Disclaimer
The plot in this fiction is intended solely for entertainment purposes and should not be interpreted as an attempt to trivialize or make light of the very real and serious impact that Covid-19 had worldwide. The story presented here is a work of creative fiction that borrows elements from reality while talking artistic liberties to create a humorous and light-hearted experience. This was written as an imaginative escape from the hardships and challenges posed by the pandemic, without minimizing its significance.
I understand the sensitivity that some may have around this topic, and I hope this disclaimer clarifies my intentions behind the creation of this fiction.
R.
In war, there are no unwounded soldiers. It is not just flesh and bone that bear the scars, but also the spirit and the soul. War brings not only physical wounds but also lasting pain, shattered dreams, and a haunting legacy that lingers in the hearts of those who endure it.
"Come on, Doc!"
Shania's voice carried a mix of excitement and impatience as she rushed towards the TARDIS doors. The brunette grasped the tarnished handle and pulled it open with a sense of anticipation that had become second nature to her during their adventures through time and space. Yet, and as she stepped outside, Shania came to an abrupt halt, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion as she surveyed the empty, dimly lit street on which the TARDIS had materialized.
Turning back to the interior of the time machine, the young woman couldn't help but notice the Doctor's furrowed brow as he stood before the scanner, his intense gaze fixed on the mysterious surroundings. "Everything all right?" she called out, concern tinging her voice and causing the Time Lord's head to snap in her direction, his signature grin lifting his lips.
"Yeah," he replied, his voice carrying a reassuring tone as he moved gracefully to retrieve his long, brown coat from a nearby hook. "Everything's fine."
As he shrugged into the familiar garment, Shania watched him with a mix of curiosity and unease. She knew the Doctor well enough to recognize when something wasn't quite right. His cryptic grin and the way he briefly glanced at the scanner only heightened her curiosity.
The Time Lord himself wasn't entirely sure of their current location, and that uncertainty weighed on his mind. He had seen countless worlds, encountered a myriad of species, and faced perilous situations, but something about this place was different. The eerie silence that had descended upon the TARDIS the moment they landed was unsettling, a stark contrast to the usual hum of activity and bustling alien worlds they often encountered.
His senses were on high alert as he approached the TARDIS doors and his companion, a feeling of foreboding gnawing at him. There was a mystery to be unravelled here, a puzzle waiting to be solved, and with a determined expression, the Doctor stepped out onto the desolate street, ready to face whatever enigma lay ahead.
But a few blocks away...
"Stay indoors! Self-isolation is in effect! Stay indoors! Self-isolation is in effect!"
The electronic, distorted voice of a Dalek echoed eerily through the desolate, dimly lit street, creating an unsettling atmosphere that seemed to intensify the silence.
The formidable alien war machine, its metallic shell gleaming with a cold, malevolent aura, trundled ominously down the deserted thoroughfare. Its single, unblinking eye cast a baleful red glow as it swept back and forth, scanning the lifeless surroundings.
"Breaching isolation will result in extermination!" it proclaimed with motorized certainty, its words a chilling threat that hung heavily in the air.
A sudden movement on the periphery of its sensors caught the alien's attention, and its eyestalk swivelled swiftly in the direction from which it came. "You will cease movement!" it cried, its mechanical voice devoid of mercy, as it changed its course and trundled menacingly toward the lone human attempting to conceal himself behind a weathered dustbin.
As the Dalek drew closer, the man's heart raced, desperation etched across his face. With a burst of courage, he shouted, "No!" and made a reckless dash down the empty street, his fear momentarily overpowering his survival instincts.
"Exterminate!"
The Dalek's voice surged with deadly intent, and its lethal laser beam fired with a malevolent hum. The searing energy struck the fleeing man, who let out a heart-wrenching scream before collapsing to the ground, life extinguished in an instant.
Rolling slowly towards the fallen figure, the Dalek came to a halt a few feet away, its eyestalk bending down to scrutinize the lifeless body. "Infection found!" it suddenly declared, its artificial voice registering an alarming note of concern. "Request transport for immediate incineration!"
In a burst of disorienting light, the Dalek and the lifeless man were enveloped, and when the brilliance dissipated, both had vanished, leaving behind only an unsettling aura of dread in the quiet, isolated street.
As the Doctor and Shania strolled along an eerily deserted street, the former's eyebrows furrowing deeper with each step taken, a perplexing sense of unease settling over the Time Lord. The once bustling thoroughfare had transformed into a hauntingly empty expanse, devoid of life and the usual cacophony of human activity.
"Kinda spooky, don't ya think?" Shania remarked, her voice trembling slightly as she surveyed the desolation around them. She instinctively tugged her jacket tighter around her slender frame, seeking some measure of comfort and security in the familiar garment.
"Hmm, you could say that," the Doctor replied, his sharp eyes scanning their surroundings for any sign of movement or anomaly. His gaze fixed on a curtain in a nearby house, which appeared to flutter as if stirred by an unseen hand.
Abruptly, the front door of the house swung open with a creak, and a dishevelled woman burst forth, her panicked expression mirroring the pair's own sense of disorientation and alarm.
