3. The Deadly Enemy
The Doctor woke up in a prison cell. He saw Jen lying beside him. He went over and patted her face gently to wake her up.
“Jen? Jen, are you alright?”
Jen woke up with a start before she sighed with relief at seeing the Doctor.
“Oh Doctor, thank goodness you’re here,” she said.
The Doctor helped Jen up to her feet as they stood in the prison cell together. Jen gasped at something that horrified her.
“Doctor! Those Skeleton things,” she said. “They’re watching us! Look!”
The Doctor turned to see the Skeletrons standing on guard and watching them.
“Yes. Not the most pleasant company I would’ve hoped for,” he said. “And this is certainly not the best accommodation. Goodness me! This a luxury liner of a ship and Wickham can’t think of putting us in better rooms!”
“I’d prefer to have separate beds,” Jen observed. “If we’re to sleep here all night…”
“We may not have to,” the Doctor interrupted her. “Wickham may have already have plans in mind for us to suit his purpose. His megalomaniac scheme.”
Jen became anxious as she felt the need to address her fears and doubts to the Doctor. She placed her hand gently on the Doctor’s arm.
“Doctor,” she began. “Wickham said those skeleton robot things are the servants of the Zorbius energy or something. Of the crystal you’ve kept in your TARDIS.”
“Yes! Don’t worry Jen,” he tried to reassure her. “So long as you avoid their deepening rain tactics, you’ll be safe with me.”
“Deepening rain tactics?” Jen asked, confused.
“Yes Jen,” the Doctor replied. “The Skeletrons – at least the ones with cyber-augmented technology – have arm blasters that can shoot rain water at you. It makes you go to sleep and cause you to have never-ending dreams.”
“I see,” Jen realised. “And you didn’t think to tell me this during our travels together.”
“During our travels?” the Doctor became confused. “Jen, this is the first time you’ve met the Skeletrons. I hadn’t banked on encountering…”
“Are you trying to hide something from me, Doctor?” Jen asked abruptly.
“Hide something? I’m not trying to hide anything from you, Jen,” the Doctor told her. “What’s got into you lately?”
“Why did you keep a crystal inside your TARDIS?” Jen asked. “A crystal that’s so powerful, it can make you do whatever you want.”
“Jen, I’ve told you before,” the Doctor argued. “The crystal is a part of me. I’ve had to keep it safe to prevent it falling into the wrong hands.”
“Are you sure about that?” Jen challenged him. “Or were you keeping the crystal for yourself?”
“I’m not sure what you mean by that,” the Doctor said, utterly baffled.
“You know exactly what I mean,” Jen said angrily. “How do I know you’re not greedy for power? In the end, you may end up throwing me out of your TARDIS!”
“Jen, I would never let that happen to you,” the Doctor protested. “You know that Jen, don’t you?”
“I don’t know what I know anymore,” Jen said glumly.
Utter confusion overwhelmed the Doctor as he said, “Jen, I don’t understand why you’re doubts about me. Who’s making you think these things? Is it Wickham?”
“It’s just…I don’t know you very well, Doctor,” Jen explained. “You’re a Time Lord. An alien. I’m one of the human race – insignificant. What makes me so different to anyone else you’ve travelled with?”
“You’re not insignificant, Jen,” the Doctor told her. “Never are you insignificant. You’re just as special as all my previous companions that travelled with me. You’re just as special since that first time I met you.”
“Yeah,” said Jen, unconvinced. “Sometimes I wish I was back home with my parents.”
“Jen, I don’t see why you should lose faith in me,” the Doctor said. “But right now, I need you more than ever. If we’re going to stop Wickham and recover the Zorbius crystal, I’m going to need all the help I can get.”
Jen was unable to say anymore. She felt inclined to re-build her faith in the Doctor again. But at that moment, the door opened and the Skeletrons entered. The Doctor and Jen looked to see one of the Skeletrons speaking to them in its cyber voice.
“Mr. Wickham expects you,” it said. “You will accompany us.”
“Of course,” the Doctor said cheerfully. “Only too happy to. Come on, Jen. Let’s not keep Mr. Wickham waiting.”
With that, the Doctor headed off out of the prison cell. Jen followed behind him. They went off to see Wickham as they were escorted by the Skeletrons.
On the main bridge of Wickham’s ship, Jen and the Doctor saw their captor seated in his command chair as they were escorted in by the Skeletrons. Wickham seemed smug and proud, before he rose up to meet the Doctor and Jen.
