The Tardis
The Time Vortex

"Are you really the doctor? You don't look like the Doctor. Have you regenerated AGAIN?" Adric just couldn't keep the questions in. The Tardis was in motion, spinning through space time as if dancing to it's own music.

"To answer your questions Adric, Yes, and Several times. I have just broken the cardinal law of Timelord society and all you can do is ask me questions. Never change Adric!" The Doctor turned again to the Tardis controls and flicked a switch. The rotor stopped. The humming stopped. In fact all of the normal Tardis sounds stopped. "Now I can catch my breath and think things through." The Doctor said as he sagged into his chair."

"What do you mean, think things through? Don't you realise that someone is out to kill every single one of your friends in UNIT? Or do you just not care anymore?" Sarah was angry, she stood glaring accusingly at the Doctor, as he sat calmly in his chair.

"Sarah Jane, someone is trying to kill me, before my time." The Doctor half sighed. "I need to let this play out until I know for certain who it is. Then I can act. UNIT have enough resources to look after themselves for a time. This whole scenario is all about timing. If I show my hand too early, well, it could be the end of everything. And I've just been there not so long ago, trust me it is pretty, but you wouldn't want to live there. Ha, ha. Not that anything would, for long."

"Do you have any idea who it is? Who's trying to kill you?" Asked Barbara.

"I have a list of names, but even if I wrote them all down in very small letters, the list would still be longer than my arm. But I do have a few prime candidates. Whoever it is, has to be pretty powerful indeed. With resources the likes of which I have yet to fathom. I have annoyed one or two creatures like that in my time, you know." The Doctor half smiled again.

"So do you have any idea, when this mysterious foe is going to show?" Ian asked matter of factly.

"As another of my travelling companions would probably say, the proverbial dog pooh is about to hit the fan any 'time' now."

Earth
London
The fighting is about to begin...

"Open Fire." Lethbridge Stewart was ready for this, he would never admit it to another living soul, but he lived for this. As he heard the gunfire from all around him, he almost smiled.

"Aim for the eyepiece. They're vulnerable there. Get the Rockets up here, take those pepper pots to the scrap yard." Ace also felt in her element. Ordering the wholesale destruction of invading hordes is what she felt she was born to do.

"Cease firing, we come in, in, in, peace." The word coming from the lead Dalek sounded no less alien to it as it did to those assembled to fight against them. "We mean you no harm. We are here as allies against a common foe." The UNIT forces were not sure how to react to this, some of the men stopped firing. Many of them, never having met a Dalek before, had only learned about them in training and it didn't quite equate with the rather pathetic looking creatures in front of them.

The Brigadier took a step forward and raised his hand above his shoulder, and the firing stopped. Ace ran over to him, breaking cover, but she realised she could have just walked, as the Daleks seemed totally disinterested in her. Instead, they seemed to be looking for something, or someone. "I am Brigaider Lethbridge Stewart, in command of the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce. You are known hostiles, why should we believe you are here on a mission of peace?" The Brigadier noticing that nothing was firing at him, took another step towards the Daleks. "If you are not here to attack, why are you here?"

The lead Dalek, for the first time turned to look at him. "We have detected an anomoly in space time and were sent to investigate. The anomoly originates in this time frame, but it will expand, and eventually, Dalek interests will be affected. We have been sent to ensure the survival of the Dalek species. It was decided that this directive would neccesitate the assistance of your forces to succeed." The supreme Dalek, has decreed this, we must obey."

"Curiouser and curiouser." Ace said as she joined the Brigadier in front of the Dalek force. "Do you know what will cause the anomoly?" She added, still suspicious of the true reason for the Dalek visit.

"Our sensors were unable to lock onto the exact source or time that the anomoly began. We sought the assistance of the Time Lords of Galiffrey, but their world was gone. It would appear that their world was the target of the anomoly. Our subject worlds were caught in the backwash. Two thirds of the Dalek fleet were wiped out in mere nano seconds, as though they had never existed. Your world will also be affected, it will be reduced to a lifeless husk."

"So, out of nothing but complete self interest, you are here to 'help' us? Ha, do you think I was born yesterday? Where is the rest of your attack force? When will they..."

"You will be exterminated." With those words, the Brigadier dove for cover, grabbing Ace as he did so. The pair landed in a heap, but they were still alive. The Brigadier was about to shout for firing to resume, when he noticed that the Daleks were not firing at him or his men, instead at something above him. He looked up...

