Lieutenant Adventures Season 17, Chapter 12, 13 September 2023. Into the Cosmic Abyss: Unraveling the Threads of Time.

16th Lieutenant: 'I find myself reflecting on the adventures and misadventures of my 12th incarnation, who possessed a penchant for showing off his abilities and a lack of awareness regarding the consequences of his actions. This particular Lieutenant, filled with youthful exuberance and a desire for thrill-seeking, embarked on a series of daring escapades that would have far-reaching implications.

'In this chapter, we delve into the exploits of the 12th incarnation as he attempted to manipulate history itself. With misguided intentions, he sought to alter pivotal moments, starting with an audacious plan to change Hitler's past. Blinded by his desire to bring about a better world, the Lieutenant failed to comprehend the delicate balance of the timeline and the potential repercussions of tampering with the course of history.

'Undeterred by the risks, the 12th incarnation proceeded to meddle in various historic wars, attempting to alter their outcomes for what he believed to be the greater good. However, his actions were not without consequences. The fabric of time resisted his interference, pushing back against his attempts to rewrite established events. It became apparent that his actions had far-reaching implications, affecting not only the course of history but also the lives of countless individuals caught in the ripple effect of his choices.

'One particularly ill-fated decision came in the form of teaching Kellie, a companion, to fly the TARDIS. Eager to share the thrill of time travel, the 12th incarnation allowed her to journey back in time and meet a younger version of himself. The repercussions of this meeting sent shockwaves through time, challenging the very foundations of his existence and creating a paradox that threatened to unravel the fabric of reality itself.

'I reflect on the lessons learned from the audacious exploits of the 12th incarnation. Though he possessed a sense of responsibility, his insatiable thirst for fun and thrill led him to push the boundaries of what was morally and ethically acceptable. The consequences of his actions served as a sobering reminder of the delicate nature of time and the need for prudence and restraint when wielding the power to travel through it.

'In this chapter, we embark on a journey into the cosmic abyss, where the 12th incarnation's limits were tested, and the threads of time were unraveled. Through this narrative, we confront the consequences of recklessness and the importance of understanding our responsibilities in the vast tapestry of the universe.'

12th Lieutenant: Leaning heavily on a walking stick, the Lieutenant moved around the console cautiously, checking readings and punching in co-ordinates.

Kellie sat in an armchair nearby, watching him, smirking. 'You know...' started Kellie.

'What's that?' asked the Lieutenant, not looking up.

'Sometimes, I think half the things you claim to be doing on that console don't exist, I think you're doing it for show,' said Kellie, amused.

'Kellie, believe it or not, everything I do has a purpose,' said the Lieutenant.

Kellie smiled. That was neither a confirmation nor a denial. She jumped up and skipped over to join him at the console. 'Where are we heading for?' she asked.

'Austria-Hungary,' said the Lieutenant.

'Wow, any particular reason, a quick holiday?' asked Kellie.

'Well, you could take a holiday there if you wanted to but you need to look past the calm, you need to look at the opportunity. You know, meddling in time is OK if you can do it delicately,' said the Lieutenant.

'What does that mean?' asked Kellie, getting excited.

'We're not just simply visiting Austria-Hungary, we're visiting pursuing a lady by the name of Klara Polzl,' said the Lieutenant.

'OK, what's so special about her?' asked Kellie.

'I knew you'd say that, not many people actually know who she is,' said the Lieutenant. 'We're arriving around November 1888 when she has been pregnant for about four months and her fourth child.'

'Assisting in a pregnancy, that's new,' said Kellie.

'No, I'm going to do the opposite of that,' said the Lieutenant.

'Oh?' asked Kellie.

'I'm going to give her a shove and see where she ends up!' exclaimed the Lieutenant.

'Oh, my God, Lieutenant, you can't do that!' exclaimed Kellie. 'You might cause a miscarriage!'

'That's rather the point, Kellie. She's Adolf Hitler's mother,' said the Lieutenant.

Kellie was silent for a moment, just staring back at the Lieutenant. 'Who gives us the right to do that?' she whispered.

'You can stay here if you don't like it, I'll do it myself whilst you're not looking and then time will tell whether the world is improved or disimproved without Adolf Hitler in it,' said the Lieutenant.

Kellie pinched herself for a moment. She wasn't sure if she was in a nightmare. 'There's no way I am staying in here when you're changing a significant part of human history,' she said.

The Lieutenant smiled. 'Thank you,' he said, punching in the coordinates for November 1988, Austria-Hungary and yanking the Master Lever.