He gloated, saying, “So, the two of you have recovered quickly than I expected. Had a nice little chat, you two?”
“You’ve been eavesdropping,” Jen realised. “You nosey jerk!”
“If you want private conversation, you should speak in low voices,” Wickham said. “It’s not my fault if I’ve got acute hearing.”
“Wickham, I don’t care what you’ve told Jen about me and my connection to the Zorbius crystal,” the Doctor said. “All that matters to me is for you to stop this insane scheme of yours. For you to live a quiet life. You don’t need power. Why should you need power? It doesn’t make anyone happy.”
“You don’t understand do you, Doctor,” Wickham said bitterly. “I must have infinity! I am to be infinity! I am the infinity! All of Grealas shall become mine! And with the Zorbius crystal at my fingertips, this shall be possible!”
“A biblical text I once read,” the Doctor began to quote. “‘He who has ears to hear, let him hear.’ Matthew, Chapter 11, verse 15. English Standard Version. Certainly not in your case, Wickham.”
“Where’s Stack and Danny?” Jen demanded to know. “And what have you done to the TARDIS?”
“Oh don’t worry,” Wickham goaded. “The Doctor’s time ship is stored away safely. It shall be used for a unique purpose. And a possible bargain.”
“And Stack and Danny?” the Doctor reiterated. “What have you done to them?”
“They are my prisoners,” Wickham announced. “Like you and Jen once were, Doctor. Soon to be my servants. Slaves of Wickham.”
“Let them go, Wickham,” Jen insisted. “They don’t have to be involved in this!”
“Ah, but you’re wrong, girl,” Wickham said. “Those two have great importance in my grand scheme! They shall serve their purpose!”
“What is it you’ve got in mind, Wickham?” the Doctor wanted to know.
“Like I’m going to tell you what my plans are, Doctor,” Wickham scoffed.
Just then, a bleep echoed from the bridge’s control panel. Wickham gleamed with delight.
“At last!” he declared “We shall soon arrive on the planet Grealas. Prepare yourselves, Doctor; Miss Jen Ward! Prepare yourselves…for the infinity planet!”
The Doctor and Jen looked at each other. worried. They saw the ship about to make landfall via the main view-screen.
In another prison cell aboard Wickham’s ship, Commander Stack and Danny Williams were trapped inside. They felt all over the walls, trying to find a weakness in the substance. They found none.
“It’s no good,” Stack said. “We seem to be sealed in completely.”
“Surprised I didn’t tell you that before, sir,” Danny said wryly.
“I suppose you have an idea on how to escape then,” Stack snapped back.
“Not really,” Danny admitted. “But I suppose we’ll find a way out soon enough. Unless the Doctor and Jen come and rescue us first.”
“I’ve just about heard enough of that wretched man and that girl his,” Stack scoffed bitterly. “From the moment they came to Davastos, they’ve caused nothing but trouble.”
“Let’s concentrate on getting ourselves out of here shall we, sir?” Danny suggested. “I wonder where Wickham and his mob are taking us to.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Stack said dismissively. “Very soon, we shall all be dead.”
At that moment, the cell doors opened. In entered some Skeletrons. Stack and Danny stood up to attention, becoming wary and cautious of the Skeletrons. As the Skeletrons gnashed their bony teeth, its commander stepped forward to address Stack and Danny.
“You are to work for us,” it said in its cyber voice. “You shall be made to work for the Skeletrons!”
“Fat chance of that ever happening,” Stack scoffed.
“We have control of you,” the Skeletron commander said threateningly. “You will be made to work for us!”
“Not on my watch,” said Stack defiantly. “We’ll show you bony chaps what we’re made of.”
The Skeletron commander then turned to Danny. It stared hard at him with cold, unfeeling eyes. It reached out and pointed a finger at Danny.
“You know the combination code for the safe of Lord Scottos,” it said. “You will give it to us!”
Danny couldn’t help but be gobsmacked. “How did you know I had his lordship’s combination code for his safe?”
“We have accessed your minds,” the Skeletron commander explained. “Both yours and the commander’s whilst you were unconscious.”
“Since we were blinded by that great light once the Doctor was about to go into that ship, lieutenant,” Stack realised as he told Danny.
“Of course,” Danny understood. “That’s how they found out. They probed our minds.”
