CHAPTER TWELVE - THE DARK PATH
The second Doctor had no choice. He had to call upon his own race in order to undo the damage caused by the "War Games", a vast experiment created by a race known as the War Lords. Using a kind of time-scoop device, the War Lord's had deposited humans from varying points in the Earth's history to fight against each other in designated War Zones. The idea behind the diabolical scheme was coldly simple - any survivors would have proven their worth in battle and would become part of an enormous war fleet.
The Doctor and his companions Jamie and Zoe had managed to destroy the despicable War Games experiment, but even the Doctor could not return every captured human back to their own time zone. Knowing that he himself would face the anger of the all-powerful High Council, he had contacted the Time Lord's and asked for their help.
The Time Lords promptly arrived and returned the humans to their rightful place in Earth's history. The Doctor was arrested for breaking so many Gallifreyan rules and would have to face trial for his crimes. The villainous War Chief would also stand trial and the Time Lord's showed him no mercy. As the Doctor stood by, the War Chief was sentenced to de-materialisation. After the evil genius had been vaporised the Time Lords turned their attention to the Doctor.
Various points of the Doctor's past were shown on a giant screen in the court room. Daleks, Cybermen, Ice Warriors and many other creatures were viewed. The Time Lord's accused the Doctor of meddling in the affairs of other races, an abuse of Time Lord power. The Doctor argued that in meddling he had saved many lives and planets from greedy and evil powers. Despite the weight behind his arguments, the Doctor was found guilty by the court and sentenced to summary exile on Earth, including a forced regeneration. As an extra precaution, he would also have his time travel expertise deliberately removed from his brain. The Doctor was forced into a hastily good-bye with Jamie and Zoe, who were returned to their own times.
The Doctor quite rightly, was outraged by the way he was being treated. Implacably, the Time Lord's offered him a selection of new faces that he could choose from. The Doctor sulkily refused the lot. The choice, it was decided, would be made for the Doctor. Spinning dizzily, the Doctor began his enforced regeneration.
The Master had his eyes closed in concentration as he used Siralos' power to take the Doctor from his time stream. Exhaling with relief, the Master smiled to himself with satisfaction. Another incarnation of the wretched Doctor would soon be his plaything.
The Doctor could vaguely hear someone calling his name. Had he regenerated after all? He wasn't sure. Cautiously he opened one eye and focused on the dark blur which repeated his name again.
"Doctor, my dear fellow, are you quite alright?" The voice was cultured and even.
The Doctor's other eyelid flapped open.
"That's better," the voice said encouragingly.
The Doctor's vision cleared and he looked at the owner of the voice. The man wore a dark suit, matching waistcoat, white shirt and a blue silk tie. Although he wasn't particularly big, his compact body have an impression of immense power. He had a small, neatly-pointed black beard and dark burning eyes. The Doctor recognised him with a start.
"Koschei," he exclaimed.
The Doctor realised that he was sitting awkwardly in a comfortable chair and an ever present hum could be heard from somewhere.
"Relax my friend, you are in my TARDIS." Koschei said.
"What happened?" the Doctor asked. "I must have blanked out or something."
"Not quite, Doctor. You were sentenced to compulsory regeneration and exile to Earth by the High Council," Koschei explained. "I rescued you before they could carry out the sentence."
"Thank you," the Doctor said thoughtfully. "So I was on trial was I? Dear me, what did I do?"
"You broke the cardinal rule and became involved with other races and their destinies."
"Yes, I suppose that was a little naughty wasn't it."
Koschei smiled at his friend and offered him a cup of steaming tea. The Doctor sipped it gratefully. Koschei settled himself into another chair.
"Like you, I too gave into curiosity." Koschei agreed.
"Can you take me back to Gallifrey please?" the Doctor said at last.
"Gallifrey?" Koschei spluttered. "That's the last place I'll be going to! Sorry Doctor, but I can't jeopardise my future or freedom so recklessly."
The Doctor sighed heavily. "Yes, I would feel the same in your shoes."
"Who don't you travel with me for a while?" Koschei asked. "It could be fun, the old team together again, just like the old days at the Prydon Academy!"
"Have I forgiven you yet for sabotaging my phase space experiment?" the Doctor queried with a smile.
Koschei raised an eyebrow. "Surely," he said.
"Very well," the Doctor stated. "I accept your generous offer. Where are we going first?"
Koschei held his hands apart in an expansive gesture. "Darkheart!"