"What in the blue blazes?" He grabbed Ace's radio. "This is Greyhound one, all forces open fire on that thing. I don't want a trace of it left." He heard the order being put into effect as he stood up, looking upwards at the mass of, of whatever it was that was hovering over the London Skyline. It was almost gelatenous in form, pulsating and undulating in some some unheard rhythm. He heard Dalek weapons and gunfire merging into a cacophony of death, all aimed above him. Then he heard a whirring at his feet, he looked down to see one of the K9's there.

"Master. There is no purpose in this weapons fire. It is not affecting the creature, and it does not seem to be attacking us. Further analysis is reccomended."

"Can you carry out that analysis, K9? Save us a bit of time?"

"I have been attempting to do so, but the creature is shielded somehow, I can only get a sense of intelligence from it. It appears to be waiting."

"For what?"

"For me, I think Alistair." The Brigadier spun around and saw an old man approach him, with a strange group around him. "Before you ask the same questions as everyone else, yes it's me. Yes, I've regenerated again, and again. And it's time this nonsense was ended."

"Hello Timelord" came a voice a little in the distance. The Doctor narrowed his eyes as he strained to see the owner of the voice. Then his eyes widened.

"I should have known. Who else could it have been. Again, your fascination with me has driven you to an act of sheer lunacy."

"Perhaps Doctor, but you didn't think, I could let you just die of old Age do you? No, you must die at my hands."

The figure stepped closer still and the Brigadier finally saw who it was...

"Omega..."

It is a universal truth, that when the shit hits the fan, it doesn't get evenly distributed.

Earth
London
Now

"You are an enemy of the Dalek Race, by order of the Supreme Dalek, you are to be Exterminated." With that pronouncement, the Daleks began firing on Omega. Their Plasma based weaponry arcing through the air leaving only the stench of ozone to mark their passing.

Three blasts hit Omega sqarely in the chest, he staggered slightly and began to laugh. "Foolish mortal machine creatures, I am Kin to the Universe now, you seek to destroy me with toys and lights, well, see how light should be used." Beams of light flared from the points on his helmet that would, were he not incorpreal beneath it, have been his eyes.

"You see Doctor, I am no longer the pitiful creature, I was when last we met. Now I have accepted my power, and with that acceptance, I have become more powerful than anyone in existance." Omega began walking slowly around the assembled group of would be defenders and laughed. Til he reached the Brigadier. "I know you, do I not? You were with the fool Doctor, the first time he tricked me, and almost destroyed me. You will of course die for your trespasses against me."

Tegan shuddered as Omega reached her. "Why Miss Jovanka, is your faith in him as strong as it was, when last we met. He is old now, an I am infinitely more powerful now. Do you fear me? Do you wish me dead? It matters not, your very existence will soon be an irrelevant footnote in history."

"If you are as powerful as you claim, why do we still live?" Leela approached Omega, completely unafraid, she circled him like a cat toying with her prey. "Why do you talk, instead of killing us. talk is for the weak. You reak of weakness. Hiding behind your bluster and your talk of power. Where is the power?" Andred struggled with her to get her to stop, he only just managed it, after anchoring himself to a lamp post.

"You know Doctor? I almost like this one. Almost. Child, you will die, as this world will die, when the time is right. When gallifrey is in perfect allignment with this rock you call a planet. When with one fell swoop, I can destroy not only you, but my bastard children as well. The ones who abandoned me. The ones who should have revered me. The ones who forgot me." Omega turned and stalked away from the group, "soon, they will remember me, and shortly after they do, they will be gone, to dust."

"Yes, but you want me out of the way first, dont you? That is why you set this whole thing up? To bring me out into the open, for one final battle, before your 'victory'. Well, here I am Omega, come and get me." The Doctor took a few steps towards Omega, and suddenly Omega was almost on top of him. Towering above the Doctor Omega laughed.

"Are you sure you want this Timelord? Your death could be quick and painless, like theirs" He motioned to the group assembled by the Doctor. "But if you choose this route, there will be only pain, until, you eventually die." Omega looked at the Doctor and saw not even a flicker of fear or doubt in his eyes. "Very well, then." The two stared at each other and there was a tangible sense of dread and anger in the air. And the two of them were gone. Their figures remained, but their minds were elsewhere. Readying for one final battle.

The mindscape
The realm where reality meets fantasy, and everything in between.