“Then why do you need my lieutenant, bone-face?” Stack asked the Skeletron commander bitterly. “You probed his mind. Surely you have the information you need.”
“The safe can only be opened by voice command,” the Skeletron commander explained. “We need this human’s voice to open the safe for us.”
“Well, tough luck,” Danny retorted. “Because I’m not going to open that safe for you.”
“You will comply with us,” the Skeletron commander insisted. “Obey the Skeletrons!”
“No!” Danny said defiantly. He was resolute and dignified..
The Skeletron commander stared hard at Danny before it turned away.
“Very well,” it eventually said. “If you do not comply with our instructions, we shall use force upon you.” The Skeletron leader then barked, “Skeletrons! Prepare arms!”
“Come on then,” Stack said eagerly. “I’m ready for a fight! Give us your best shot!”
Nothing could prepare Stack and Danny for what was about to come next. At that moment, the Skeletrons raised their arm blasters and opened fire. Out came shots of rain water. They hit Stack and Danny’s heads. Stack and Danny reacted from being wet before they eventually succumbed to the rainfall and began to fall asleep.
“Commander, sir,” Danny said sleepily. “I can’t…I can’t focus…Feel…sleepy…”
“Help me, Williams,” Stack answered sleepily. “Help me. I feel so…groggy. So…tired.”
At that moment, Stack and Danny fell under the deepening rain. They ended up on the floor and were fast asleep. A hiss escaped from the mouth piece of the Skeletron commander. It wasn’t certain whether it was a laugh or an intake of air.
The Skeletron commander then turned to the other Skeletron troops. “Escort these two away for processing. Then have the safe brought to the young man once he’s been processed. We will conduct him to open the safe with his voice command. We shall soon have the Zorbius crystal energy fragment released from the safe.”
Acknowledging the commander’s orders, the Skeletron troops obeyed as they began to carry and escort Stack and Danny out of their prison cell. The Skeletron commander remained where it was, seemingly triumphant as it watched the two humans being taken away out of their prison cell
“After all this is done,” it then said, “we shall be rid of our alliance with that petty Wickham man. We shall have the Zorbius energy for ourselves!”
Eventually, the Skeletron commander left the prison cell to rejoin its troops.
Meanwhile, Wickham’s ship made touchdown on the Adahs battlefield on the planet Grealas. The Doctor and Jen were escorted by the Skeletrons as they followed Wickham down to the bottom of the ramp. Jen couldn’t help but look in awe of the planet. It was nothing compared to the awe that Wickham felt.
“Welcome everyone!” he declared. “Welcome to Grealas – the infinity planet! Oh how thrilled I am to have such great power which will soon be under my fingertips.”
Jen looked around, shuddered to see the planet in such as state. It was a desolate wasteland. Clouds were billowing, fuelled by an as yet unknown power source.
“I feel uncomfortable in this place,” she said. “I get a sense of there being too much power here. I can feel it on my lips.”
“Hence why it’s called the infinity planet,” the Doctor said. “I do so hate infinite power. There’s no control over it. And we’re with a man who says that he hopes to control infinity.”
At that moment, a tannoy announcement echoed. It had a harsh stricter tone to it.
“Beware!” it said. “This is the infinity planet Grealas. All unknown arrivals to this planet are to be met with matter dissemination. This is a warning to all unknown arrivals. Unknown arrivals are to be met by matter dissemination.”
The tannoy announcement repeated in a loop across the battlefields.
Jen looked worriedly to the Doctor. “Doctor, does that mean us…?”
“I imagine Wickham has in mind to keep us alive despite the tannoy announcement, Jen” the Doctor replied. “It’s for anyone who is an enemy to the Grealan Empire. Like Davastos is. It’s meant to prevent any Davastos ship entertaining Grealas’ planet orbit.”
“Which shall soon happen, Doctor,” Wickham goaded. “Grealas will soon be invaded by Davastos ships to make ready for the greatest battle yet! The war shall soon be over!”
“You’re going to lure Davastos soldiers to come and fight here on Grealas,” Jen said shocked. “To be killed by your methods. That’s downright wicked!”
“Oh spare me your opinions,” Wickham snorted. “They mean nothing to me. I shall soon obtain the power I require and shall soon destroy all the enemies of Grealas!”
“Including us?” Jen challenged him.
“Especially you two,” Wickham said without remorse. “The Zorbius star crystal shall grant the wishes I make!”
