"It was that moment I think… that the future of Alistair's universe had already been forever changed."
- "Ascendancy" by RSM John Benton
Castle Caladan, Caladan - 10,191 AG
On their tail, the Second Doctor followed the two guards round the corner, onto another statue lined corridor. A few minutes later he tracked them all the way to an elevator at the corridor's end, in which the two guards entered, departing to the higher levels of the castle. The Doctor approached the elevator, and waited another few minutes before summoning the elevator himself. Eventually the doors opened, before he entered and set the elevator's course several floors up.
When he arrived, he wasn't really surprised to come upon the sight of several armed guards before him; dartguns aimed directly at him. He sighed, realising what was now to come. A single dart struck him squarely on the chest; briefly he stumbled, before he then collapsed into unconsciousness.
Grand Palace of the Imperium, Kaitain
"RUN! JAMIE, RUN!" the Doctor shouted, dragging Jamie by the arm, before the two of them sprinted off through the grove. They passed tree after tree as they ran as fast their legs could take them.
Suddenly however, a red beam struck out from behind them, hitting a nearby tree. It was essentially reduced to charcoal, as it blew into smithereens, its charred fragments being dispersed all around them.
"RUN! RUN!" the Doctor cried again, as the use of powerful weaponry only served to increase his panic.
Another beam then shot past, setting a number of trees aflame, before a third beam narrowly missed them; causing further destruction to the grove. Luckily however, the Doctor and Jamie came at last upon the grove's other side, entering a doorway through which they came onto a corridor. They sprinted down it, before the extremely loud cries of a siren went off.
"Oh, fantastic!" the Doctor shouted, his remark writhed in sarcasm. "More of them! That's all we need!"
"Aye!" Jamie agreed, continuing to run as he did so. "But, what we're to do now, Doctor?"
"Isn't it obvious, McCrimmon?" the Doctor cried, making his frustration utterly clear. "We're going to trying to get back to the TARDIS! That is if we can find our way back without managing to get disintegrated or dismembered first!"
The two time travellers sped down corridor after corridor, trying to go somewhat in the direction back to the library where the TARDIS had materialised. They came then to a large room crafted out of marble, to which they turned left towards an open doorway that lead onto another corridor. Moments later however, a set of doors behind them slammed open; and glancing back briefly, the Doctor and Jamie saw their pursuers enter the room.
There were twelve of them, dressed in blue uniforms complete with light armour and berets. Not stopping, they chased after the two time travellers, who had by now reached the door. The Doctor and Jamie turned right, then left, before then turning left again down yet another corridor. Their constant changes of direction however certainly did not put off the pursuing guards, who much to their dismay were starting to catch up on them. Fortunately though, the Doctor soon recognised they were on the same corridor which lead to the library; they could yet reach the TARDIS in time.
"To the left, Jamie!" the Doctor yelled, as they approached the library's entrance. "To the left!"
Pulling out the sonic screwdriver, the Doctor used it almost as a remote control, opening the entrance doors from several yards away, before he and Jamie ran through into the vast library. It seemed the two of them were safe… or so they thought.
"Doctor!" cried Jamie, spotting the trouble ahead. "There's more of them!"
And he was right. At least two dozen guards had entered in from the other side of the library, and were currently making their way towards them; the TARDIS barely any further from them than the Time Lord and his old companion.
"We have to get to the TARDIS before them!" the Doctor shouted, in more urgency than even before. "Quick, Jamie! We've got to get there quick!"
So they ran, and ran; pushing their bodies to their very limits. Even the Doctor, with his respiratory bypass system, barely possessed any more stamina. Exhaustion was inevitable for the two time travellers, but this would be an acceptable inconvenience if they made back to the TARDIS.
"Doctor!" Jamie suddenly cried, gasping as he did so. "I think- I think we're gonna make it."
Indeed, they were nearly upon the TARDIS, though both the pursuing and approaching groups of troops had gained ground on them. Nevertheless, the familiar blue police box was less than fifty feet away, which gave both men hope the TARDIS could be reached in time.
Unfortunately for them, they did not.
The Doctor clicked his fingers, unlocking the TARDIS doors. But as he did so a strange abrupt numbness hit Jamie's left leg, staggering his run, until his balance finally gave way, causing him to crash down onto the floor.
"Jamie!" shouted the Doctor, bringing himself to a halt, then turning to look upon his floored companion. Jamie was holding his leg, a tranquiliser dart just about visible in his knee. He tried to speak, but his words were being slurred under the effect of the agent which was now within his bloodstream.
Oh dear. Oh no, the Doctor thought, knowing there wasn't any chance of Jamie getting up from the floor by his own volition. Now were stuck.
Knowing their capture was inevitable, the Doctor realised that he had to lock the TARDIS. Matters would be made far worse if the unknown occupants of the palace had access to her. It was just a simple matter of clicking his fingers again. But it was a simple matter he failed to achieve, as a dart then suddenly struck his stomach. Taking him by surprise, he then almost comically collapsed to the ground, as the blue uniformed guards began to circle around him and Jamie.
Disorientated, the Tenth Doctor found himself rapidly losing consciousness; thoughts becoming unclear, not even occurring to him just how vulnerable the TARDIS now was. Suddenly and briefly he remembered, and tried to click his fingers. He barely even managed to move one.
It was then he saw that a guard was above him, eyes staring down onto him. He was tall, flat faced, with a pale scar across half his left cheek; but it was those staring eyes the Doctor found most distinctive. They possessed a glare, a glare that marked what he was. The Time Lord knew that look all too well; the man was a killer.
Captain Aramsham of the Imperial Sardaukar smiled, looking down upon the strange intruder, who was now slipping unconscious as the drug took full effect. A million questions gnawed at his mind, but they were overcome by the pride he now felt. A danger had been taken care of, he'd served the Emperor well.
And a danger he and his companion certainly are, Aramsham thought, still looking upon the strange man. Intruding into the Imperial Palace gives a way one's intentions as far from pure.
"Captain."
The Sardaukar Captain turned, saw one of his lieutenant's approach.
"What is it?"
"Sir, the spies were heading towards that… that box," the Lieutenant said almost fearfully, pointing ahead of him.
The Captain brought his gaze forward, eyes coming towards the strange blue cuboid that stood barely a few feet away. The Lieutenant's fears certainly weren't ungrounded. There was something bizarrely disturbing about the object. Something that he could not fathom.
"What can it be, Sir?" the Lieutenant asked.
"An object from Ancient Terra?" Aramsham suggested. "I think I need to take a closer look."
The Captain approached the bizarre box, exceedingly curious to know what the thing was. What actually was it? Why had the two intruders treated it of such importance?
We had them covered in both directions. They were trapped, yet they still ran towards the object, Captain Aramsham realised. Was it mere desperately? Or did they believe it could somehow aid their plight?
Aramsham reached the object, began studying it, noticing the sign on the door. Some of the words were in Galach, though most were unintelligible to him. Nonetheless, he felt he had good idea as to what language that sign was…
English.
That language had not had major significance since before even the Great Convention was signed. Indeed, there were only but a few in the far out regions of the Imperium who mainly spoke it. And nor did Aramsham know of anyone but the Princess Royal who could actually speak it. It was just yet more evidence that there was something abnormal about the bizarre cuboid; and that whatever it was, it had been massively important to the intruders.
Despite these considerations however, Aramsham had no possible idea what was in store for him.
His curiosity having grown further, he slowly began to push open the door. And a mere instant later, Captain Aramsham of the Imperial Sardaukar was directly confronted with the most shocking thing he had ever encountered in his life.