar dreams. But at least he has the comfort of knowing he isn't living a lie."
"What?" exclaimed the Tenth Doctor. "What?"
"I'm not from Earth, Doctor. Yes imagine that; imagine how my younger self would have reacted to that, Doctor," he laughed bitterly. "But as much as I try to escape it, it's the truth."
The rest of his company were dumbfounded.
"Oh, I'm human alright. But tell me, Doctors. Who am I? What am I? I must know!" the Brigadier demanded.
Silence reigned, until finally the Tenth Doctor spoke.
"Alistair, I-I-I'm sorry. I wish, I wish that this had all never happened." He paused. "What your saying… I-I don't know what to tell you. It just doesn't make any sense."
"No, it wouldn't," the Brigadier sneered.
"Alistair," the Doctor said, distressed totally by the Brigadier's angst. "Alistair, I'm sorry, but you need to tell me more. I need to know what happens in your dreams."
The Brigadier sighed.
"Ok, Doctor. I suppose you ought to. Very well. The dreams, well, when I was a child I dreamt of another world. It was a world quite unlike our own. It was a desert world; and was a place where water was so scant that its value exceeded even that of a precious ore. There were worms, worms so large that they could consume a warship. And such was their size, they could be destroyed by nothing less than an atomic weapon."
"But it's not the worms which scared me, Doctor," the Brig continued. "It was them. Those strange people who lived out in the deep desert. They're clever. They could avoid the worms, but also use them for their own means. They know how to survive, making use of their water, travelling only at night, hiding from the furnace of the day within their underground communities. But there is something haunting about them, Doctor. The eyes. Their eyes are blue with no white. Yes, the Eyes of Ibad they call them."
"The dreams then went, leaving me for what I hoped would be forever. But then they came back. It was in Suez back in '56. And not only did that desert world return, but there were also drums. A drumbeat of four. They-"
"No!" the Tenth Doctor cried suddenly. "No! No! Not that!"
"It can't be," murmured the Second Doctor under his breath, the past self being in utter shock.
"What? What's wrong with the two of you?" the Brigadier questioned.
"The Master," said the Second Doctor.
"The Master?" asked a puzzled Jamie, not knowing to whom the Time Lord was referring to.
"An old friend of mine, Jamie," the Highlander's Doctor replied, still bamboozled by what he had heard. "Who also just so happens to be my oldest enemy."
"But, the Master? What's he got to with the drums?" the Brigadier asked.
The Doctor stared briefly at the retired soldier, his face clearly exhibiting his worry for all to see. He then however said:
"He hears them too. The Master. I thought they were just a symptom of his insanity, but…. if you're hearing them too, then they must be real. That rhythm in his head; it meant something after all."
"The Master heard them too? Dear Lord," came the Brigadier's terrified response.
"It's unfortunate he's dead," said the Captain. "He might have known something."
"Oh, he isn't dead, Captain," the Tenth Doctor replied. "At least, he won't be much longer."
"You're saying he's alive?" questioned the Second Doctor. "But you said-"
"I'll explain later," the Tenth Doctor reassured his past self. "But, Brigadier. You must tell us what else you dreamt of?"
"Much," the Brig replied, before preparing his answer. "The dreams left me again once the military occupation of Suez had passed. But they've returned again, Doctor. Plaguing me more than ever have before. And they tell me so much. It's so hard to explain. They almost unconsciously tell me that all my life is nothing but falsehood. Just one great big lie. And, Doctor; within me there is something which is beginning to awake. Something which I-I just cannot put into words."
He stopped, as grief, anxiety and pain flowed through his self. And once more he asked the question which he hoped that God, the universe or anything could answer.
Why? Why me? Not only am I not a true Lethbridge-Stewart son, but I could end up going out of existence and causing a paradox which destroys the entire universe. Why? Why did have to be me?
"Oh, Alistair," Doris then sobbed. "All the years we've been together, and…. and you never said a word. Oh, why couldn't you say something, Alistair?"
Guilt sank deep down within him in response to his wife's outburst. Doris certainly had a right to be angry. He should have said something- but how could he?
"Doris," he said. "I wanted to, I really did. But I didn't want it to concern you. I've tried to ignore it, get on with my life. Then I thought it had gone, gone for good. But it wasn't to be. So now they have returned once again."
Silence descended upon them yet again, every member of the distressed company thinking deeply to themselves, so many thoughts appearing within their minds. Wondering what could be done, utterly shocked at what was happening.
But then finally the Brigadier asked:
"Doctors. Tell me then, what is all this about? Why is all of this happening to me?"
The two incarnations of the Time Lord looked at each other, at first not knowing what to say to their old friend. At last however, it was the Tenth Doctor whom spoke.
