Chapter One: Fading Away

A blue police call box spun gently through space, though it wasn’t a police box at all. It was, in fact, a time machine known as a TARDIS.

Within the machine were two beings: one was a tall man wearing an outfit reminiscent of Wild Bill Hickok. The other was a young woman wearing blue jeans and a T-shirt with a red jacket tied around her waist.

They were sitting on a couch reading a book. Over in the corner, a record playing an old tune clicked and popped as the music filled the console room. At least it wasn’t skipping this time.

The time rotor slowly oscillated, indicating the TARDIS was in motion. It was all very calm and, after the Doctor’s rocky regeneration, it was just what he and Lisa needed.

Unfortunately, like so many good things, it was about to end rather abruptly.

The Doctor stood to take the record off the player when he suddenly gave a shout of pain, falling to the floor clutching his chest.

Lisa felt it, too, being linked to him. It was a very sharp, stabbing pain directly through the ribcage. It reminded her of the cosmic angst that had afflicted him back in his Fifth incarnation.

In fact, this exactly like that, only much more painful.

She was at his side in an instant, cradling him against her body. “What’s happening?” she asked, still in pain herself.

He didn’t have a chance to catch his breath enough to speak. He was hit again and again with pain, each attack worse than the last.

The Doctor fought to stay conscious, but it wasn’t easy. He was growing weaker with each and every attack. It could have been Lisa’s imagination, but it felt as if he’d been hit exactly seven times.

Lisa then noticed his body becoming transparent as he started to lose consciousness. Panicking, she grabbed his hand and shrieked, “No! Doctor, wake up!”

His body became solid as he struggled to sit up. “Help me…” he whispered, grasping her hands tightly. “Help me up…”

She took his hands and, with a push of her telekinetic powers, hauled him to his feet. “What’s happening?” she asked again as she supported him while he staggered to the TARDIS console.

“I’m being taken out of time…” he said, groping at the controls, twisting dials and flipping switches with trembling hands.

“Again?” she said. “How? By who?”

The Doctor shook his head, grimacing. “I don’t know…but I have to find them…”

Together, they worked at the controls and the TARDIS plunged through the Time Vortex. They weren’t sure where or when they were going, but all they knew was that the Doctor had to be reunited with this other selves or he would cease to exist.

Lisa activated the scanner and the image of a swirling orange and red planet filled the screen.

The Doctor frowned. “Siralos…” he said softly.

“What?”

“One of the Seven Thousand Wonders of the Galaxy…the planet of malleable psychic energy.” He squinted at a dark blip orbiting the planet. “What’s that?”

She zoomed in on the object and her eyes widened when she recognized the iconic column that was the Master’s TARDIS.

“That’s impossible,” she said. The Master had been absorbed by the TARDIS not two hours ago.

“Time travel,” said the Doctor. “He’s taken my other selves…” He winced and doubled over, clutching his chest. “He must be planning something…” he said through pain.

That hypothesis became even more apparent when the TARDIS shuddered and pitched, shaking violently. The telltale sound of materialization filled the room. Lisa and the Doctor held onto each other until the turbulence subsided.

They both stared at the scanner. They were in orbit around Siralos and the Master’s TARDIS was gone.

“He must have merged them…” said the Doctor. He grimaced and cried out in pain. “Lisa…” he said weakly. “I…I might not be able to help you…”

“What?!” she said, frightened now. “I’m not going to leave you!”

He staggered over to the couch and sat down heavily, taking her hands in his and forcing his eyes to focus on hers. “Lisa, understand…the longer my other selves are trapped, the weaker I’ll get. The last time was different…I had one of them with me…I don’t have that now and I’m fading fast…” He gently caressed her face. “It’s up to you.”

“Alone?”

He thought a moment, then shook his head. “I can do one thing…but if I do, I won’t be able to communicate with you…it will take all my mental energy and I’ll need to rest…but you won’t be alone.”

She had a tight grip on his hands, unwilling to let go. She wanted to help, of course she did, however, she was very uncomfortable about leaving him alone in a weakened state.

“I know you are,” he said, able to read her mind through the link. “But I need you now more than I have ever needed you…and I’ll do what I can so you won’t be alone in this…trust me.”

She did always, but she still didn’t want to leave him while he was like this. Unfortunately, she had no choice.

“All right…” she said reluctantly, tears falling from her eyes.

He gently wiped them away and kissed her. His whole body was shaking with pain, fatigue and the effort it was taking to keep himself conscious. It made Lisa even more hesitant to leave him, but he needed her help.

The Doctor took a deep breath and tried very hard to concentrate. Lisa felt his mind straining with the effort. Tears fell from the corners of his eyes as he focused.

He finally sank back in the couch, his eyes glassy, physically and mentally exhausted, too weak to move or speak. His grip on her hands loosened. It was time for her to go.

“I’ll save you,” she said, gently running the backs of her fingers over his cheek. “I’ll save them all…”

He caught her hand and looked at her, unable to speak telepathically, but he didn’t need to. She knew he wanted her to be careful.

“I will,” she said. “I love you.” She kissed him once more. He smiled weakly at her. He loved her, too.

Taking a deep breath, she opened the main door and exited, however, she didn’t find herself outside.

The TARDIS interior roundels had taken on a sickly green tinge. The feel of the ship was slightly off, as if the kidnapping of the Doctors had traumatized her.

It could have. Who knew?

Lisa felt a presence nearby and she turned to see a turquoise floating blob of…something there behind her. She stepped back, startled.

Do not be afraid, said a voice directly into her mind. I am the Graak. The Doctor created me to help you.

“Oh…okay, I’m Lisa.”

I know. The Doctor cares very deeply for you.

That made her smile. It gave her initiative.

“Come on, Graak. Let’s go find the Master.”

End chapter one.

Back *~*~* Chapter Two