The TARDIS materialised.

The Lieutenant activated the scanner. There were people all around, horses and carts. 'We will have to be quick leaving because if authorities catch up with us, we will live out the rest of our days there or die there. We also need to ensure we have the right person, we're just going to wait here for a while, then when I point her out, we head out and give her a heafty push,' said the Lieutenant.

'There's no way I am helping you push her!' exclaimed Kellie.

'You have to,' said the Lieutenant. 'Once you are out there, you are part of events.'

Kellie didn't want to harm the lady but she was more excited to see a world without Hitler in it and this became her motivation to be involved. One life in exchange for many.

'There she is,' said the Lieutenant, following her on the scanner with his finger. 'The moment of truth,' he said. He shut off the scanner and hobbled to the door and out of the TARDIS with Kellie.

The Lieutenant and Kellie watch Hitler's mother innocently approach them for a moment and they reflected on what they were about to do. As she was about to pass them the Lieutenant whispered to Kellie, 'Ready?'

'Yes,' whispered Kellie in reply.

Just as Hitler's mother passed in front of them, the Lieutenant reached out to her and yelled, 'NOW!'

Kellie reached out and shoved Polzl, harder than the Lieutenant.

Polzl barely had time to realise what was happening before she lost her footing and fell down with a nasty whack.

The Lieutenant turned to Kellie. 'Back to the TARDIS, quick!' he exclaimed.

Kellie returned to the TARDIS very quickly.

The Lieutenant followed Kellie in, as fast as he could, hobbling. He got to the console as fast as he could and yanked the Master Lever.

The TARDIS dematerialised.

'So, what happens now?' asked Kellie.

'Well, we go and see what the world is like without Hitler in it, we're going to 1941 Berlin,' said the Lieutenant.

Kellie looked down at the console, unsure of what version of history she was about to experience, one very, very different to the version of history she had been taught in school.

The Lieutenant punched in the coordinates for 1941 Berlin and yanked the Master Lever.

The TARDIS materialised.

The Lieutenant hesitated before activating the scanner and turned to look at Kellie. 'Are you ready?' he asked.

'I don't know,' said Kellie. 'I think so.'

The Lieutenant activated the scanner and was briefly taken aback by what he saw. The image revealed a fractured and unstable landscape, marked by geopolitical tensions and unresolved conflicts. The dynamics of World War II and its aftermath were dramatically altered and there was smoke and fires everywhere. The scene was very apocalyptic.

Cities lie in ruins, remnants of wars fought with different leaders at the helm. Human rights violations, ethnic tensions, and territorial disputes continue to plague societies, hindered by leaders who are just as ruthless as Hitler.

Technological advancements, once fueled by the urgency of war, lag behind in this world without Hitler's influence. Scientific progress is hindered by the constant state of turmoil, as resources are diverted to military endeavors rather than the pursuit of knowledge and innovation.

Kellie was saddened by what she saw. She knew both her and the Lieutenant had hoped a world without Hitler in it would actually have been improved but here is was much disimproved. 'Who's in charge without Hitler?' she asked.

The Lieutenant tapped on a keyboard and examined the screen. 'Erich von Steinhardt,' he said. 'Also a dictator.'

'And he's worse than Hitler,' said Kellie.

'Evidently,' muttered the Lieutenant.

'This image serves as a cautionary reminder of the complex historical factors that shaped our world, and the unintended consequences that arise from altering pivotal moments in history. It highlights the intricate web of cause and effect, where the absence of one individual does not guarantee a better outcome. It underscores the importance of learning from history's darkest chapters to prevent the repetition of similar horrors, regardless of the specific individuals involved,' said Kellie.

'Agreed,' said the Lieutenant, shutting off the scanner and yanking the Master Lever.

'So, how do we undo this?' asked Kellie.

'There is only one way to do it but everything will have to be very precise and very well timed,' said the Lieutenant.

'What's that?' asked Kellie.

'We have to cross our own timelines, which isn't easy,' said the Lieutenant.

'It can't be harder than accepting the new reality and history,' said Kellie.

'It can, it is,' said the Lieutenant.

'How?' asked Kellie.

'Well, the fact we were there and pushed Polzl over means that we invented a historical accident, someone fell and hurt themself there that day but it doesn't have to be Polzl,' said the Lieutenant. 'We just have to ensure someone falls and is hurt and history can continue without any fractures.'

'I see,' said Kellie. 'Ourselves.'

'Yes, ourselves,' said the Lieutenant. He punched in coordinates the November 1888 Austria-Hungary, about a metre south-east of where they had last materialised and about a second later and pulled the Master Lever.