"I'm afraid Alistair, I can't be sure for certain," he said, his anxiety and sadness evident. "But, there is clearly a connection between your dreams and the paradox."
"As I feared," the Brigadier stated, clearly disturbed.
"I think there's another connection too," said Gordon. "That rip in the fabric of reality at Torchwood Tower, Doctor. Its opening again. And I think its that which has caused my dreams."
"So that's it," the Tenth Doctor realised. "I should have known when the Guardian told me about the walls of the universe collapsing; it's Torchwood Tower again."
"I think your right, Captain," said the Second Doctor. "There seems to be a connection between all three of these circumstances."
"And now I think I know what it is," the Tenth Doctor said in complete alarm. "Oh dear."
"What is it, Doctor?" the Brigadier asked, urging for the Time Lord to tell him.
"Your dreams, Alistair, are true," came the Time Lord's reply. "There is going to be change within time; an alteration of the timeline. And if this change comes into effect you'll have never have been born, leading to my death at the hands of the Cybermen, radically increasing Dalek evolution. But this change isn't going to come about on Earth. No, not even this galaxy. Alistair, your from a parallel universe."
"A parallel universe," the Brigadier said, terrified and shocked at the Doctor's discovery. His fears it seemed were not misplaced. And he now it looked as if he wasn't even from this very universe.
No.
"Yes, I'm very much afraid to tell you," the Doctor sighed, his conscience filled with guilt at telling his old friend this horrific truth. "And this desert planet you've dreamed of; I think its your home, Alistair."
"No."
"Yes, it is. And I'm sorry-"
"Sorry? Haven't you apologised enough, already?" the Brigadier questioned sharply, once more sneering at his former scientific advisor.
"Alistair-"
"I've had enough with them!" the Brigadier roared. "Now," he said, in a calmer tone, "you'll tell me who my parents really are."
"But-"
"Well, I'll tell you then!" the old soldier shouted. "They aren't my real parents. I never came from their loins! But you know what, Doctor? I don't care. No, I don't. And you know why? Because they loved me. My so called real parents can rot for all I care! Fucking rot in hell!"
"Alistair, stop it. Stop this please," Doris pleaded, in total agony at her husband's words. "This isn't his fault. How can you possibly take it out on him? He's your friend."
"I-" The Brigadier was lost for words, conceding to his wife's reasoning. She was right. How could he take it on the Doctor? His old friend was responsible for none of this. He'd been wrong.
He turned to face the Doctor again, saying, "Doctor-"
"You all of people," said the Tenth Doctor, "have no need to say sorry, Alistair. After all what's happened, I can't say I blame you. To learn what you've learnt." A tear rolled down his cheek.
The Brigadier gulped.
"But your real parents, Alistair," the Doctor continued. "You may hate them, but I think they knew. I think- oh no. Alistair, its my fault! I've done this to you!"
"Doctor, you've done-"
"-nothing? No, not yet. But I will. To save the Multiverse. It's me, I took you away from them. You should hate me, Alistair. I've done this!"
"Doctor," said the Brigadier. It was yet another terrible revelation, but he managed to keep himself under control, appearing as calm as he could ever be, "I can't."
"But you should!"
"No. You're going to do the right thing," he reassured the time traveller. "Compared to what is at stake, Doctor, I'm nothing. Not even a speck of dust. I would be a greater fool than I am, to not realise this."
The Tenth Doctor didn't reply, instead turning to his past incarnation, who was as disturbed as he was. But nevertheless, he said:
"He's right. And it is clear what we have to do."
"Yes, you must do it, both of you," said the Brigadier. "You've got to stop the Daleks. And besides, I'm happier here; living on Earth, here under Her Majesty. With Doris, with Gordon, with everyone I've ever really known. Doctors, you have to do it. I beg you."
The Tenth Doctor tried to rebel against it with all his might, but he could not. His past self and the Brigadier were right; it had to be done.
"Then," he finally said at last, "we have but one choice. We must go this universe."
"But, there is something we must do first," said the Second Doctor. "We're going to speak with your foster parents, Brigadier. Back in the year you were allegedly born. I'm sorry Brigadier, but we have to find out how they took you in. Do I leave myself a message of some kind?"
The Brigadier nodded.
"Yes, I understand, Doctor," he replied gravely. "But I-"
But before he could finish, he was interrupted by the Tenth Doctor, who leapt off the settee he was sat on, sprinting out of the living room. The rest of the group watched the scene in amazement, rooted to where they sat even after the Time Lord had 'fled'. The Captain Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart however then cried, "Where's he going?"
"Oh no," the Second Doctor realised in horror. "He's gone totally mad! He's leaving right now to see your parents, Brigadier!"
"After him!" the Brigadier shouted, before they all sped out of the room.