Chapter 3

On the planet's surface, an Archeologist, a Paleontologist, and a Geologist, assisted by a number of Graduate students under internship, were sent to study the planet. Professor Kristen Alexander was sent first, to study the planet's physical makeup, but when it showed clear signs of previous life, Doctors' Wendy Elliot and Thomas Braddock were sent to examine it, along with large group of Graduate students under internship. Eight weeks ago, they happened by chance upon a wall once part of a palace within the center of a large city. Sensors indicated that the wall was incredibly old, but how far, they couldn't extrapolate. Moreover, from what they had discovered, the inhabitance had incredibly advanced technology; considerably more advanced than their own. Unfortunately, before they could go any further, an unannounced atmospheric disturbance ushered everyone inside the main tent before they could continue the excavation, and were left cataloguing what was already removed from the site.
"Doctor Elliot, Professor Braddock, come over here and have a look at this." The Seganax native motioned to them."
"What is it?" Professor Braddock asked.
Doctor Thomas Luke Braddock eyed her with great interest. A man in his late twenties, he was fresh out of Oxford University with a Doctorate in Paleontology. The youngest of the three present, he was eager to prove himself, and add to the already vast amount of 'living' knowledge that was on the planet.
"The ring, it's of non-Metebenusian origin. Spectro-analysis indicates that the elemental components were possibly derived from the Coreward region of the Galaxy. The stone itself is from this world, likely used in the creation of the ring. Examine the markings."
Turning on a lamp, Doctor Braddock placed the ring under the intense light, while Doctor Elliot took out a Metallurgical Scanner. Passing it over the ring she did a comprehensive scan, revealing some interesting results that only seemed to bring with it, more questions.
"This alloy is a perfect combination of Argonite, Siligtone, and an. element of unknown origin."
"None of these elements exist anywhere on the planet's surface," Doctor Alexander said. "Clearly the ring is not of this planet, and from what I can tell of the intricate detail and craftsmanship, it's not from any of the nearby systems. The trace metal is what pointed the sensors to a location somewhere near the Galactic Center, in an unexplored sector of space."
"One side of the ring contains an flame-like pattern in some form of iridescent precious stone." Doctor Braddock spoke up, near- entranced by the object. "The other side contains a circular, swirling pattern, and the script surrounding the stone is a big mystery. Possibly, both represent the former owner's Homeworld."
The human male trailed off as he gazed into the blue stone itself. The stone, dead for millennia, began to come alive, emitting a soft blue glow, becoming brighter each second he gazed into it. Before it progressed, further, Doctor Elliot snatched the ring from his hand, bringing him out of a cloudy daze.
"Doctor Braddock, are you alright?"
"Yeah, what happened?"
"The Atmospheric disturbance has subsided, it's safe to continue our excavation." One of the students announced to the three. "And we're receiving a signal from a ship a ship in orbit, the Olympus."
"Right on time." Professor Alexander mumbled sarcastically. "You can always count on the military to ruin things!"
"Transmit that we're ready for a shuttle to land and retrieve what artifacts have been collected at the site. We'll meet them upon arrival."

