THE RETURN TO GALLIFREY

Manchester - England 2012

A huge crowd had gathered in the main atrium at the prestigious Trafford centre just south of the city of Manchester North West England.

The reason? 

This was the last day of the famed Doctor Who tour and word had it, the Doctor himself was about to make a special guest appearance. However there seemed to be a problem!

Two security guards together in perfect unison both removed their caps and proceeded to scratch each head, again in perfect harmony.

Glancing at his colleague Ted Jones said, “it’s either that the ale I were drinking last night were too strong and I’m still three sheets to the wind, or I fell out of bed, copped a bang to the head and as a consequence am suffering from delayed concussion?”

“No,” said Jimmy Rawlins, the other security guard, “it’s none of those because I’m seeing it too and I don’t drink and as far as I know, not had a bang on the head or anything similar either.”

Jimmy continued on “and I’ve already checked with centre management, there’s definitely only supposed to be one of em.”

“Well unless I’m seeing bloody double, there’s defo two of em now,” replied Ted and at that point both security guards wandered over toward the two blue police call boxes, more famously known of course as The TARDIS.

Both were side by side and both appeared to be absolutely identical.

Ted didn’t know why but he gently pushed a hand onto the front door of one of the Tardis’s, it opened!!

Both guards froze, plus all the attendant crowd gathering in eager anticipation had also hushed into a deathly silence, apart from someone murmuring. “That’s not supposed to happen, they’re all sealed units, I know, I’ve got one at home, won it in a charity raffle.”

Then someone else shouted out from the crowd,” why don't you see if he's in, go on, don't be shy?”

At that the crowd began laughing good humouredly, however both Ted and Jimmy weren’t amused and didn’t particularly care to have fun made of them. 

Jimmy made a mental note to have a word with the organizers about this matter after, yes indeed.

Ted decided to have a quick peek inside and sarcastically motioned toward his colleague saying, “after you Doctor.”
“No,” replied Jimmy, “after "you" Doctor.” 

Smiling now Ted made a mock bow to the watching crowd who responded again with a good natured round of applause. 

Both Jimmy Rawlins and Ted Jones entered the Tardis and within five seconds had returned back outside and it has to be said wearing deathly white expressions as well as being totally speechless .

The watching crowd didn’t respond this time, they just continued to stare in silence. Then suddenly to cries of “excuse me, coming through, thank you, yes coming through, beg your pardon, thank you,” a man appeared. 

He was about 6ft, dark brown hair, slightly uncombed, wearing a tweed jacket with dark trousers which were turned up at the bottom.

To all intents and purposes he appeared to look like an eccentric school teacher dealing with a mid life crisis.

He wasn’t alone, a young blond haired female in tight blue jeans and a white hooded top stood at the side of him.

The odd couple then strode straight up toward the still stunned security guards, pausing slightly and noticing the Tardis door ajar he stared at each of them, the tall tweed wearing man then said.

“No, you haven't just,” he gestured toward the Tardis door and again said, “you have haven't you?”

The tall man then stepped back and looking at the other Tardis sitting alongside said, “you" thought this was that one and that this one,” he again pointed at the Tardis the security guards had just entered and said, “wasn’t a real Tardis, oh well now you "do" know I might as well introduce myself.”

The tall tweed wearing man then beamed a huge smile and stuck out a hand in greeting, “I'm the Doctor and this is Grace,” the pretty young blond woman duly proceeded to shake hands with both absolutely and completely gobsmacked security guards.

Gently gathering the blond woman and then steering her into the blue police box, the man calling himself the Doctor spoke again. “Love to chew the fat but apparently we have to be in the Straken system by teatime and with it being almost two million light years away I’m afraid I’ll have to crack on, cheerio,” then the door closed.

Just as the security guards gathered their wits and were about knock on the door of this blue police box and ask what in the devil did this man think he was doing, the most amazing thing happened.

A loud strange whooshing sound seemed to emanate from the same box that the strange couple had just entered into and then incredibly, as God were their witness, the blue police box disappeared just like that!

Even more incredibly the watching crowd broke into a round of applause, thinking of course they were watching some form of mercurial special FX laid on by the centre, if only they "really" knew "who" they had just seen?


Millions of light years away and in a distant galaxy, a tall sinister hooded figure materialised out of a blinding white light.