“And that’s the reason why I never used the Zorbius crystal for my own personal gain, Wickham,” the Doctor told him. “It’s why I’ve tried to keep it hidden from grubby hands like yours. Using the Zorbius crystal means only chaos and corruption. It can only be used by those who know how to control time and space. I can’t control it altogether and it’s perfectly clear you can’t control it, Wickham.”
“Don’t try to re-obtain your faith from your companion, Doctor,” Wickham said. “Not in front of me. Don’t think by saying these things, you’ll redeem yourself.”
“I’ve nothing to redeem,” the Doctor said dignified. “I’ve been good at keeping the Zorbius crystal safe up until now. And right now, I have an important job to keep it safe and secure my own future. Something will happen to me in the end when I die.”
“When you die?!” Jen said shocked.
“You see, Jen,” the Doctor answered her. “That’s why I’ve kept the crystal safely stored inside my TARDIS. Because one day, there’ll come a moment when I’ll find myself at death’s door. I don’t like that concept for one moment. But it’s something I need to secure in order to maintain my future existence. My future lives.”
“So…you’re not greedy for power then,” Jen surmised, astonished. “You only meant to keep that crystal safe until…”
“Why would I want power, Jen?” the Doctor asked her. “Why would I want absolute power when I’ve got everything I want? A life to travel in space and time. A life where I have you as my companion as well as many other companions before you and hopefully after.”
“You mean that?” Jen asked, glowing. “You really mean, Doctor?”
“I thought this life I’m currently having was going to be short-lived the moment I begun it,” the Doctor said. “But I’ve had far more adventures than any of my previous selves have had. And I hope to have more.” He paused for a moment, feeling nostalgic before he looked at Wickham and said, “But now, I must focus my attention on one adventure I’m having! I’m determined to see it through! I’m determined to save the universe from utter chaos!”
“Utter chaos?!” Wickham bellowed, affronted. “You call my obtainment for freedom…for everything in infinity and to control all of Grealas…utter chaos?!”
“Once you obtain freedom for yourself in power, you condemn millions of people on this planet to imprisonment under your rule,” the Doctor told him. “Is that really fair, Wickham? Is that what people want to remember you for? A dictator of bitterness?”
“Enough of your wittering, Doctor!” Wickham snapped angrily. “I am far more glorified than I have ever been! I have the Zorbius crystal in my hands! I shall be invincible!”
“And I will stop you, Wickham,” the Doctor said defiantly. “Always count on that! I will stop you whatever happens! Me alone if needs be.”
“No!” Jen corrected him. “Not alone, Doctor. You’ll have me by your side. I’m not going to let you face this monster alone. Not after everything we’ve been through.”
“You’d better come up with a big plan then, Doctor,” Wickham scoffed. “There’s no way you can beat a powerful ruler like me.”
“We shall see!” the Doctor teased him. He then turned to Jen and said, “Now Jen! Quickly, run!”
At that moment, the Doctor pushed Jen forward as they made a run for it down the battlefield. The Skeletrons made to chase after them, about to open fire, before Wickham stopped them.
“No,” he ordered. “Let them go! They cannot harm our plans. There is no escape for those two.”
Just then, Miss Gordon went over to meet Wickham.
“Mr. Wickham,” she beckoned. “Mr Wickham! I just saw those two! The Doctor and that cow Jen! They’re running away over the battlefields…”
“Yes, yes, Miss Gordon,” Wickham said frustrated. “I know, I know! I’m not stupid! I have eyes! I’ve just ordered my Skeletrons not to chase after them since it’s unimportant.”
Miss Gordon was embarrassed if not a little hurt by Wickham’s outburst. She straightened and made herself appear tidy and pretty.
“Anything else you wish me to do, sir?” she asked.
“Not really, but if you must ask,” he grumbled. “I’m heading back to the Blufor Beer Factory. Make sure my ship is protected. Stay inside until I send you further orders.”
“You want me to stay inside the ship?” Miss Gordon checked, slightly appalled.
“Yes,” Wickham replied.
“In the ship?”
“Yes!”
“In the midst of a battlefield…?”
“Do you question my orders, Miss Gordon?” he thundered. “Do as I say!”
Miss Gordon couldn’t help but feel more than hurt than before. She sulked gloomily as she made her way back into the ship.