The Doctor frowned. Had he heard of that place before? If so, why did he feel a creeping sensation of dread? He was a silly old Doctor he thought. Besides, Koschei was his friend and he trusted him.
Within the Determinant the Master observed as the scene played out before him. He had never managed to forgive the Doctor for causing him to go through his earlier regenerations so quickly. The Master had liked his first incarnation, he was such an assured and suave master of his work. Back then of course he and the Doctor were friends, almost brothers...
The Master decided not to pursue that particular line of thought. Those days were long gone. Stroking his neat silver beard, the Master pondered his next move. It was time to make the Doctor suffer.
Darkheart turned out to be a faced neutron star surrounded by dead planets.
"Not very cheerful place is it?" the Doctor commented as he and Koschei observed the galaxy on the scanner screen.
Koschei seemed to be absorbed in his own thoughts and calculations as he hurried around the hexagonal control console.
"I said it looks a bit bleak out there!" the Doctor persisted. Koschei rounded on him and held him with a powerful stare.
"Be quiet, fool!" he commanded.
The Doctor fell into a shocked silence.
Koschei looked up from the console, all traces of his sudden angry outburst gone. He was his usual calm and collected self.
"Forgive me Doctor, but I was in the middle of a series of very complicated temporal spatial calculations."
"What calculations would they be?" the Doctor asked innocently.
Koschei smiled. "Now, now Doctor. We must all have our little secrets."
"Oh, must we?" the Doctor retorted sulkily.
"Oh course," Koschei said undeterred. "Be patient my old friend, I shall soon give you a big surprise."
The Doctor took out his recorder and played a few tuneless notes on the instrument. "Well, what do you think?"
"I think you should have lessons." Koschei said acidly.
The Doctor poked his tongue out behind Koschei's back.
"Don't be childish!" Koschei admonished.
The Doctor sulked.
Koschei's TARDIS materialised in orbit around the Darkheart system. The Doctor watched as his friend rushed around the central console flicking switches and muttering obscure calculations under his breath.
"Aren't we going to land?" the Doctor asked.
"Not necessary, Doctor. All we have to do is maintain a steady orbit and wait for transference to begin."
"Transference? What transference?"
"I have just detonated a neutron torpedo within the very core of the Darkheart system, and as you can see on the scanner, it is already breaking up."
"Why have you done this, Koschei?" the Doctor asked astounded.
"The resultant supernova will produce vast quantities of dark-light. An energy source so powerful, it will fuel my TARDIS forever!"
The Doctor ran his hands over a keypad on the console. "Good grief!" he exclaimed.
"Relax, Doctor," Koschei purred. "The process won't take long, then we'll be on our way again."
"I've just calculated the blast wave," the Doctor said. "It will wipe out a nearby system, the rings of Xarana. Millions will be killed!"
"Oh dear!" Koschei sighed. "Look on the bright side Doctor, at least it will be quick, they won't suffer."
"Koschei, at what point did you lose your mind? You must stop this catastrophe!"
"If you do not stand away from the console Doctor, you stand to lose more than your mind!"
Koschei was pointing a small, cylindrical device at the Doctor.
The Doctor's mouth fell open. "Isn't that a -- ?"
"-- Tissue Compression Eliminator, Doctor? Yes, it is, and I assure you that I will not hesitate to use it, even on you!"
"What happened to you Koschei?"
"I'm afraid that the life of a casual observer became a tad too dull for me, Doctor. Even with a TARDIS it was no longer enough."
"What is it that you do want then?"
"I want to rule a planet, Doctor."
"Oh? Which one?"
"Gallifrey, of course."
"You're insane, Koschei! Just how do you plan to simply take control of an entire world? For starters the Time Lord's are too powerful, you'll end up the same way as the War Chief and look what happened to him!"
Koschei gave one of his most charming smiles. "Do you know what would happen if I deliberately dropped a bomb full of black-light on the Capitol?"
The Doctor was stunned.
"Destruction, Doctor, on a scale the Time Lord's could not imagine!"
"And afterwards? What then?"
Koschei swelled with pride. "I shall forge a new Gallifrey and with technology that I have 'acquired' from a race of Plasma-noughts, I shall turn our boring homeworld into a gigantic TARDIS!"
"Cold porridge!" the Doctor snapped angrily.
"I beg your pardon?"