"Wait! What are you doing?!" the Time Lord exclaimed, his concern evident as the woman suddenly grasped both his and Shania arms, her fingers trembling with fear. She began to urgently tug them in the direction of her home, an imperative desperation in her eyes pleading with them to just follow.
"Shh!" she hissed, her voice barely above a whisper as they came to a sudden halt at her front gate. Her wide eyes darted anxiously up and down the silent street, as if expecting some unseen danger to pounce at any moment. "We can talk inside."
Shania and the Doctor exchanged a perplexed glance, their shared curiosity mingling with a growing sense of apprehension. Both had keenly observed the woman's pallor and the terror etched on her face. They hesitated for a moment, their instincts warily on edge, before following the woman through the gate and into her home.
As they stepped across the threshold, they cast one last uneasy glance at the deserted street, acutely aware that they had been thrust into a situation fraught with mystery and danger.
The moment they stepped inside and the door, much to the Doctor's ever-present curiosity, was shut and locked behind them, their unexpected host's demeanour shifted abruptly. She rounded on the duo with an intensity that matched her trembling hands.
"Do you two have a death wish?" she demanded, her voice quivering with a mix of anger and fear. "What were you thinking, going outside?"
Shania began to offer a half-hearted explanation, but her words faltered under the weight of the woman's unimpressed glare. The Doctor, ever the diplomat, interjected before a full-blown confrontation could erupt.
"Why are you so scared to go outside?" he asked gently, his tone aimed at diffusing the tension that had rapidly built up. He observed the quick return of colour to the woman's cheeks and suspected that she was on the verge of an emotional outburst.
"Don't tell me you don't know?" The woman's incredulous expression shifted between the two newcomers.
"Hermits United," Shania quipped, attempting to inject a touch of humour. "Today's our ten-year get-together."
The woman blinked, clearly not grasping the reference, and the Doctor just shot his companion a stern look before taking a step closer to the puzzled woman. "Why don't you tell us what's going on?" he urged, his voice now softer and more reassuring.
The woman's eyes widened as she looked at the Doctor, a sense of disbelief in her gaze. "You really don't know?" She shook her head in apparent astonishment. "Oh, gods. We're going to need some tea." Without waiting for a response, she hurriedly left the room.
"She seems nice," Shania remarked with a hint of sarcasm as she glanced around the cozy sitting room they had been led into. Seated on one of the sofas, she idly picked up a book from the coffee table. "Any idea why she's so scared?" she mused aloud.
The Doctor raised an eyebrow at her comment. "Many things," he replied cryptically, his gaze briefly drifting toward the window. "You lot do have a talent for making enemies."
Shania snorted in response. "Like you can talk."
Their conversation was interrupted when the woman re-entered the room, holding two mugs of tea. She handed one to the Doctor, who offered his thanks before returning to the question that had been gnawing at him.
"Why are you so afraid to go outside?" he repeated, his curiosity undiminished.
The woman passed Shania her tea, and as she straightened, her eyes darted to the window. "It all began a few months ago, in China," she began, her voice dropping to a hushed whisper as if she feared being overheard. "There was a virus, unlike anything we've ever encountered befo-"
"Virus?" Shania and the Doctor exclaimed simultaneously, sharing a perplexed and concerned look.
Before the woman could provide further details, a deafening crash emanated from outside, causing all three of them to spin toward the window. Their faces paled as they beheld a Dalek, its mechanical form slowly advancing into the house across the street.
"Wait! You can't!" the woman cried out in alarm, but the Doctor and Shania were already moving, driven by a sense of urgency and the knowledge that they had to face this unexpected threat head-on.
The Doctor and Shania stood frozen in front of the locked front door of the woman's home, their ears assaulted by the chilling proclamation of the Dalek.
"...sensors have detected that you and your family have been infected. By the decree of the Shadow Proclamation, this planet has been quarantined, and the infected are to be immediately exterminated and incinerated."
"No, please. It wasn't our fault," a woman pleaded, her voice trembling with despair as the desperate plea for mercy escaped her lips.
The Doctor, usually quick to take action, found himself immobilized by shock. His usually vibrant face was drained of colour, and much to Shania's disbelief, began to back away from the house, his fingers instinctively clutching at his companion's hand to prevent her from entering.
"Doctor?" Shania questioned, perplexed by his sudden change of demeanour.
But the Time Lord remained silent; his hearts gripped by an overwhelming sense of dread. Instead of confronting the impending threat, the Doctor turned and ran, dragging Shania with him, their footsteps echoing through the empty street.
His mind raced as they fled, his thoughts a whirlwind of confusion. Why had the TARDIS brought them to Earth in the year 2020, a time period that had been locked by the Shadow Proclamation to prevent access by aliens and time-travellers alike?
"Doctor?!" Shania cried out as they continued to flee. "What about the family? Aren't you going to stop them? It's going to kill them!"
The Doctor paused only briefly to glance back at his companion, and she was taken aback by the unfathomable dread and seriousness etched into his eyes. "They're already dead," he uttered, his voice hollow and haunted.
