Prologue

The TARDIS was spinning through space. It was conducting a security survey of the Omnia Sector. Despite being close to Sontaran territory, their mission had been quiet and uneventful.

In the galley, the Doctor was playing the spoons to an appreciative audience made up of Ace and Nita. The Doctor finished his recital with a flourish… and a dropped spoon. As the Doctor grinned good-naturedly, everyone laughed and applauded.

"Alright, Professor… you've got until your next birthday to get that right."

As Ace laughed, Nita asided to the Doctor… "Many things improve with age… maybe your spoon playing will be one of them."

Then Ace approached from the counter. Ace carried a large birthday cake covered with lit candles. "It's candle time, birthday boy."

Ace placed the cake on the table. The Doctor blew out the candles to more applause. Then Nita approached him. "What did you wish for, Doctor?"

"Spoon lessons."

More laughter.

"I find it interesting how humans place so much importance on celebrating the day of their birth… a day one cannot possibly remember…"

Nita smiled… but then the Cloister Bell began to ring. Everyone ran to the Control Room. Nita arrived at the console first. "Doctor… I'm detecting some unusual fluctuations in subspace frequencies."

The Doctor frowned. "We had better take a look, girls." He and Ace joined Nita at the console.

"It looks like we're being probed."

The Doctor leaned over Ace's shoulder. "Source?"

"The third planet of the Alpha Omnia system. Our reports list it as presently uninhabited. Maybe the reports were wrong."

"Or perhaps the rumors of a secret Sontaran base in this sector are true."

They exchanged looks, then… "I think we need to go down there."

The TARDIS materialized on a dull, gray planet. Alpha Omnia Three. Ace, the Doctor and Nita were at the console. They were studying an image of Alpha Omnia Three on the viewscreen before them.

"Although Alpha Omnia Three is a Class M planet, survey teams have listed it as barren and inhospitable."

"Any life signs?"

"No, Doctor… but we have traced some residual energy readings… to a cavern two kilometres beneath the surface."

The Doctor and Nita exchanged a look.

"Sontarans?"

"It's possible. But I can't be sure."

The Doctor digests this. Then… "I suppose we'll just have to go down there and find out." And he set the coordinates.

The TARDIS materialized in the dark, mist-filled cavern. The Doctor, Ace and Nita stepped out of the TARDIS. They lit their palm beacons, sending dramatic beams sweeping through the hazy air. Then the Doctor scanned with his sonic screwdriver.

"I'm detecting high levels of volcanic gases… sulphur dioxide, methane, hydrogen sulphide…"

"Toxic?"

"We're okay for now… But I wouldn't want to spend my holidays here."

"What about energy readings?"

Nita frowned at her own scanner. "Magnetic clutter is increasing. I can't make an accurate determination."

"Same here. I'm getting some very confused readings…" The Doctor reacted to his sonic screwdriver, turned, scanned… "I think we should go back, girls. We've got a sudden build-up of gases here… especially methane." He indicated a rolling, swirling cloud of lethal looking vapour which now blocked the far end of the cavern.

Nita reacted. "Let's go back."

Ace turned back towards the TARDIS. "I can't see the TARDIS anymore. Too much gas."

Gas boiled up around them. The team was coughing. Ace dropped to her knees. Nita moved to assist her. They started moving in the direction of the TARDIS, stopped, then tried to start again. A tense Doctor stepped forward… "Where is the TARDIS? Come on!"

Ace struggled towards the TARDIS, then finally reached it… "I've found it, Professor."

Nita crawled along the floor to the TARDIS and both girls struggled inside. The Doctor was on the ground. Motionless.

The Doctor lay in Sickbay. He opened his eyes, and immediately closed them again. The ceiling light was blinding.

A woman entered. "Ace… He's awake."

Ace entered. An older Ace whose hair was now styled differently, and beginning to grey at the temples. She leaned over him.

"Ace?"

Ace smiled. "You remember me… that's good. What else can you remember, Doctor?"

And that's when he got a good look at Sickbay – a Sickbay which was subtly different. The Doctor reacted as he looked up at the diagnostic device above his bed, which had a highly reflective surface. The Doctor saw his face. His hair was cut very short, and his ears were huge. He had regenerated.