“Very well, sir,” she said. “I’ll do as you ask. I’ll stay inside the ship.”
“Thank you,” Wickham said satisfied. “I shall contact you once I’ve arrived at the Blufor Beer Factory.” As he finished with Miss Gordon, he then turned to the Skeletrons. “Hunters! Come with me! We have work to do! And so little time!”
Complying, the Skeletrons accompanied Wickham as he headed for the Blufor Beer Factory. Miss Gordon watched Wickham leading the Skeletrons away as he felt disgruntled before going back inside her employer’s ship.
Back inside the ship, in the processing chamber, the Skeletron commander oversaw Danny Williams undergoing hypnosis. Danny was seated in a chair for quite some time whilst being processed.
“Processing nearing completion,” the Skeletron commander said. “Soon we shall have the safe open.”
Eventually, Danny opened his eyes whilst under a deep trance. There was no sign of a reaction from him – to anything or anyone in the room. The Skeletron commander stepped forward to address Danny seated in the chair.
“Human Danny Williams,” it said. “Nod your head if you can hear me.”
Gradually, Danny nodded, acknowledging the Skeletron commander. At that moment, a group of Skeletrons entered. They brought with them Scottos’ safe on a trolley. The Skeletron commander turned to Danny again.
“You see this safe before you?” it asked.
Danny nodded.
“Say the combination code to open it.”
Eventually and almost reluctantly, Danny declared the combination code out loud for the safe to open. His voice was drained and weary as he spoke.
“Zero, Zero, Zero, Dash, B, X, Y, Dash, Three, Four, Five, Dash, L, X, One, Dash, M, One, U, K, Dash, W, W, Dash, X, 1, Open Brackets, L, L, Close Brackets, Plus, Open Brackets, H, H, Z, A, Close Brackets, Plus, One, Two, Three, Four, One.”
At that moment, the cogs within the safe twisted and turned. Letters were displayed on the safe, matching to what Danny had said. Eventually, the safe door opened. The Sleketrons looked to see the Zorbius crystal energy fragment inside the safe. Each Skeletron expressed a strange howl of delight once they saw it.
“Excellent!” the Skeletron leader exclaimed, delighted. “Excellent! The Zorbius crystal energy fragment is within our grasp! Soon, Zorbius will be ours again! It will be complete again!”
At that moment, Miss Gordon entered. The Skeletrons became silent once they saw it.
“What are you lot doing?” she demanded to know. “What’s going on here?”
“We have opened the safe,” the Skeletron commander told her. “The Zorbius crystal energy fragment is ours for the taking.”
“Oh good,” Miss Gordon said pleased, but felt uneasy. “That will be music to Mr. Wickham’s ears.” She then addressed the Skeletron commander. “See to it that Mr. Wickham knows of your success. Then see to that the final battle preparations are in order.”
“We understand, Miss Gordon,” the Skeletron commander answered.
Staring at the Skeletrons suspiciously for a moment, Miss Gordon soon left the processing chamber. Once she’d gone, the Skeletron commander turned to Danny first before attending to the safe. It caught Danny’s gaze again as it was about to give further instructions tom him. Danny was still entranced. He couldn’t anything. He just sat and stared.
“Now human,” the Skeletron commander said. “You are to have new orders. You are to fight the Grealans who are your enemies. You and Commander Stack will win the day!”
Meanwhile, the Doctor and Jen were in Lugrom, the capital city of Grealas. They found themselves a hidden corner in a street to avoid any Skeletrons. Once they hid themselves, no pursuers came after them.
“It’s usually typical of us, isn’t it?” the Doctor said. “Running around in dark corners. Or perhaps it’s just me.”
“They’re not following us, Doctor,” Jen said.
“Who aren’t?”
“The Skelety-things of course,” Jen said sharply. “They’re not following us. No sign of them anywhere.”
“I could’ve told you that a while ago,” the Doctor said ruefully.
“Oh really?” Jen said sceptically.
“Yes,” the Doctor grinned. “Let’s wait here a little while longer before we move on. Just in case of any false hope.”
“Oh I’m all for that,” Jen agreed. “My feet are hurting me with these shoes I’m wearing. And these are from your TARDIS wardrobe. I think you’ve got the size 8’s mixed up with the size 9’s, Doctor. You should check…”
The Doctor immediately hushed Jen to be silent, hearing a noise. “Ssh Jen! Quiet!”
