The Vanishing Point
Dronon was at the controls of the jump ship, with Caspar sitting in one of the passenger seats. They weren't looking at each other, neither did they speak. They were not happy about this mission. Caspar looked out of the viewport, his expression almost sullen. Savage, Cassandra, Nikki and Mark Martin were standing in a group on the tarmac about fifty yards away. He had a sudden fantasy of leaning over to the weapons console and loosing a blast that would hurl the four of them into oblivion. Except that it would only be three that were gone - Savage would survive - and when he recovered - Caspar didn't like to think about that. So instead he and Dronon would be going to the only place they never wanted to see again.
''Happy foraging'' Cassandra said and kissed Nikki in temporary farewell.
She hugged her father, who was also making this trip, out of curiosity rather than for any practical reason. She and Martin - newly promoted to be her deputy - watched the two passengers board the jump ship.
The two passengers headed for the bridge, taking their seats and strapping themselves in, ready for the journey.
The jump ship rose, picking up speed as it went. The co-ordinates were already set, so Dronon simply pulled the lever towards him. The comfortable view of the island was replaced by a swirling, shifting mass to uncoordinated colour. It was longer than the average inter-dimensional journey and Nikki began to feel a bit queasy by the time the view reverted to being one of - fairly - normal space. What was in front of them she thought, was like something out of a disaster movie. Twisted chunks of metal hung motionless in the empty space before them. Some of the wreckage was nothing more than fragments, but there were other places where it looked worth investigating.
''This is it'' Dronon announced in a dull tone. He checked his instrument panel for a moment. ''Thee air's breathable and there's still gravity.''
So this is the Vanishing Point, Savage thought, or what's left of it.
Dronon took the jump ship to what appeared to be a stable platform of sufficient size. Cautiously, he kept the engines running until he was sure the metal wasn't about to collapse under them. He shut down and turned to face the other Time Master. Savage and Nikki were already on the way out of the jump ship.
When he was sure the other two were gone, Caspar remarked ''Do you ever get the feeling that we're just lackeys around here?''
Dronon nodded - the problem was, neither of them knew what they could do about it.
Savage and Nikki wandered through the ruins, together at first. Nikki kept stopping to examine individual pieces of machinery, but he was happy to wait for her.
''How are the mighty fallen'' he remarked.
She surprised him by topping that ''My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings. Look on my works, ye mighty and despair.'' A quick smile.'''Yes, I've read Shelley.''
He'd seen many civilisations rise and fall as he lived through the centuries. Most of them had left remains, weathered by time and humanity's probing. Yet nearly all of them had possessed more grandeur and dignity than what remained of the Time Master's lair.
Nikki was evidently finding equipment she wanted to take back for study - no doubt she would soon be summoning Chronos to come and do the heavy lifting for her. He walked a bit further down the corridor and glanced into a side room.
''Nikki - take a look at this.''
She glided to his side, then strode over to the console where a single light was flashing. On/off/on/off in regular bursts of about five seconds.
''This looks like a communication console'' she said thoughtfully. 'And I think this is an automatic signal - incoming.''
Savage unhooked the com unit from his belt. ''Caspar, Dronon - one of you come here. We're in what looks like a two storey ruin half way down the right hand side of the main thoroughfare. There seems to be an incoming signal.''
Casper arrived a few minutes later, appearing to be dragging his feet. That changed the instant he got in sight of the flashing light. He almost ran to the console.
''It is incoming'' he announced after a few moments. ''It's a distress beacon. From a Time Ship. There may be another Time Master out there!''