Slowly familiarising itself with the surroundings, the hooded figure then proceeded to head toward what seemed like a control console and in one of the panels of the console were a series of small holes.

There were actually six holes in all and five of these were already occupied by what appeared to be small dark crystals.

A black metallic claw reached into the folds of the cloak wearing stranger and then produced what looked like a similar crystal to the other five.

The claw like hand slowly inserted the sixth crystal into the remaining vacant hole and waited.

Almost immediately all six crystals flared into life and the panel the crystals were mounted on gave out a low strange hum.

The cloaked figure stepped back from the console and proceeded to slowly remove the hooded cowl from it’s head, as it did so it laughed a horrible deep throaty chuckle then spoke.

“Time to pay the piper Time Lord, time to face the music and repent for all your sins of which there are so many and mark my words "you shall pay.”

At exactly that point the cowl had now been completely removed and there, was what seemed to be what can only be best described as an hour glass shaped head made entirely out of what appeared to be black metal.

But it couldn’t have been metal because this metal seemed to be porous as in living and it also gave the impression it was actually breathing.

However, the underlying factor about this whatever it was, was the thing in the upper portion of the hour glassed shaped head.

It appeared to be a saucer sized glowing orb which had now began to intensify, the figure again spoke for a final time and this time in short rasping tones.

“Come to me Time Lord, come to me, wherever you are hear my call, for I am the siren of time and space and no one can resist my call.” 

Again at that point the bizarre hour glassed shaped figure let out a sickening guttural cackle and if anyone had been there to witness this horrible sight then they would have also gazed into that terrible cyclopic eye and in that eye spiralling through a black void was a small blue police call box….

****

“Naughty, naughty, very very naughty.” At this point a young blond female by the name of Grace Owens disapprovingly wagged a forefinger at the tweed jacketed wearing man, who seemingly oblivious to Grace’s remonstrations continued to press on an array of buttons that were situated on a large central control console inside "the real" Tardis.

“Are you listening to me Doctor?

I mean those poor people, have you any idea what that might have done to them, psychologically I mean?”

“Yes,” answered the Doctor.

“Yes,” cried Grace?

“Why yes dear, I am listening to you,” the Doctor momentarily ceased from his button pressing for a few seconds then beaming that irrepressible smile he turned to look at Grace and said again, “Well, what’s the matter?”

Grace stared indignantly and placing both hands on hips was just about to lambaste the man they called the Doctor, when she just couldn’t help herself and Grace’s face broke into a wreath of smiles.

She then leapt toward the tweed wearing man and throwing her arms around him she cried, “you know very well what I mean silly, that was really mean and what about those two poor security guards, they looked frightened to death.”


“Serves them right,” replied the Doctor in a somewhat mock serious tone, “they’ll know better next time not to enter someone’s home without being invited won’t they?”

Grace was just about to reply when suddenly the whole Tardis violently shook throwing both Grace and the Doctor to the floor thus causing the Doctor’s assistant to scream.

Immediately the man in charge of the Tardis leapt to his feet and repositioned himself at the controls, “what is it Doctor,” cried Grace, “have we hit something, or has something hit us”?

The Doctor didn’t say anything for a few moments and then after a barrage of button pressing and lever pulling, he paused, cocking his head sideways almost quizzically he answered.

“Well how strange.” 

In fact the Doctor had now stepped back a few paces arms folded and if Grace didn’t know better she could have sworn he looked worried. “Doctor what is it, what’s wrong,” queried Grace?

Shaking his head the Doctor turned to look at Grace and then said, I appear, err sorry, WE appear to be home.”
“Home,” cried Grace?

The Doctor continued to stare at his assistant and in rather an indignant manner said, "my dear Grace, yes home as in galactic coordinates 10 0 11 0 0 by 0 2 from galactic 0 centre."

Grace herself then stared back at the doctor, though she was a lot more used to doing this than the other way round.
Grace shrugged her shoulders and opening both palms of her hands said, “which is where already?”

The Doctor then as a little before broke into a wreath of smiles and cried, “why Grace Gallifrey of course, my home planet,” then suddenly the smile vanished and a frown replaced it.
“But that’s impossible.”
“Why interrupted Grace.

