11th of September, 1800
The USS Pickering, Earth
The TARDIS materialised on a ship that had recently departed from New Castle, a riverside city on the Delaware River in the United States. Jessica looked at the date and, with the Doctor's permission, got a dress from the Doctor's wardrobe. "How's it looking, Doctor?" Jessica asked.
"Pretty good on you." the Doctor replied, "Considering we're in the very beginning of the Nineteenth Century, it's perfectly appropriate."
"I'm curious, though: where did you get that EMP device from?"
"From a destroyed Stenza Sniperbot. I'll tell you, those are more useful dead than alive."
"I'm guessing more alien stuff."
"I'll explain later."
"Is it fine if I stay here this time?" Khaldun asked, "I don't want to get involved in facing any more beasts from other worlds. Besides, I'm massively tired."
"I have a bedroom in my TARDIS, you can sleep there. Downstairs, left corridor, second right."
"Thank you, Doctor."
The Doctor turned to Jessica. "I know I decided on the Nineteenth Century, but there's something odd about this date and location."
"What's wrong with the date?"
"11th of September, 1800. If we are where we think we are..." The Doctor's face went pale. "Oh no."
"What?"
"We're going through the Bermuda Triangle."
Jessica rubbed her forehead. "And let me guess, this ship is one of the many vessels that vanished over the centuries?"
"The first."
"Well... I guess it's clear what we're meant to do: save the crew of the ship."
The Doctor started at Jessica in an admitted fashion. "And spin the wheel on the many ways the fabric of reality will end up being torn apart? I cannot alter fixed events lest the universe dies, deaths included."
"Deaths included? Well, I don't recall any confirmed deaths for that particular incident."
"Really? A ship sinks in the middle of the ocean with a crew of 105 people and you think nobody died?"
"Well, it's that good old trope: no body, no death." The Doctor was getting frustrated with Jessica. "Come on, Doctor. We can keep a low profile until things go horribly wrong, then we can save everyone on board."
The Doctor thought about it, and conceded. After all, she had saved people from the likes of Pompeii and Bowie Base One before. Why would this be any different? "Let's go, then."
"Excellent." The Doctor and Jessica got to the TARDIS doors and opened them, only to be greeted by several crewmen pointing their rifles at the duo, who then put their hands up.
"So much for keeping a low profile." the Doctor remarked, much to Jessica's chagrin. She looked back at the crewmen. "Do not worry about us. We mean no harm." The Doctor pulled out her psychic paper. "Commodore Truxtun has ordered my appearance too."
One crewman put down his rifle. "Put down your arms." he ordered, "The First Lady is here." The crewman put out his hand as the rest of the crew put down their guns. "Name's Admiral James Newcastle. We're sorry, Lady Adams."
"No need to apologise."
"There was a need. I shouldn't have insulted a woman such as yourself. Although, it's weird that you came here via that box that just teleported in."
The Doctor knew what to say. "Ever heard of the Doctor, Admiral Newcastle?"
"Oh yeah, my mentor mentioned him a couple of decades back."
"This is his TARDIS, but he was exhausted after a battle with a bunch of genocidal tableware, so he's out of commission for this trip. Not very Doctor-like of him, really."
James looked to Jessica. "And you?"
"Katrina Crane." Jessica answered, taking inspiration from a television show she watched when she was younger, "I'm with her."
"Well then, come on board."
As the crew walked away, the Doctor whispered into Jessica's ear with "Katrina Crane? As in the wife of fictional character Ichabod Crane? I don't recall that in the short story."
"I'm sure you know of the many adaptations of that story, Doctor. I just simply used an identity from one of them."
"Fair enough. Let's keep moving."
The Doctor and Jessica got to the top of the deck and saw the massive white sails of the vessel blowing in the wind under bright blue skies. "How did this ship vanish again?" Jessica asked.
"A strong gale, allegedly." the Doctor answered.
"Under this nice weather, with the wind not strong enough to blow this ship underwater?"
"There must be something else, then."
The duo caught up to Admiral Newcastle. "Nice of you to catch up, Lady Adams." he said.
"Indeed." the Doctor replied, "Anything peculiar about this trip?"
"Not really, ma'am. Why'd you all?"
"Just in case I find talking points for my husband when I get back to the White House."
"Hmph. Nothing like a good story."
"I'm sure you've got some good stories of your own stemming from your service to the Navy."
"Eh. I'm not a storytelling sort of guy. Although, I do hear that there's a monster roaming the seas around this area."
The Doctor was slightly confused. "A monster? Whatever could you mean by-" The Doctor stopped showing as she saw clouds beginning to gather around the ship. Dark clouds. "Could that have something to do with the monster you're thinking about?"
James looked at the same clouds the Doctor did. "Oh God... He's here."
"If the monster is here, then you should gather everyone."
"You sure, Lady Adams?"
"Damn sure."
"And me?" Jessica asked.
"Get back in the TARDIS. I don't want you getting hurt."
Jessica nodded and ran back to the TARDIS. The Doctor and Newcastle managed to get all the crewmen to gather around. The nervous crewmen, who saw blue skies only seconds before, were now waiting on the words of the Admiral. "Men," he began, "we're in major trouble. The monster we were informed about back in New Castle is coming, but we are prepared to fight it, as the might of our weaponry wool slay toys beast!"
"No, they won't." the Doctor chimed in solemnly, "I have a confession to make: my name isn't First Lady Abigail Adams. I have many names, but I mainly go by "The Doctor," and I know the date of everyone on board this vessel: on this specific date, this ship, along with everyone on it, will vanish in a gale, which is why I'm here. There were no official deaths recorded, so I am going to bring the entire crew to the TARDIS and transport all of you safely back to New Castle. Got it?" The entire crew nodded. "Excellent. Follow me."
As the crew were going back to the TARDIS, however, one of the crewmen snapped the neck of one of his crewmates. "You trespass my home!" the possessed one said, "Leave or perish!"
"Or maybe you consider this." James shot the possessed crewman in the face and it fell down. "We're not afraid."
However, the two crewmen that were killed came back to life and reverted all injuries. "I warned you!"
It was then that the Doctor realised something: she knew what the monster that James talked about was. The basis for the likes of the Leviathan, Tiamat, Jörmungandr, and all other mythical sea monsters in history. However, the Time Lords called it by the name of the man who had sacrificed his son to the Gods in the Greco-Roman mythology they loved so much.
She could only say a single word: "Tantalos!"