The TARDIS materialised.

'OK, different plan of action this time,' said the Lieutenant.

'Hit me,' said Kellie.

'We have inserted ourselves into this place in history for a second time. The first time, we were waiting for Polzl to appear. This time, we need to stand outside the TARDIS and wait for ourselves to emerge and just as we are about to shove over Polzl, we need to shove over ourselves so that we don't get the chance to push over Polzl, we also need to get Polzl out of sight as quickly as we can. It will be tricky,' said the Lieutenant.

The Lieutenant activated the door control and hobbled out of the TARDIS, followed by Kellie. He pushed the door shut after him.

'Stay quiet,' whispered the Lieutenant. 'Whisper.'

'When do we act?' asked Kellie.

'In the same way as before but now we have to take in more detail. We are still looking for Polzl because we know that when she appeared, we emerged,' whispered the Lieutenant, watching the other TARDIS door.

'Lieutenant...' began Kellie, looking to her left.

'Is she there?' asked the Lieutenant, not looking left.

'Yes,' whispered Kellie.

'Move towards the other TARDIS, you go on the left side, I'll go on the right, but stay just out of sight, when we come out, shove ourselves, then get back to the TARDIS as quickly as you can so that we don't see ourselves,' whispered the Lieutenant, moving slowly towards the other TARDIS.

Kellie also moved slowly forward to her side of the other TARDIS and stopped, watching Polzl approach.

The Lieutenant did not take his eyes off the front of the other TARDIS.

'On my signal,' whispered the Lieutenant.

Kellie was glancing between the other TARDIS door and the approaching Polzl, awaiting any signal from the Lieutenant.

Just then, the other TARDIS door swung open and the previous Lieutenant and Kellie came out, with the previous Lieutenant closing the door behind them.

Polzl approached.

The previous Lieutenant reached out to her.

'NOW, KELLIE!' yelled the Lieutenant, reaching out and shoving over the previous Lieutenant.

Kellie shoved over her previous self.

Very quickly, the Lieutenant pulled Polzl aside. 'Get out of here, quickly, these people were about to attack you and make a run for it,' he said, hurriedly, gesturing at Kellie to return to the TARDIS. 'Now, run, go, get help!' exclaimed the Lieutenant, rushing back to the TARDIS himself. He hobbled to the console and pulled the Master Lever.

The TARDIS dematerialised.

'Ow! Lieutenant, I have a cut on my elbow!' exclaimed Kellie. 'That wasn't there before!'

'You are quite correct, and I have sore knees, a bad back and a sore hip I didn't have before because, shoving ourselves over, in place of Polzl, we have now created new injuries in our own personal pasts,' said the Lieutenant.

Kellie bit her lip. The Lieutenant never failed to surprise her with his knowledge of time travel.

'Sore, Kellie, both of us, but we have restored history. What we saw was far, far worse than if Hitler had survived. No-one shoved over Polzl and she never had a miscarriage. We were pushed over instead, history recognised incident occurred and continued as normal and Hitler did go on to have the life and do the terrible things he did,' said the Lieutenant, assessing the day's work.

'We failed to stop Hitler,' said Kellie, downcast.

'No, Kellie, we successfully stopped Steinhardt and his regime,' said the Lieutenant, with a grin.

Kellie grinned. 'And no-one even knows who Steinhardt is now!' she exclaimed.

'Exactly!' exclaimed the Lieutenant. 'And history continues, with barely a feather ruffled, and we know why,' said the Lieutenant, with a warm smile.

Kellie beamed back at him.

NEXT TIME

'I find myself reflecting on the extraordinary adventures of my 13th incarnation, whose journey took an unexpected turn in this captivating chapter.

'Captivated by the town's idyllic charm and its warm-hearted residents, my 13th incarnation made a life-changing decision.

'By day, the town embraced a tranquility that seemed untouched by the chaos of the universe.

In the quiet town of Cadmium in the Republic of Qaweritoyu, his legacy lived on, an enduring reminder that even in the vast expanse of the universe, there are places where one can find purpose, forge deep connections, and make a lasting impact.

The Lieutenant

Liam Hickey

Damon Chance

Kellie Heineken

Katie McGrath

Klara Polzl

Kate Winslet

Eric Von Steinhardt

Benedict Cumberbatch

Director

Darwin Meads

Writer

Liam Hickey

Producer

Caitlin Parker

Executive Producers

Liam Hickey

Darwin Meads

M/S 2023