The doctor turned to look at the control column, pressed a few more buttons and then turned around to stare at Grace again. “Because Gallifrey doesn’t exist, it was destroyed in the great time war, along with Skaro.

“Skaro?” Answered Grace, the Doctors frown increased at the mention of that name and replied.
“The home planet of the Daleks.”
"Who are the Daleks?” Again interrupted Grace.

This time the Doctor seated himself and began to regale Grace all about that terrible clash between two of probably the most dominant species the universe had ever known.

“It was the battle to end all battles,” lamented the Doctor. “The time lords had gathered an army so powerful so deadly, nothing would be able to resist it, not even the Daleks, the idea was to take the Daleks by surprise and destroy Skaro using this frightful armada.

The problem was, the Emperor Dalek had exactly the same idea, great minds eh.” As he said those words he glanced up at Grace and smiled a little smile, albeit a wry one.

“Both fleets arrived at their respective destinations and proceeded to wipe out a whole planet, annihilating everything, both sides were utterly ruthless when it came to ridding one of ones enemy.”

It was only when both fleets returned that they realised what had happened.”

“They met didn’t they?” asked an enthralled Grace.

“Oh yes, they met,” the Doctor nodded sadly as he said that. 

“What followed was an all out assault from both the Time Lords and the Daleks, no one survived, that is, all except me. But why me Grace, why was I the only Gallifreyan to survive that horrible atrocity, Why?”

"Maybe we’re about to find out,” answered Grace, “maybe that’s why the Tardis has brought us back here, to Gallifrey?”

“The problem with that my dear is that the Tardis didn’t, well not of its own accord anyway.”

“What are you trying to say Doctor, that something or someone has deliberately brought us back here by influencing the Tardis in some way?” Said a now a slightly perturbed Grace.

“Possibly,” answered the Doctor, but there’s only one species in the universe who would have the technology to do that.”

“Who,” cried Grace, all the time thinking of those horrible Dalek creatures and hoping it wasn’t them.

The Doctor placed a foot upon a nearby step and inspected a turn up on his trouser leg, making sure the crease was right he stood up and again in that (not really sure what the hell’s going on look) answered Grace‘s question.

"They’re called the time guardians, created by Scientist Omega, he was the first time lord by the way and the guardians, well guarded really for want of a better word, the eye of harmony. Which is the source of all time lord technology and the thingy.” 

At this point the Doctor smiled his trademark smile and with an outstretched thumb, gestured toward the large control console which was situated directly in the middle of the Tardis. “Which makes us go wherever we want to,” he frowned at that point again and ended by saying, “well most of the time anyway."

“So you think those time guardians have done something to the Tardis and somehow made us come back to Gallifrey?”

The Doctor picked up a large fedora and after placing a long knitted scarf around his neck he pointed toward the Tardis front door and again wearing that beaming smile said, “well there's only one way to find out isn't there?"

******

A tall shadowy figure moved toward a large door, momentarily pausing, then a black metallic claw reached forward towards a round silver disk on the door, instantly the door swished open and the cloaked figure entered.

The figure glided toward another type of control console and again as in previously, inserted a small dark crystal into a hole along with the other remaining five and again as before all six crystals flared into life.

Though this time the mysterious cloaked stranger turned to look at a large what can only be described as some kind of anomaly that had opened up in the centre of the chamber, seemingly appearing to be some kind of gateway or portal.

The cloaked figure then began to speak.


“Are you present my master?”

“Speak,” said a disembodied voice. The voice was deep and spoke with authority.

“I have done what you asked and have acquired the Tardis along with its occupants, they’re in the holding chamber.”

“Excellent,” thundered the voice, “bring the Doctor to me, bring the Time Lord to me Guardian.”

“By your command Master,” the cloaked figure then made a steep bow, immediately after that, removed the sixth crystal and swept out of the chamber.

******

“Well we’re definitely on Gallifrey Grace,” the Doctor stood, with both hands on hips staring up and down at the surroundings. 

Grace was just awestruck, even though she had accompanied the Doctor on various trips with the Tardis already, still, nothing prepared her for what she was looking at now.

They were in some kind of room, or chamber, a huge cavernous hall, yet it was what the chamber consisted of, that as well as confirming to the Doctor they "were" officially on Gallifrey and also holding Grace in such wondrous rapture.