Omega stood resplendent in a shimmering golden suit of armour. The Doctor a few 'feet' away was almost as dazzling in a suit of tempered steel and mail, polished to such a degree that omega could see his reflection. "En guard Omega" the Doctor shouted as he let loose the first salvo in a psychic battle of wills.

The real world
Earth
London

The group of former companions were ill at ease. Many of them knew what was happening, but some were still having trouble getting to grips with it all. "You say his body is here, yet his mind is elsewhere battling the Doctor? I say we stick a knife in him and end this right now." The Brigadier and Jamie didn't have a problem allowing Leela to carry this out.

"Leela, Omega is made of Anti matter, all that keeps that in check is the armour he wears. Pierce that, and the universe could well be destroyed." Andred hoped she would understand. At first she seemed not to care, more eager to help the Doctor in any way she could, but then she relaxed her stance a little. Andred smiled, she could never fully relax, even when they were alone together. This was as close to calm as he had ever seen her.

"Adric, I can't believe the Doctor went back to get you, don't get me wrong I'm bloody glad he did." Was all Tegan could manage to say before the tears started flowing. Adric, who was for the most part completely oblivious to the fact that he shouldn't be there, just held Tegan until her sobbing became more controlled and quieter.

"Right you miserable excuses for soldiers, I want a head count, anyone unaccounted for, I want to know about it. We need more artillery, we can't be sure what that thing is capable of. If it can do what it says it can, we're going to need bigger guns." This was Ace's version of a rallying call. The men under her command all scurried around finding the largest guns they could and getting them ready for use.

"Well done Ace, never heard an inspirational speech like it. Fair brought a tear to me eye." The Brigadier smiled as Ace spun around and saluted. "No need for that right now, we have a Universe to save. any ideas?" Ace shook her head in a rather dejected manner. "Right, I forgot, the Doctor's are the ideas men."

Barbara held Ian tightly, "Do you think he'll do what he said he would? Destroy our world just to get back at another?"

"I don't know sweetheart, but I do know, that if anyone can stop him, it's the Doctor."

Jamie, for his part, said nothing. He simply stared at the scenario before him and tried through will power alone, to help the Doctor in his desperate fight to the end.

Sarah Jane knelt next to one of the K9's "So what do you guys make of this? Is there anything we can do to help?"

The other K9 replied. "We are currently hypothesising new methods of anti matter containment, that may be useful in stopping the Omega creature. But the timescale for completion is at least 20 standard years." Sarah smiled and patted both k9's on their heads.

Grace was busy tending to the injured still being brought out of the hotel, but she couldn't shake the thoughts that were entering her mind. "Is that old man, really the Doctor? The man with whom, only four years ago she helped save the Universe with?"

So wrapped in their own thoughts, the materialisation of another Tardis shaped box went alomost unnoticed. Almost. The K9s were suddenly on the move, blasters raised and ready. The doors of the craft suddenly opened and Tegan was the first to notice the flowing robes of a Timelord. One of the K9's powered down his blaster and said "Welcome mistress."

Romana, Lady President of the High Council of the Timelords, looked down and simply said "Hello K9's, your third self will be out presently." Adric ran towards her with arms outstretched to hug the new arrival, but an arm appeared from inside the ship, that held him in place. The arm was attatched to a man, wearing a similar uniform to Andreds. "Loran, release my friend". Romana ordered. The captain of the Presidential guard immediately complied. "Adric, it is so nice to see you looking so, well, alive. I must have words with the Doctor about that. Where is he by the way?" Adric turned and motioned to where the Doctor stood, for all intents and purposes having a staring match with Omega. "Oh, I see." Romana said flatly.

The mindscape.

"Do you admit defeat Doctor? I can still make your death swift."

"Shut up Omega." The Doctor cried as he let loose a volley of psychic energy, that if it had been physical, would have reduced the Himalayas to gentle foothills. Omega barely flinched.

"Enough of this." Omega sounded angry and rushed. "This will end now. But not here."

The real world
Two minutes ago

The Doctor sagged as his consciousness returned to the aged shell he called his body. Omega unfortuantely was not so physically challenged.

You have fought well Timelord, but your time is at an end.

Omega, let loose the beams of energy from his eyes once more and they struck the Doctor as one. The Doctor crumpled and was gone.

"He's dead" cried Susan as she ran to where her Grandfather fell.

All of the companions were in shock, as though physically struck, as one, they staggered backwards. Even Romana looked phased by the situation.

The Doctor is dead.

All hope is lost

All that is left is an Echo...