Shania barely registered his words as shock coursed through her. Her heart pounded in her chest as she struggled to keep up with the Doctor's hurried pace, the surreal realization of the situation sinking in.
As the TARDIS doors slammed shut behind them, and the Doctor was already hastily operated the controls, causing the time machine to dematerialize within seconds. Shania, still in a state of shock, stood frozen by the doors, her horrified expression reflecting the turmoil inside her.
"Doctor," she called out when he finally stopped and turned his attention to her. "Why didn't you save them? The Dalek was going to kill them. You once told me that they were the deadliest creatures in the universe, and you just let them... slaughter that family."
The Doctor didn't respond immediately, his gaze fixed on the TARDIS console. After a moment, he met Shania's gaze, his face a mask of solemn resolve.
"There is no cure," he told her, his voice heavy with regret.
"What?!" Shania exclaimed, unable to comprehend the gravity of the situation.
The Doctor shook his head and began to explain. "The coronavirus was contracted by a man in China. It spread rapidly across the entire Earth, killing anyone it came into contact with. That Dalek was, in a way, assisting humanity. If they hadn't intervened, the Shadow Proclamation would have destroyed Earth to prevent the virus from spreading throughout the universe."
Shania recoiled in shock at the revelation. A virus without a cure? It seemed utterly impossible - inconceivable even, given the Doctor's track record of solving seemingly insurmountable problems.
"But, Doc, there must have been something you could have done," she insisted, her voice filled with desperation.
"I am doing something," was all the reply she got as he pulled out his trusty sonic screwdriver and began scanning Shania.
"What?" Shania asked, perplexed by his actions, as he moved back to the TARDIS console.
The Time Lord glanced at the readings on his sonic, his brow furrowing slightly as he looked toward his companion. With a sudden grin, he initiated the TARDIS into flight once more.
"How do you feel about visiting the planet Zogg?" he asked as he skilfully piloted the TARDIS to their next destination.
"Planet Zogg?" Shania inquired, still reeling from the recent events and the Doctor's apparent willingness to move on so quickly.
"Yeah," the confusing alien replied casually. "Wonderful planet. Off you go, I'll be out in a second. I just need to check something."
Despite her lingering doubts, Shania acquiesced to the Doctor's request and reluctantly stepped out of the TARDIS. She never did see the pained expression on his face as he turned his attention back to the console.
"I'm sorry, Shania," he whispered to himself as he snapped his fingers. The TARDIS door shut abruptly, leaving Shania stranded outside on Earth - all but a moment after they had departed.
The Doctor's lips twisted into a regretful frown as he observed the positive result flashing on the scanner. With a heavy heart, he piloted the TARDIS away, ignoring Shania's desperate cries to be let back in.
As the time machine hurtled through the vortex, the Doctor sensed the impending change happening deep within him. He glanced down at his hands, which began to shimmer with golden energy and closed his eyes.
"Fuck!" he cursed, moments before his body convulsed, his head thrown backwards, and the process of regeneration overtook him.
Several years later...
The TARDIS hummed with its characteristic energy as the Doctor scurried around the console, flipping switches, and manipulating controls with the flair of someone intimately familiar with the time machine's intricacies. His latest companion, a curious and spirited individual, watched with a sense of fascination and anticipation as the Time Lord prepared for their next adventure.
"Where to?" the Doctor inquired, his voice carrying a hint of excitement, as if the possibilities of the entire universe lay at their feet.
His companion pondered for a moment before offering a suggestion, her eyes alight with hope. "What about the 2020 Olympics on Earth? I heard that it's expected to be a good year."
The Doctor's movements came to an abrupt halt, his jovial mood evaporating like mist in the morning sun. His eyes locked onto the console in front of him, his expression darkening with an unspoken weight of memories and regret.
He slowly raised his head, his gaze penetrating as it met his companion's eyes. There was a heavy pause before he spoke, his tone devoid of its usual warmth, replaced instead with a sharp, almost icy edge.
"Never, and I mean never mention that year in my presence again!" he declared with a stern finality.
His companion recoiled, taken aback by the sudden change in demeanour. The Time Lord's response had been far more intense than she had anticipated, and a chill settled over the TARDIS console room in the wake of his words.
"O-okay," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper, her curiosity now tempered by a newfound understanding that some moments in the Doctor's long and mysterious life, well, they were best left untouched.
No one could fathom why the Doctor was eternally in motion, an enigmatic figure forever on the run.
No one had ever glimpsed the depths of his soul when, at the tender age of eight, he stared unblinkingly into the Unfathomable Schism, a moment shrouded in mystery.
But it would have been a shocking revelation to those who thought they knew him that in the year 2020, the Doctor entrusted humanity into the hands of his most formidable adversary.
The year the Corona Virus cast its shadow over the universe, threatening to erase all existence, became a turning point that defied comprehension.
It was the year when the Daleks, the very embodiment of dread, unexpectedly emerged as the saviours of us all...
2020 A.D. is forever marked as the year the Daleks saved us all...
