Prologue
The Seventh Doctor, Ace and Nita had finally succeeded in eradicating the plague on Cor Caroli Five, and were now preparing to dematerialize and proceed to their next adventure. The Doctor was relaxing on a recliner-type chair, reading an antique leather-bound book. An empty brandy snifter was nearby. Classical music was playing softly. They had agreed to rendezvous with the Hyperion III to assist their terraforming efforts on Brus Four. After a moment, the Doctor laid the book over his chest and closed his eyes.
Almost immediately, a body-length metallic slab materialized directly over the sleeping Doctor. The slab emitted a beam which scanned the Doctor from head to toe. Once the scan was complete, the beam stopped and the Doctor dematerialized in an alien transporter.
Nita and Ace were in the console room. "Nita, the sensors detect an abnormal energy reading in the Doctor's quarters."
"What type?"
"I don't know."
Nita pushed a button. "Nita to the Doctor."
There was no answer. After a beat, Nita headed for the doorway.
The Doctor slowly awakened and looked around, and was stunned to see he was no longer on the TARDIS. Instead, he was in a large square, empty, windowless, rather featureless room. There was one door, which was solidly shut.
Each corner of the room contained a bunk – a small padded area slightly raised from floor level. In the centre of the room was a "feeder" – a simple dispenser filled with what looked like hockey pucks. The Doctor was on one bunk, another was vacant. The remaining two were occupied by unconscious, or possibly dead, humanoids: a young, female Bonarchian Earthforce cadet, and a middle-aged male civilian Migarian. The Doctor got to his feet and took his mobile phone out of his pocket. He dialled the TARDIS. It didn't connect. There wasn't even a signal. The Doctor suspected it was futile, but tried again. Nothing. The Doctor scowled.
Nita was at the Doctor's door. She knocked. No response. She looked up at the ceiling. "Let me in, please." Before she could finish the door opened to reveal the Doctor staring back at Nita.
"Is something the matter, Nita?"
Nita was both relieved and embarrassed.