Grace then pointed “Are they?”
“Alive!” Yes, well sort of not like you or I, but technically I suppose they are yea” answered the Doctor.

As well as all the splendour of the wondrous environment they were in, the shimmering gold coloured walls, the impressive also gold coloured pillars and archways, finished off with towering what can only be described as amazing huge crystal chandeliers. 

It was what was immediately in front of in fact all around them that was captivating Grace.

Completely surrounding both Grace and the Doctor where what appeared to be twelve large black cloaked figures, unlike the other cloaked figure, these had their cowls removed thus fully revealing their unusual appearance.

“Grace turned to the Doctor and said, “what are those things Doctor?”
"They, are the Time guardians, which explains and confirms how we got here why we’re here I’m still not sure, but I’m going to find out.”

He strode toward one of the black cloaked figures and still with both hands on hips said. “Why are there only twelve here, there are thirteen guardians of the eye and come to that,” the Doctor quizzically scratched his head at this point and said. “How come you lot are still here, not only that,” he looked up and gestured all around him, “why’s the Citadel still here, everything was destroyed in the time war?”

As the Doctor waited for a reply, Grace shouted, “look Doctor, someone's coming.”

Sure enough, gliding toward the twelve along with Grace and the Doctor was the crystal bearing claw handed figure.

The figure stopped and slowly removed its cowl, again Grace realised it was identical to the other twelve who had now formed a circle round them.

The figure pointed at the Doctor and in a rasping sounding voice said, “come time lord, you’re destiny awaits.”

At that moment the other twelve guardians parted as if prompting the Doctor to follow the cloaked figure’s orders.

However the Doctor had other ideas. “Now you just look here, its me that gives the orders in this place not the guardians of the eye, you were created specifically for one thing remember?”

The cloaked figure advanced slowly and inexorably toward the the Doctor, but the irrepressible time lord stood his ground. 

Just as Grace was about to warn the Doctor, the tall cloaked figure leaned forward so that now, the strange hour glassed shaped head was almost touching the Doctors nose.

Suddenly, the saucer sized glowing orb intensified and the Doctors eyes glazed over and both his arms hung limply at his side.

Still holding the Doctors gaze, the Cloaked hour glassed figure with the glowing orb reversed itself, without even turning around and made its way flawlessly out of the chamber closely followed by what seemed to be an entranced Doctor.

Grace screamed and cried, “Doctor, wait for me.” But just as she tried to follow, the other guardians again closed the circle and there was nothing she could do about it.

As soon as both the Doctor and the time guardian had re-entered the chamber, the crystal was again activated and the anomaly that appeared to be some kind of portal reappeared.

The time guardian as before summoned the voice, “by your command my master.”

“Closer,” boomed the voice from the portal. 

The Doctor shuffled almost aimlessly nearer to the shimmering gateway.

“Been a long time Doctor, even by Gallifreyan standards, but now the time has come to unveil myself and enlighten you as to what you are about to undertake.

Reach out and touch me.” The Doctor almost mechanically lifted an arm toward the shimmering blue portal, the second he touched it he snapped out of the guardian induced trance.

“Whoa, wait just a minute.” Jumping back the Doctor immediately reached into his tweed jacket pocket and produced a long cylindrical shaped device, about six inches in length. 

The Doctor pressed a button on the device and aimed it at the hour glass shaped guardian.

However nothing happened, what ever it was that the Doctor was trying achieve wasn’t working and subsequently confirmed that particular theory by the now loud booming laughter emanating from the blue shimmering portal.

“I knew I should have checked it for batteries,” muttered the Doctor, staring at the long silver now beeping device.

“Ha ha ha ha ha, a sonic screwdriver, how quaint, how antiquated, how so very yesterday, enough of this nonsense, please let me enlighten you Doctor as to why you are here."

Exactly at that point a long thin blue beam shot out of the anomaly and fixed itself directly onto the Doctors forehead, right between his eyes in fact.


Again as before, the Doctor was frozen still as he again appeared to be in some kind of induced trance, though this time he were mumbling in some strange incoherent tongue. 

After what seemed like only a few minutes, the blue beam disappeared and the Doctor returned to normal.

The Doctor had a terrible look on his face and continued to stare into the shimmering anomaly, he whispered the words, “it can’t be, that’s just impossible.”