"Think about what you're doing Koschei," the Doctor pleaded. "You were a great scientist, but you were never evil! What you have just done to the Xarana system is completely evil and your scheme to turn Gallifrey into a planet sized TARDIS is madness!"
Koschei closed his eyes,
"You are about to take your first step along the dark path Koschei, and once you're on it, it will hold you until it destroys you!" the Doctor said. "You are not evil, Koschei, please for our friendship sake and the lives of millions of innocent people, take the right path!"
Koschei slowly lowered his weapon. He turned away from the Doctor and buried his head in his hands.
The Doctor busied himself at the console and reversed the damage that Koschei had caused. "Now then, that's much better!" the Doctor said, wiping his brow with a spotted handkerchief. He looked up at his wayward friend ... and froze.
Someone else was standing inside Koschei's clothes. Taller, leaner, cold-eyed with a cruel grin on his saturnine face. The stranger still had the Tissue Compression Eliminator in his grip.
"What have you done with Koschei?" the Doctor demanded.
"My dear Doctor, I am Koschei!"
The Doctor was aghast. "Have you regenerated?"
"Not quite Doctor," the new Koschei explained. "Koschei was the shadow in my past and now I am the light of my future!"
"Who are you?" the Doctor asked quietly.
"I am the Master!" Koschei said proudly. "And you Doctor are but a small fly caught within my tangled web!"
The Koschei/Master fired the Tissue Compression Eliminator and the Doctor was enveloped within a corona of white light. The world folded in on itself and just before the Doctor lost consciousness a vision passed across his mind. A blobbly entity appeared for a moment and then vanished. Somehow the Doctor was filled with hope.
The Master, still wearing Koschei's clothes picked up the cube containing the essence of the second Doctor from the floor of the TARDIS set within the Determinant. "Soon Doctor, all your lives will be mine!"
For the briefest moment, the Master reflected upon his past. Would things have been different between himself and the Doctor had they stayed friends? Was the Doctor right about the dark path leading to his own destruction? The Master had recklessly baited fate during his lives, but one by one the Doctor was falling to the power of his Determinant.
"No, Doctor, you are wrong!" the Master thought. "I am Master of my destiny and you, at long last are defeated!"
The Master's cruel laughter echoed around the many zones within the Determinant. Now it was the fifth Doctor's turn to be encapsulated!
The second Doctor had no choice. He had to call upon his own race in order to undo the damage caused by the "War Games", a vast experiment created by a race known as the War Lords. Using a kind of time-scoop device, the War Lord's had deposited humans from varying points in the Earth's history to fight against each other in designated War Zones. The idea behind the diabolical scheme was coldly simple - any survivors would have proven their worth in battle and would become part of an enormous war fleet.
The Doctor and his companions Jamie and Zoe had managed to destroy the despicable War Games experiment, but even the Doctor could not return every captured human back to their own time zone. Knowing that he himself would face the anger of the all-powerful High Council, he had contacted the Time Lord's and asked for their help.
The Time Lords promptly arrived and returned the humans to their rightful place in Earth's history. The Doctor was arrested for breaking so many Gallifreyan rules and would have to face trial for his crimes. The villainous War Chief would also stand trial and the Time Lord's showed him no mercy. As the Doctor stood by, the War Chief was sentenced to de-materialisation. After the evil genius had been vaporised the Time Lords turned their attention to the Doctor.
Various points of the Doctor's past were shown on a giant screen in the court room. Daleks, Cybermen, Ice Warriors and many other creatures were viewed. The Time Lord's accused the Doctor of meddling in the affairs of other races, an abuse of Time Lord power. The Doctor argued that in meddling he had saved many lives and planets from greedy and evil powers. Despite the weight behind his arguments, the Doctor was found guilty by the court and sentenced to summary exile on Earth, including a forced regeneration. As an extra precaution, he would also have his time travel expertise deliberately removed from his brain. The Doctor was forced into a hastily good-bye with Jamie and Zoe, who were returned to their own times.
The Doctor quite rightly, was outraged by the way he was being treated. Implacably, the Time Lord's offered him a selection of new faces that he could choose from. The Doctor sulkily refused the lot. The choice, it was decided, would be made for the Doctor. Spinning dizzily, the Doctor began his enforced regeneration.
The Master had his eyes closed in concentration as he used Siralos' power to take the Doctor from his time stream. Exhaling with relief, the Master smiled to himself with satisfaction. Another incarnation of the wretched Doctor would soon be his plaything.
