One by one each of the four Doctors appeared standing on a circular section of floor in dim flashes of light standing together in a semi-circle, they each looked around and took in where they had ended up 'huh not what I was expecting' said Nine 'what were you expecting?' Ten said as he took in the room they appeared in 'dunno, just…not this' Nine replied. Ten nodded 'right, me neither' he said in agreement 'we can take in the place later you two, we need to find the control room or deck of this place, whatever or wherever this place is' said Eleven 'he's right, let's move' Twelve said before he stepped forward and led the way through some doors which slid apart, Nine, Ten and Eleven followed close behind.
Where they found themselves next was also unexpected, but more so than where they had appeared after riding the gravity lift up to where they were. A somewhat strong-ish wind brushed and lightly lashed the four Doctors as they stood on a long and narrow steel bridge that extended out over a glowing yet seemingly bottomless pit of a cylindrical shaft like that of a hot water cylinder in a household hot water cupboard probably the reactor? All four Doctors thought as they looked down over the side of the long steel bridge. Ten's spiked up and sticky uppy hair stirred a bit as it was slightly disturbed by the power of the wind surging through the place but held in place while strands and tuft of hair in Eleven's flopped over side-quiff of hair also stirred and shifted a bit. Subtly noting this Nine thought the downsides of having big or floppy hair, that's what I've got to look forward to while Twelve thought I'm glad that's not an issue for me anymore, not that it bothered me at the time when I was them.
Above them was a domed ceiling with the steel walls rising and arcing up as part of it. In the centre of the huge interior was a platform with a lone robed and hooded figure sitting in the middle of it in a big and dark-looking throne-like seat that stood on a slim curved base. Each of the four Doctors saw and looked at the figure with the same thought on their minds who's that? Looking at one another and exchanging looks. It was then that a hologram display of the same figure appeared before them, his face overshadowed and hidden under the hood of his robe 'Doctor' he said in low-pitched, gritty and hoarse voice as if he'd been expecting them, his accent British and his voice seeming to carry and speak authority as he enunciated his words perfectly and clearly 'or should I say Doctors, we meet at last' the volume of his voice through the display hologram loud enough for them all to hear clearly.
Twelve stepped forward a bit, with a bit of difficulty as he encountered some resistance from the considerably strong wind rushing through the place 'I take it you're the one behind all this?' said Twelve, having raised his voice a bit to be heard above the whooshing of the strong-ish wind. The hologram display of the figure sitting in the distance floated and bobbed in the air in front of Twelve 'why yes I am Doctor, I brought you and your other…past selves here for a little test' the man said, Twelve was about to say something in response to these words, the other three Doctors making expressions as they found the Hooded Man's words curious.
The Hooded Man spoke again though before any of them could begin to get a word in 'although "little" does undermine the scale of the situation and what you and your other selves have been through Doctor, you'll have to forgive my choice of words there' he said, his voice seeming to carry some malice. Twelve briefly glanced off to the side for a split second in wonder of this man's words before quickly returning his gaze to the hologram display 'what kind of test?' Twelve asked, continuing to keep his voice raised about the ringing of the rushing wind around them, Ten spoke up now 'you're not trying to kill me, you could've done so though, you've had four chances among many to do so, but you haven't, not yet' said.
Eleven stepped forward beside Twelve 'so why bring us here? What acts have I committed against you that you're holding against me? Why am I here really? Why bring four of me here together in this place? I don't even know who you are' Eleven questioned also having raised his voice over the wind. The Hooded Man's response was instantaneous 'no you don't, who I am isn't important, but why I have brought you, four of you here is' he said, pausing for a second before continuing 'but really, I have to ask this Doctor, WHY do you think I've brought four of YOU here to my domain, that where you found yourself earlier and where you now find yourself and will soon venture, why your specific incarnations Doctors? That specifically in this case is the real question, which I have been expectantly waiting for you to ask' he said. All four Doctors raised a brow 'well we were about to get to get to that question, but I, me, myself and I wanted to hear to what you had to say first' Nine said as he too now stepped forward alongside his older selves.
