Prologue
The TARDIS spun through the vortex. They were on their way to Pen Haxico 2 where a type C asteroid had struck an unpopulated continent. The resulting dust cloud could very well create a phenomenon not unlike the nuclear winters of twenty-first-century Earth. Michelle had begun work on a plan that would counteract the devastation.
Michelle looked over as Nita entered. "I'm afraid the numbers coming in are already indicating climatic changes."
"What kind of drop can we expect?"
"If the Pen Haxicon spheral forecasts are correct, ten to twelve degrees Celsius within the first ten days."
"If it continues like that, their entire ecosystem will be shot to hell."
"And I doubt they're prepared to cope with the kind of cold that's coming."
"Nita."
"Yes, Doctor."
"Would you join me in the control room, please."
"On my way. Let me know if those forecast numbers change."
Michelle and Carolyn acknowledged as Nita left.
There was a space/time distortion. And they had passed within three hundred kilometres of something. The Doctor thought it was a bit close for coincidence. "Michelle?"
"Yes?"
"Would a delay of an hour affect your plans?"
"Not unless another asteroid decides to pay a call on Pen Haxico."
"The odds of that occurring, Doctor, are extremely unlikely, given the time frame."
Nita entered.
"Thank you, Carolyn. Let's take a look at the distortion."
"The what?"
"The sensors detected a temporal distortion, Love, almost directly on our current course. There seems to be a small object back there that wasn't there a few moments ago."
The TARDIS came out of the vortex.
"The object is fifty kilometers ahead."
"On screen."
A view of a tiny multifaceted spacecraft appeared.
"Dimensions?"
"Approximately five meters in length."
"Lifesigns?"
"No signs of any kind. Sensors are not penetrating its hull."
"Try hailing it."
"That's odd."
"What's odd?"
"We've received a response, but…"
"Yes?"
"They want you to… 'Move over,'"
The Doctor looked at Nita. "Reply that the TARDIS isn't going anywhere."
"Not the TARDIS, Doctor. You."
The Doctor turned and walked toward Nita. "What are you trying to…"
Suddenly there was a bright flash where the Doctor had been standing. A kindly-looking human male in his late forties appeared. He was wearing a drab, nondescript jump suit and a baggy "lab" jacket. He carried a small valise. "Excuse me, Doctor, but you were standing right where I needed to be."
"Who are you?"
"Frewer's the name, sir. Professor Matthew Frewer." He looked around in amazement. "Ah… this is wonderful. Actually, quite a bit larger than I thought."
"Really?"
"Where I come from, every historian knows the control room of the TARDIS."
"And where exactly is it you come from?"
"Why Earth… late twenty-sixth century Earth, to be exact. You see, I've traveled back nearly three hundred years just to find you."