“What is it?” Jen said confused. “I don’t…”
“Ssh! Listen!” the Doctor insisted.
Both listened as they heard gunfight and battle close by. Jen turned her head to hear the noise.
“Doctor, it’s coming from behind those barrels,” she said, pointing at them where they were hiding. “There at the far end of the street.”
“Come on, Jen,” the Doctor urged. “Let’s see what all the kerfuffle’s about, shall we?”
With that, Jen and the Doctor made their way over to the barrels at the far end of the street. They looked over the barrels to see a battle taking place. Two factions of soldiers were fighting against each other. One was the Davastons; the other was the Grealans.
“Doctor! The battle’s already begun!” Jen exclaimed.
“Yes,” the Doctor said grimly. “Both factions of humans fighting on the same planet – Davastons and Grealans. Frightening, isn’t it?”
“That was quick of the Davastons to come here on this planet,” Jen remarked.
“The word passes much quickly than any of us realises in this sector of the galaxy, Jen,” the Doctor said.
“Seems to be happening quite a lot lately,” Jen said. “I mean with Scottos and with Wickham knowing…”
“Infinity is the key word in this sector of space,” the Doctor interrupted her. “And this is the infinity planet we’re on. Its outer rings spread across all space and time. Far further than I could ever have known.”
“Doctor, I’ve no idea what you’re talking about,” Jen stated.
“Neither have I,” the Doctor said ruefully. “Don’t worry! I’ll soon get over it.”
Baffled at what the Doctor just said, Jen continued to watch the battle ensue. Very soon, soldiers from both sides were belching out loud. Jen noticed that some soldiers carried Blufor Beer bottles in their hands. The belches were thunderous and loud. Some soldiers were increasingly rude as they fought on the battlefields. Jen was disgusted.
“Honestly, Doctor,” she said. “Is this the way that soldiers fight nowadays? To keep their mind on the job by burping?”
“It is rather bizarre, I grant you,” the Doctor remarked.
“Bizarre?!” Jen exclaimed. “It’s downright gross and rude! Don’t they realise the more they drink, they keep on burping. They’ll soon burp in front of their girlfriends’ or boyfriends’ faces.”
“I’m afraid Blufor is the drink that kills soldiers instantly on the battlefield, Jen,” the Doctor told her.
“You mean; Wickham created that drink to kill his enemies,” Jen gradually realised.
“Not just Grealans, but Davastons too,” the Doctor went on. “There’s infinite power inside those beer drinks to make people belch. It’s the perfect killing device.”
“But why?!” Jen wanted to know. “And why kill his own people?! Is he really that bonkers to let people burp until they die?”
“Wickham’s such an anti-social,” the Doctor told her. “He doesn’t want to share things with anyone, Jen. It seems Blufor Beer is a means of ensuring that.”
At that moment, many soldiers – both Davastons and Grealans – instantly shot up into the air like rockets. Jen and the Doctor watched in horror as they saw the soldiers exploding in the air before they came back down to the ground.
“Doctor!” Jen panicked. “Those soldiers! They’re going to fall down on top of us!”
“Quick Jen!” the Doctor said urgently. “Duck your head down!”
The Doctor and Jen ducked in time before the soldiers landed nearby. They lay dead on the ground. Looking behind them, Jen and the Doctor saw the crumbled corpses. Jen couldn’t help but feel shocked, horrified, sorrowful and even a little sick at what she saw.
“This is horrible,” she said. “So horrible! All because Wickham wants to control the infinity planet. And to use the Zorbius crystal to achieve that.”
“Beer is an addictive alcoholic beverage,” the Doctor said. “Wickham knows that.”
“It’s the most disgusting, weird and horrible way to kill someone,” Jen remarked. “That Wickham’s a sick man, Doctor! We’ve got to stop him! We must!”
“I intend to stop him, Jen,” the Doctor told her. “And we’d better hurry!”
“Why?” Jen asked, confused.
“Look!”
The Doctor pointed to the sky. Jen saw ships approaching as they made to enter the planet Grelas’ orbit.
“More ships!” Jen said shocked. “Approaching this planet! More ships from Davastos!”
“We may not have much time,” the Doctor commented. “Wickham’s plans for luring soldiers to fight each other on the infinity planet will have disastrous consequences. He’s gone too far this time.”
“Then what are we waiting for,” Jen said eagerly. “Let’s get going!”