The Doctor could vaguely hear someone calling his name. Had he regenerated after all? He wasn't sure. Cautiously he opened one eye and focused on the dark blur which repeated his name again.
"Doctor, my dear fellow, are you quite alright?" The voice was cultured and even.
The Doctor's other eyelid flapped open.
"That's better," the voice said encouragingly.
The Doctor's vision cleared and he looked at the owner of the voice. The man wore a dark suit, matching waistcoat, white shirt and a blue silk tie. Although he wasn't particularly big, his compact body have an impression of immense power. He had a small, neatly-pointed black beard and dark burning eyes. The Doctor recognised him with a start.
"Koschei," he exclaimed.
The Doctor realised that he was sitting awkwardly in a comfortable chair and an ever present hum could be heard from somewhere.
"Relax my friend, you are in my TARDIS." Koschei said.
"What happened?" the Doctor asked. "I must have blanked out or something."
"Not quite, Doctor. You were sentenced to compulsory regeneration and exile to Earth by the High Council," Koschei explained. "I rescued you before they could carry out the sentence."
"Thank you," the Doctor said thoughtfully. "So I was on trial was I? Dear me, what did I do?"
"You broke the cardinal rule and became involved with other races and their destinies."
"Yes, I suppose that was a little naughty wasn't it."
Koschei smiled at his friend and offered him a cup of steaming tea. The Doctor sipped it gratefully. Koschei settled himself into another chair.
"Like you, I too gave into curiosity." Koschei agreed.
"Can you take me back to Gallifrey please?" the Doctor said at last.
"Gallifrey?" Koschei spluttered. "That's the last place I'll be going to! Sorry Doctor, but I can't jeopardise my future or freedom so recklessly."
The Doctor sighed heavily. "Yes, I would feel the same in your shoes."
"Who don't you travel with me for a while?" Koschei asked. "It could be fun, the old team together again, just like the old days at the Prydon Academy!"
"Have I forgiven you yet for sabotaging my phase space experiment?" the Doctor queried with a smile.
Koschei raised an eyebrow. "Surely," he said.
"Very well," the Doctor stated. "I accept your generous offer. Where are we going first?"
Koschei held his hands apart in an expansive gesture. "Darkheart!"
The Doctor frowned. Had he heard of that place before? If so, why did he feel a creeping sensation of dread? He was a silly old Doctor he thought. Besides, Koschei was his friend and he trusted him.
Within the Determinant the Master observed as the scene played out before him. He had never managed to forgive the Doctor for causing him to go through his earlier regenerations so quickly. The Master had liked his first incarnation, he was such an assured and suave master of his work. Back then of course he and the Doctor were friends, almost brothers...
The Master decided not to pursue that particular line of thought. Those days were long gone. Stroking his neat silver beard, the Master pondered his next move. It was time to make the Doctor suffer.
Darkheart turned out to be a faced neutron star surrounded by dead planets.
"Not very cheerful place is it?" the Doctor commented as he and Koschei observed the galaxy on the scanner screen.
Koschei seemed to be absorbed in his own thoughts and calculations as he hurried around the hexagonal control console.
"I said it looks a bit bleak out there!" the Doctor persisted. Koschei rounded on him and held him with a powerful stare.
"Be quiet, fool!" he commanded.
The Doctor fell into a shocked silence.
Koschei looked up from the console, all traces of his sudden angry outburst gone. He was his usual calm and collected self.
"Forgive me Doctor, but I was in the middle of a series of very complicated temporal spatial calculations."
"What calculations would they be?" the Doctor asked innocently.
Koschei smiled. "Now, now Doctor. We must all have our little secrets."
"Oh, must we?" the Doctor retorted sulkily.
"Oh course," Koschei said undeterred. "Be patient my old friend, I shall soon give you a big surprise."
The Doctor took out his recorder and played a few tuneless notes on the instrument. "Well, what do you think?"
"I think you should have lessons." Koschei said acidly.
The Doctor poked his tongue out behind Koschei's back.
"Don't be childish!" Koschei admonished.
The Doctor sulked.
Koschei's TARDIS materialised in orbit around the Darkheart system. The Doctor watched as his friend rushed around the central console flicking switches and muttering obscure calculations under his breath.
"Aren't we going to land?" the Doctor asked.
"Not necessary, Doctor. All we have to do is maintain a steady orbit and wait for transference to begin."
"Transference? What transference?"