The hooded man spoke again without any acknowledgement of what Nine had just said 'your actions, what you have done as a time traveller since the conclusion of the Last Great Time War by your hand alone, that is why you are here' he said. Silence followed as the four Doctors acknowledged what the Hooded Man had just said '…your point?' Twelve questioned using his "attacking eyes" but with one brow raised.
For a few seconds the Hooded didn't answer 'come forward now Doctor and we shall speak face to face' the Hooded Man eventually said through the hologram display. Without warning the Doctors found themselves moved forward across the bridge to the circular end of it, kind like with a Yale key, in a sudden rushing blur of their surroundings and standing before the hooded man, whose features were still hidden underneath his hood, all without having taken a single step 'your continued ventures in dabbling in and interfering with events throughout time and space Doctor, despite the enforced laws of your kind, the Time Lords' the Hooded Man continued.
Eleven shook his head a bit 'oh, I've been through that multiple times with them now, the first time I presented a valid and convincing case in my defense, though they still exiled me for it anyway and changed my appearance against my will' he said whose words seemed to carry resentment in what he said 'they tried again a second time and I very much almost lost the rest of my lives as well as the trial, but I managed to wriggle out of it and turn things around, with the help of the Master…if it wasn't for him we probably wouldn't be here and have gotten this far in my lives' he continued.
The Hooded Man kept going 'circumstances at the time on those occasions ultimately went in your favour Doctor, but since those times you have continued to "flunk" the rules you, as a Time Lord, were and are responsible for upholding, such as when you knowingly and deliberately of your own volition altered a fixed point in time *tut tut tut* STRICTLY forbidden'.
All four Doctors looked at the Hooded Man confused, until he said 'do the words "2059", "Mars" and "Captain Adelaide Brooke" mean anything Doctor?' at these words Twelve's expression changed to that of understanding and realisation before then turning to shame and regret for a while 'what?' Ten said as he furrowed his brows. Something flashed through Eleven's eyes similar to what had just crossed Twelve's features, Nine just looked at each of his future selves with a sustained look of confusion 'What's that? What's he talking about?'.
Twelve squinted at the Hooded Man questioningly 'how is it that you know all this? Events in my life and in time that I've been involved in, what are your sources and where are you getting all your information from?' he questioned as he too furrowed his brows, but in such a way that enhanced his naturally fierce look. The hooded man ignored him and went on 'such a low point you were at in your life after the Time War Doctor living with and shouldering the guilt of your actions during and at the conclusion of the Time War…until you met your lovely companion Rose' he said almost mockingly.
Nine just looked at the Hooded man in a bit of a curious way before redirecting his gaze downward for a couple of seconds before returning his gaze to the Hooded man while taking on a big smile in such a way as if to say "Really? You're going to do that? You might want to reconsider that" 'ok, I commend you for having done your homework, clap clap to you for that' Nine said as he clapped his hand slowly a few times 'but here's the thing, unless you leave that and her out of this I'm going to get very angry and believe me when I say you won't like when I'm angry' Ten and Eleven just looked at him then back at the Hooded Man in silent agreement while Twelve looked back at the Hooded Man from his past self, Nine, and said 'what…he said' while pointing back at his youngest self.
The Hooded Man just grunted dismissively 'you are in no position to be making threats Doctor, so to me they are hollow at best' he said before he continued with reminding the Doctor of the past 1100 years of his long life 'how much angst you must have had to live with during your years of protecting the town of Christmas on the planet Trenzalore to prevent another Time War through the return of the Time Lords, reliving the tragedies of war and doing what you "had to do" to protect the people whom you lived amongst' Nine and Ten just looked at the Hooded Man with confused expressions while looking at Eleven, who looked at the Hooded Man wide-eyed then at his older self, 'what?' said Ten.
Twelve gave the Hooded Man a hard look to which the Hooded Man responded 'touched a nerve have I Doctor?' he said almost tauntingly and mockingly 'of course not, because all of that is behind me, you're right I did what I had to do to protect all those people at the time and save lives by preventing another Time War, I'm just reading you to work out who you are' Twelve replied. A couple of seconds of silence followed before the Hooded Man spoke again 'again it matters not' he said 'well it does to me, I'm interested to know who's judging me and the past 1100 plus years of my life' Twelve said before he relaxed his look 'seriously why don't you just lower your hood and show and tell us who you are, don't be shy, honestly we won't judge'.