"Is everyone okay?" Auden asked.
"Yeah, just the usual bumps and bruises." Lisa joked. "We rematerialized into normal space as the wave dissipated. Shields are reading at maximum."
"Good... be right back." He trailed off as he left the Console room rather quickly, flying down the corridor.
"The readouts indicate a reading of one-seven-nine-three-point- point-two-nine..." Julie looked up from the readouts on the computer screen. "Now where in the twelve galaxies did he disappear off to?"
"He mumbled something, then took off like a flash."
"All I have to say," Julie began with a glare towards the console. "Is geo-crystalline alignment my foot! This had all the hallmarks of something very nasty!"
She stopped in mid-sentence as Auden entered with a large wooden crate labeled in Gallifreyan script: Rare gems and Metallic Oddities.
"Let me see here." He sat down on the floor, and carefully began to remove various items. "One Zyton-7 Crystal, Andromedan Bloodstone, a lump of Jethrik, heh, a cube of Dwarf-star Alloy, Orlion sphere, Argonite nugget... ah yes!" He held up as blue, transparent gem.
"Where... let me rephrase that. when did you get that?" Julie asked, astonished by the crystal.
"It. was an ancient family heirloom left ages ago by mother. It was given to me upon graduation." He placed the other items back into the crate and placed them off into a corner of the TARDIS console room. "It is classified as a psychic amplification stone, and one of five hundred such crystalline structures in the universe with this power. Four are located within this galaxy, Leinez-Quartz from Demos, Petraysian-Rubies from Serras IV, High Imperial Emeralds from Gallifrey, and the Blue Sapphires of Metebenus III."
"High Imperial Emeralds?" Julie echoed in thought. "That gemstone is scarcely seconded to Orlion in rarity, and still commands equal value."
"This stone has the power to amplify all mental powers, and if used properly, permanently. There will be a re-strengthening of the hypothalamic organ, possibly to the level of the Ancient Gallifreyans."
"But Auden," Lyssa responded in a low hiss. "YOU are of the Ancient Gallifreyans! What effects will this crystal have on you?"
"I'm not entirely sure Lyssa." He trailed off, fumbling around, for the right words. Ancient Gallifrey was never a subject he fully expounded on. "When the power of entrelacement dwindled, and our telepathic abilities waned, certain ones. Individuals as they were called, were able to retain most of their strength." He looked down at the crystal thoughtfully. "If anything, my mental powers will be amplified considerably, which might wane some upon my regeneration. If not, I may have to adjust to the changes for the rest of my existence.
"You're going to have more than enhancement on your hands Auden- "
"I know," He interrupted. "And I am willing to pay 'said' price."
The Time Lord laid the crystal onto the console as he took the crate back into its' room. A beautiful, large gem, it had eighteen perfect facets, which glowed from the lamps that encircled them, causing a blue cascade of light to reverberate around the room. Auden reentered the room and activated the console screen once more revealing the planet once more.
"How powerful will our telepathic abilities become?" Julie asked in reference to herself and Lyssa.
"Well, due to the unique peculiarities of the crystal, your telepathic abilities may well be on par with the Ancient Gallifreyans, minus the entrelacement. Whatever mental abilities to possess will also be enhanced, though not near as strongly as your telepathy."
"Anything else?"
"Yes." He eyed them gravely. "Due to our level of advancement, these effects will more than likely be permanent, perhaps marginally increasing or decreasing over time as we regenerate. I would advise against the both of you undergoing this."
"When do we begin?" Julie asked with a defiant smile.
"Auden, time is wasting, and the longer we stay here, the more dangerous it will be out there."
"I take it, we'll be doing this in the Medical Bay?" His dark look went to a tender smile as he shook his head with a sigh. Leaving the TARDIS on 'auto-pilot,' and left the console room to prepare.

Aboard the Olympus, repairs to the ship were proceeding expediently. All was taken care of, except for shielding and minor hull contusions. All that was needed was to finish repairs to shield matrix, reinforce the hull armor, head down to the surface and collect the catalogued artifacts, and return before anything else happened. A sound plan.
However, as one of Murphy's Laws says: If you perceive that there are four possible ways in which a procedure can go wrong, and circumvent these, then a fifth way will promptly develop.
"Ensign Caskey, ship status."
"We've managed to make repairs to the hull armor. It'll hold more than long enough for us to get to a space station and dock for permanent repairs. As for the shields, most of the circuits are fried, we've just been able to raise them to thirty-six percent and holding. It'll take more time to repair them."
"Very well, Ensign's Bowen, Laundry, and Hicks will assist with that while we head for the surface." Captain Fall stated before opening the communication's channel. "Now here this, this is the Captain. For all those who are going to the surface, meet me in the shuttle bay at zero-nine- hundred hours. Captain Fall out."

"You've had that look on your face since we've entered the. Vortex," Clint spoke up, incorporating terminology he was just beginning to get use to. "Who is this Auden anyway?"
"He was an old friend of mine from my days at the Academy." She slipped in a fond smile, with a faint tinge sadness.
"Did you two ever like, date?"
Rosalynd gave him almost horrid, shocked expression, as she shook her head in response. Briefly, she seemed taken aback by it, as thoughts such thoughts were alien. She turned her attentions to the scanner screen and mumbled incoherently as she inputted adjustments for minor course corrections.
"I wasn't ready and he." She trailed off, trying to find the words. "He let his emotions get ahead of his common sense, and I, as I said, wasn't ready."
"Oh."
"Anyway, that's centuries behind us I think, we're still friends." She looked down at the scanner screen as a beeping noise sounded forth. "Hmmm. that's very odd."
"What?" He walked over and saw what she was looking at. A series of numbers fluctuated rapidly on the screen, with only one constant; they were increasing in amount. Next to them were a series of alien script changing as well, except for the last script. "What's going on?"
"A massive surge of Artron energy in real space." She replied. "I'm placing the Time Capsule in stationary mode until the energy has dispersed."
"So until then, we wait."
"Meanwhile gathering as much data as we can on this disturbance."