"I have just detonated a neutron torpedo within the very core of the Darkheart system, and as you can see on the scanner, it is already breaking up."
"Why have you done this, Koschei?" the Doctor asked astounded.
"The resultant supernova will produce vast quantities of dark-light. An energy source so powerful, it will fuel my TARDIS forever!"
The Doctor ran his hands over a keypad on the console. "Good grief!" he exclaimed.
"Relax, Doctor," Koschei purred. "The process won't take long, then we'll be on our way again."
"I've just calculated the blast wave," the Doctor said. "It will wipe out a nearby system, the rings of Xarana. Millions will be killed!"
"Oh dear!" Koschei sighed. "Look on the bright side Doctor, at least it will be quick, they won't suffer."
"Koschei, at what point did you lose your mind? You must stop this catastrophe!"
"If you do not stand away from the console Doctor, you stand to lose more than your mind!"
Koschei was pointing a small, cylindrical device at the Doctor.
The Doctor's mouth fell open. "Isn't that a -- ?"
"-- Tissue Compression Eliminator, Doctor? Yes, it is, and I assure you that I will not hesitate to use it, even on you!"
"What happened to you Koschei?"
"I'm afraid that the life of a casual observer became a tad too dull for me, Doctor. Even with a TARDIS it was no longer enough."
"What is it that you do want then?"
"I want to rule a planet, Doctor."
"Oh? Which one?"
"Gallifrey, of course."
"You're insane, Koschei! Just how do you plan to simply take control of an entire world? For starters the Time Lord's are too powerful, you'll end up the same way as the War Chief and look what happened to him!"
Koschei gave one of his most charming smiles. "Do you know what would happen if I deliberately dropped a bomb full of black-light on the Capitol?"
The Doctor was stunned.
"Destruction, Doctor, on a scale the Time Lord's could not imagine!"
"And afterwards? What then?"
Koschei swelled with pride. "I shall forge a new Gallifrey and with technology that I have 'acquired' from a race of Plasma-noughts, I shall turn our boring homeworld into a gigantic TARDIS!"
"Cold porridge!" the Doctor snapped angrily.
"I beg your pardon?"
"Think about what you're doing Koschei," the Doctor pleaded. "You were a great scientist, but you were never evil! What you have just done to the Xarana system is completely evil and your scheme to turn Gallifrey into a planet sized TARDIS is madness!"
Koschei closed his eyes,
"You are about to take your first step along the dark path Koschei, and once you're on it, it will hold you until it destroys you!" the Doctor said. "You are not evil, Koschei, please for our friendship sake and the lives of millions of innocent people, take the right path!"
Koschei slowly lowered his weapon. He turned away from the Doctor and buried his head in his hands.
The Doctor busied himself at the console and reversed the damage that Koschei had caused. "Now then, that's much better!" the Doctor said, wiping his brow with a spotted handkerchief. He looked up at his wayward friend ... and froze.
Someone else was standing inside Koschei's clothes. Taller, leaner, cold-eyed with a cruel grin on his saturnine face. The stranger still had the Tissue Compression Eliminator in his grip.
"What have you done with Koschei?" the Doctor demanded.
"My dear Doctor, I am Koschei!"
The Doctor was aghast. "Have you regenerated?"
"Not quite Doctor," the new Koschei explained. "Koschei was the shadow in my past and now I am the light of my future!"
"Who are you?" the Doctor asked quietly.
"I am the Master!" Koschei said proudly. "And you Doctor are but a small fly caught within my tangled web!"
The Koschei/Master fired the Tissue Compression Eliminator and the Doctor was enveloped within a corona of white light. The world folded in on itself and just before the Doctor lost consciousness a vision passed across his mind. A blobbly entity appeared for a moment and then vanished. Somehow the Doctor was filled with hope.
The Master, still wearing Koschei's clothes picked up the cube containing the essence of the second Doctor from the floor of the TARDIS set within the Determinant. "Soon Doctor, all your lives will be mine!"
For the briefest moment, the Master reflected upon his past. Would things have been different between himself and the Doctor had they stayed friends? Was the Doctor right about the dark path leading to his own destruction? The Master had recklessly baited fate during his lives, but one by one the Doctor was falling to the power of his Determinant.
"No, Doctor, you are wrong!" the Master thought. "I am Master of my destiny and you, at long last are defeated!"
The Master's cruel laughter echoed around the many zones within the Determinant. Now it was the fifth Doctor's turn to be encapsulated!