More silence followed before the Hooded said 'I've enjoyed our little discussion Doctor, even if I did do most of the talking, I look forward to continuing it upstairs should you survive what happens next' before he pressed a button on his seat which was then surrounded by a transparent energy field and lifted upwards and away. The four Doctors watched him go 'oh now that's just not fair' Twelve said 'we have to go after him' said Nine who stepped forward beside Twelve, Eleven came between them and said 'that might be a little difficult' both Nine and Twelve looked at him 'why?' they both questioned simultaneously 'because we've got company' Ten said as he stood at the edge of the end of the overhanging bridge. Nine, Eleven and Twelve looked to where Ten was looking, Nine and Twelve seeing what Eleven meant: at first it looked like a wall of liquid metal was climbing up the sides of the massive circular shaft, but when Ten put on his brainy specs he confirmed what they were actually seeing 'yeeeeep that's a whole lot of tiny robots coming up the side of the shaft, probably coming right for us to do something unpleasant and nasty' he said 'you think?' said Twelve 'well it did look like a wall of liquid metal from this distance, it could've been anything' Ten said.
Nine turned on the spot with his sonic screwdriver in hand and soniced the spot where the Hooded Man had sat moments ago 'there's no time to lose then' he said as he did so, a platform then rose from the floor onto which Twelve stepped onto 'well, come on then' he said to each of his three former selves. Ten and Eleven both shook their heads 'you go on ahead' said Ten 'we'll keep these small robot things at bay' Eleven said immediately after Ten as if to finish his words. Nine turned back to his older self, Twelve, 'so, what's the plan? You going to give him you're scary brow look?' Nine asked in an almost cheeky way 'yeah aren't you three jealous? These things make me look angry when I'm really not, what do you think?' Twelve responded to Nine's comment in an enthusiastic way 'blimey they're big' Ten said as if he'd only just acknowledged them 'it's like they're on steroids' said Eleven, Twelve's grin widened across his face 'I know right, they're great'.
Nine joined him on the platform and it began to ascend up to the domed ceiling of the spacious shaft way up high above them while Ten and Eleven remained on the bridge, bringing out their sonic screwdrivers in readiness for the robots which were heading straight towards them across the half-bridge. 'Right, you ready?' Ten asked his future self who replied 'no, are you?' said Eleven 'of course not' Ten responded back to him 'that's the spirit' Eleven said, it was then that a few of the small robots dropped from above onto the bridge behind them landing on their claw-like legs. Ten turned to and began to sonic them 'I not sure this this will do anything, I'm not even sure what this will do but's it's our best chance' he said as the robots he was sonicing began to play up and behave erratically, just as Eleven said 'just do it and sonic them, whatever works works, you just watch that end and I'll take care of this end'.
The small crab-like robots coming across the bridge were almost on them and within range for Eleven to start sonicing them. One of the robots on Ten's side became erratic to the point where it scurried towards him and leaped up along with another causing Ten to duck and shout out at the same time 'duck, from behind!' which Eleven did so at the exact same time as Ten did and the robot flew harmlessly over them both. 'Thanks!' Eleven said as he kept sonicing the robots in front of him while more robots dropped down on Ten's side, but now robots were starting appear on the sides of the bridge of either side of both Doctors 'incoming on both sides!' Eleven said 'I can see that!' Ten acknowledged.
As they each took a second, or two, to rethink their strategy and tactics, they had a moment of synchronised talk 'we have to coordinate!' 'I know!' 'just sonic them!' they both said to each other simultaneously in perfect synchronisation. Both Doctors had a look of grim determination as they each widened the direction ark in which they were pointing their sonic screwdrivers, both oscillating the hand in which they held their sonic screwdrivers in perfect coordination to the point where when either Doctor pointed his sonic screwdriver in his general direction the other Doctor would point in the direction directly opposite to the direction the other Doctor would be pointing his sonic screwdriver. Meanwhile, the horde of robots showed no signs of relenting…yet…