The TARDIS phased onto a dark and cold landscape with its usual mechanical whine. The Doctor slowly led Laura and Nal out, Nal dragging the pale beast behind her.
Laura looked up at the sky. "Doctor, did we go to another planet?"
"No. We just moved forward in time"
"But, the sky looks so different. The stars look weird and the color of the sky is wrong."
"Well, we're about four billion years ahead of your time, Laura. Things are bound to change. That's what things do. Even stars. Plus it's easy for things to be different after galaxies collide."
"Oh...wait...Collide?..."
"Laura, I don't think now is the time for astronomy. We must find the madman playing with the laws of time and space."
"And gut him and make him regret every single thing he did." Nal said, her eyes steely with furious focus.
"Yes well, we'll table the disemboweling for now and just see what is happening."
"So Doctor...is there a plan?" Laura asked.
"No. Yes. Well, no. Mostly just see what is happening, chat with whoever I run across, try not to die...the usual. Yes. The usual plan. Seems to work...well aside from those eleven times it didn't..."
The three made their wall through rocky and barren terrain. The sky was a rich purple and and white, yellow and orange stars dotted the sky. As the three reached the top of a hill they caught a glimpse of a small building.
"Well, first sign of life, I think it's a good bet we'll find something there." The Doctor said. "Come along." He waved for Laura and Nal to fall him.
As the approached the structure the Doctor stuck a finger to his lips and hushed the other two. They entered tippy-toeing across the room. There were alien looking machines and devices scattered about the place. Laura had never seen anything like it and Nal of course, who all things considered was taking all of this very well, was incredibly dumbfounded.
Suddenly there was the sound of a door opening from just out of the Doctor's sight. He wildly gestured for the others to hide. Nal dropped the creature and grabbed Laura and led her into the corner and hid in the shadows. The Doctor stood in the middle of the room and fiddled with the devices as the sound of footsteps grew louder.
"These readings are strange...Very peculiar indeed..." The Doctor said, projecting a fake and silly, with obvious insincerity. "All of these huge and scary looking machines!"
A figure stood in the door way.
"Ah! I assume I've found the master of the household? Perhaps you could tell me about all of these strange readings?...Well?"
"I'm afraid you're going to have to leave. This is a reserved area." The figure said.
"Who reserved it?"
"I'm going to have ask you again to leave...This area has sensitive and delicate instruments."
"Oh, I'm sorry...I didn't mean to interrupt. I'll just be leaving..." The Doctor started to head toward the entrance. He then quickly, he turned around to face the figure again. "Oh! One quick question...Why are you dabbling dangerously with the laws of space and time?" The Doctor had an smile on his face that was the definition of fake.
The figure stepped into the light revealing an inhuman face. Cold eyes, cold and vicious. "Who are you?..."
The Doctor's grin grew larger.