Chapter 5
It was an amazing sight: hundreds of TARDISes could be seen stretching off into the distance, some of them close, others distant points of light.
In the Control Room, everyone was staring at the viewscreen in disbelief.
"Rutan ship is disengaging," said Ace.
Michelle studied her panel. "The rate of quantum incursions is increasing exponentially. At this rate, the sector will be completely filled with TARDISes within three days."
"Nita – we are receiving two hundred and eighty-five thousand hails from other TARDISes," said Ace.
"I wish I knew what to tell them. Michelle – can we stop these incursions?"
Michelle quickly thought. "Perhaps – if we find the TARDIS which matches my quantum signature."
"How would that help?"
"It was my shuttlecraft which traversed the fissure and weakened the barriers between quantum realities. If I re-enter the fissure in my original shuttle, and emit a broad-spectrum warp field – it may be enough to seal the fissure and stop additional realities emerging into this one."
"Then what? How do we get the TARDISes that are already here back to where they belong?"
"In theory, the act of sealing the fissure should also restore the barriers between quantum states. The TARDISes would return to their own realities."
Nita considered, then – "Ace, send out a general hail to all TARDISes. This is Nita of the TARDIS… that is, the TARDIS which is indigenous to this universe. We have all encountered a quantum anomaly. We think we have a way to return all of us to our proper realities. We need to find the TARDIS which exhibits a particular quantum signature. Our Michelle will transmit the signature to you now." Nita nodded to Michelle, who quickly went to work.
A long beat went by. "Anything?"
"There's too much com traffic, Nita," said Ace. "It's tough to isolate who's talking to who. Wait. Here it is, one TARDIS is responding."
"Onscreen."
The Doctor appeared on the viewscreen. He was standing in the Control Room of another TARDIS. In the the background, they could see Nita and Michelle at their usual positions. Nita reacted to the sight of her old friend.
"Nita… we appear to have the quantum signature you're looking for."
"Michelle believes that by sending her through the fissure again, it would send all of us to our own realities."
The Doctor nodded. "Our Michelle has said the same thing."
"We need you to send us your shuttlecraft."
The Doctor nodded. "We'll prepare to launch it now."
Nita eyed the Doctor. "It's… good to see you again, Doctor. It's been a long time."
The Doctor glanced over his shoulder at his Nita, a little confused.
Later, in the shuttlebay, Nita entered and walked up to Michelle, who was closing a panel on a shuttlecraft. "Did they send the right shuttle?"
"Yes. Its quantum signature matches mine precisely. I have re-modulated the shuttle's engines to emit an inverse warp field. I will need to activate the field at the precise moment I enter the fissure."
"Assuming it works, what will happen? Will you find yourself near your own TARDIS?"
"That is one possibly. However, the uncertainty principle dictates that time is a variable in this equation. I may end up several days before this even – or several days after it. There is no way to tell."
Nita nodded. "I understand. Good luck."
Michelle nodded. "Goodbye." Michelle turned and entered the shuttle. The door closed.
The TARDIS dematerialized, leaving the shuttlecraft in space.
"Setting course for the fissure."
"Acknowledged."
Suddenly, the shuttle was jolted.
In the Control Room of the TARDIS, Nita and Ace were at their positions. Mauve Alert.
"Nita – the shuttle is under attack!"
"The Rutans again?"
"No – it's one of the TARDISes! They're hailing us."
"On screen."
On the viewscreen, they saw another Doctor standing in the Control Room of another TARDIS. He looked haggard, terrified about something. Michelle could be seen behind him – she also looked urgent. The TARDIS was dark, smokey, lit only by emergency lighting. A panel exploded in the background.
There was a Nita on the viewscreen – "We won't go back!" she cried urgently. "You don't know what it's like in our universe. Gallifrey is gone – the Cybermen are everywhere! We're one of the last ships left! Please, you've got to help us!"
It was a difficult moment.
"I'm sorry. There's no choice. If this works, everything will return to –"
"No! We won't go!"
The transmission ended.
"They're firing on the shuttle!"
"Open fire! Try to disable them!"
Ace got to work.
She fired torpedoes.
"Direct hit… their shields have collapsed… their Eye of Harmony is overloading."
On the viewscreen, the other TARDIS exploded in a blast of fiery debris – completely destroyed.
"What happened?"
"It looks like their TARDIS had already taken heavy damage – their time containment field must have been weak."
"Probably from fighting the Cybermen."
"Nita – Michelle is entering the fissure."
Michelle could see the quantum fissure through the windows as the shuttle got closer. "Charging primary systems, initiating inverse warp field." Michelle tapped a control. The shuttle started to tremble.
Dozens of Michelles appeared, all identical but moving slightly out of synch with one another – like an 'infinity mirror' of Michelles moving together. There was a flash of colour.
Michelle was lying on the floor of the shuttlecraft, unconscious. Her eyes flickered open, and she sat up and glanced around. She rushed to the helm, looked out the windows, and saw nothing but stars. The TARDISes were gone – the shuttle sat alone in space.
Michelle tapped a control. "Michelle to the TARDIS."
"TARDIS here."
"Doctor – is everything alright?"
"Yes, Michelle. Is there a problem?"
"I don't believe so. But I'll explain when I arrive."
"How was the fencing tournament?"
Michelle glanced around the shuttle, and saw the large trophy sitting nearby. She grabbed it eyed it with relief. "I won… 'Champion Standing.'"
In the TARDIS corridor, Michelle and Nita were walking along, mid-conversation. Michelle was carrying her foil and trophy.
"So you don't think this… quantum fissure is anything we have to worry about?"
"No. I believe the inverse warp field resealed it."
"I look forward to reading your report."
They stopped at Michelle's quarters. Michelle eyed the door warily – she knew what was coming.
"Something wrong?"
"I know what you are planning. I will not be surprised."
"Surprised? I don't know what you're talking about."
"Of course you don't."
Nita looked at her, puzzled. Michelle opened the door. She entered her quarters and glance around. No one was there. She set down her trophy and foil and headed to the bedroom, paused by the door expectantly, then burst into the room.
The room was empty except for Carolyn, who was standing by a small terrarium. She looked up, a little startled. "Michelle… welcome home." She smiled.
Michelle eyed her with concern – and for a terrible moment it looked like they might still be roommates.
Carolyn indicated the terrarium. "I hope you don't mind I let myself in. I promised I'd feed your Dalvin hissing beetle while you were away."
"So… you don't live here?"
She looked at her in surprise. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"It is a… long story."
Carolyn handed Michelle a small gift. "Welcome home. Nita wanted to give you a surprise party, but I knew you'd hate it, so I talked her out of it."
"Thank you."
There was an awkward beat.
"Well, I know Blowfish like to be alone after they've been away from home," Carolyn said with humour. "I'm sure you have to meditate, or hit yourself with a pain stick or something." She turned to go.
"Carolyn… you don't have to leave."
"Oh?"
"I haven't had dinner. Would you care to… join me?"
Carolyn was touched, and a little surprised. "I'd love to."
Michelle smiled at her and indicated a chair. Carolyn sat down. Michelle moved to the replicator and the two friends prepared for dinner.
The End