“What's wrong Doctor, you look like you have just seen a ghost?”

The Doctor having now seemingly gathered his senses reverted back to his usual flamboyant self and headed nearer toward the blue shimmering portal, asking questions as he did so.

“But you were killed, it’s a documented fact, you perished into a black hole after the Omega star flared and collapsed into a black hole, no one not even The First Time Lord can survive a black hole?”

“You seem to have forgotten about the anti matter universe created beyond the black hole’s singularity Doctor.”

“Poppycock, snorted the Doctor, “that was just a rumour and you know it, Scientist Omega perished and I don’t know who "you" are but I am going to get to the bottom of this, of that you can be pretty damned sure.”

“The only place you’re going Time Lord is here.” Again a long thin blue beam shot out of the portal, but this time the Doctor was ready, ducking down he threw himself behind a nearby console.

“Arrrgh, assist,” cried the booming voice within the portal.

 Immediately the hour glassed shaped figure produced a similar device to what the Doctor had tried using before out of the folds of its cloak. However and unfortunately for the Doctor, this one worked.

One blast from the device zapped and then stunned the Doctor, he wasn’t unconscious, however it was enough for the Time Guardian to reach him and reduce the threat of any further resistance.

Holding the Doctor effortlessly aloft with those strong black metallic claws, the time guardian spoke to the shimmering portal. 

“By your command my master, the time lord is ready for the transfer.”

“Excellent,” replied the voice, “Bring him closer.”

“What are you doing,” cried the Doctor, this won’t work, the transfer could only work with another Time Lord.”

“Exactly,” replied the voice, “the only way to escape an anti matter universe is to use the same matter generated by the same DNA, YOU are the only surviving Time Lord Doctor with the same matching DNA as mine, oh how I have waited so long for this moment.”

The doctor was being carried inexorably toward the gateway now and screaming at the top of his voice cried, “but that means you have to substitute like for like DNA matter?"

“Correct Doctor.”

“But that means If you’re who you say you are, I’ll be stuck inside an anti matter universe beyond the singularity and you‘ll be here.”


“ Yes, that rather "is" the idea, Guardian, initiate transfer sequence,”

“Affirmative master.” still holding the hapless Doctor aloft, the time guardian turned toward the console holding the bank of crystals and using one hand, pointed the same device he’d stunned the Doctor with then fired a long white beam at the six crystals.

This time the gateway changed from blue to the same colour as the crystals which were now also white in colour like the beam fired from the guardians device.

The portal also wasn’t shimmering now, indeed it seemed to have solidified, a sort of white solid mass, “oh my God,” shouted the Doctor, “that's anti matter, no Omega don't do this, please God noooo, arrrgh!!

The Doctor disappeared through the white solid wall and almost instantaneously he reappeared!

The Doctor stood for a few seconds and took large deep breaths. The hovering Time Guardian approached and bowing in an even steeper fashion this time spoke, “By your command Master.”

The Doctor looked down upon the hour glassed shaped figure and smiled, “you have done well guardian and there will be suitable rewards for you and your fellow watchers, believe me.”

The Doctor strode purposely over toward a polished wall and inspected his reflection, “ummm, not too bad, the nose is a little on the large side and the eyes are blue, much prefer green, but I suppose I should be grateful really and there is always regeneration.”

“Shall I destroy the portal My Master,” asked the still stooping time guardian?

“Yes but first I want to have a look around, its only been three million years, though to be honest,” the Doctor, or what "was" the Doctor then looking up at the ceiling of the chamber quipped, “not much has changed really.”

“The time guardian spoke again. “My master, the Doctor had an accomplice, a female human, what are your wishes?”

Scientist Omega paused for a second and then snapping his fingers together he cried, “do we still have that captured Dalek unit in stasis?"

Affirmative Master,” replied the cloaked time guardian.

“Excellent,” said Omega, “execute the female human and use the brain to activate the Dalek unit, if it works, then all my hopes and aspirations will have finally come to fruition.” Scientist Omega smiled at this moment and his blue eyes glittered.

“I’m going to re write history, I Scientist Omega, first of the Time Lords will create a new army, one that can not possibly be beaten. An army of hybrid Dalek soldiers, commanded by a time lord!!"

To be continued......