The Doctor smiled at Jen as he said, “Right! Come along, Jen! Let’s find a place where we can be safe for the time being and plan our next moves to stop Wickham and get the Zorbius crystal back from him!”
Taking Jen by the hand, both she and the Doctor made a run for it. They avoided the soldiers raining down on top of them from the sky as the echoes of battle increased and the belches of the already dying soldiers continued to grow louder.
At the Blufor Beer factory in the centre of Lugrom, Wickham looked out to see the battle of Davaston and Grelan soldiers intensifying. He was watching the battle through his open-glass manager’s office at the beer factory. Relish came over across his mad, manic face as he watched the battle.
“Yes! This is all going splendidly,” he declared. “At last! The great power has finally come! I shall soon control all of infinity!”
Wickham then took out the Zorbius from one of his coat pocket. He held the crystal in his hand.
“Once I have the Zorbius energy complete in my grasp,” he said, “including the fragment from old fool Scottos’ safe, I shall be victorious!”
At that moment, the Skeletrons entered his office. Wickham turned to them, rather agitated by their presence.
“How dare you enter without my permission!” he thundered. “And in my moment of glory! Am I ever to be allowed privacy?”
“We have brought the missing Zorbius crystal energy fragment to you, Mr. Wickham,” the Skeletron commander said. “We acquired it from Scottos’ safe.”
This pleased Wickham greatly. “Ah! That’s is news worth hearing! Hand over the crystal fragment to me immediately! Immediately, I say!”
At that, the Skeletron commander handed over the Zorbius crystal energy fragment from Scottos’ safe to Wickham. Wickham took it and began to place the almost fully-formed crystal over the fragment to make the two connect to each other.
“Now Zorbius!” Wickham commanded. “Unite with your shattered fragment! Make yourself complete! Initiate crystal to be fully-charged!”
At Wickham’s command, the Zorbius crystal energy fragment turned into pure energy. It gradually transferred into the crystal held in Wickham’s hand, eventually shooting fast like a dart. Soon, with the fragment energy manifested into the crystal. The crystal became fully-formed, glowing brightly on and off whilst Wickham held it.
“At last!” Wickham declared. “Complete at last!”
As he continued to hold the crystal, Wickham made his way over to look outside through his open-glass office. The Skeletrons watched him nearby. Wickham soon boldly spread his hands out whilst holding the crystal in his one hand. It seemed as if he was talking to the sky above.
“Hear me, oh clouds!” he cried. “Hear me, infinity! Merge with Zorbius! Commence universal chaos! Triumph at last!”
Laughing out loud madly, the crystal shone brightly and with intensity from Wickham’s hand as he held it. The Skeletrons saw the clouds beginning to collide in the sky. They were forming thunderclouds. As the thunderclouds gathered, they cracked out loud across the sky. Anyone down below in the city would’ve shuddered from hearing the thundercloud crack at Wickham’s command.
Chaos intensified. Starships and fighter jets flying about in the sky from both sides were getting out of control. The ships crashed into each other They fired shots aimlessly at each other and out of range. Some even spiralled out of control due to temperamental weather conditions. Down below in the city, the situation worsened. Soldiers fighting each other were belching thunderously from both sides. They couldn’t stop belching. The beer drinks they had got hold of them. Very soon, soldiers died left; right and centre, whether by gunshots or being blown up into the sky via drinking too much beer. The battle of Davastos and Grealas grew worse. There was no sign of any side winning. No-one even wanted to call a ceasefire. It was a battle that seemed endless.
Back in his office, Wickham couldn’t help feel excited and pleased at what he saw with the battle taking place. Nearby, the Skeletrons were unsure about Wickham. They wondered whether his recent behaviour was due to madness.
“See how the infinite powers are under my command,” he said to no-one in particular. “This crystal of time that I hold in my hands gives me the power I desire. It’s so satisfying to watch this world fall under my dominion! All shall fall to me!”
“We have obtained control of your new servants,” the Skeletron commander interrupted. “The one called Commander Stack is giving orders to his Grealan soldiers.”
“Yes!” Wickham exclaimed, delighted. “Grealan soldiers under his command! This will be a humiliating sight in the eyes of the Davastons! I find it funny already!”
As Wickham laughed, the Skeletron commander continued. “The young soldier called Williams is on the front line. He leads the fight against the Davastons who are now his enemies. Both Stack and Williams will not give up.”
“Of course not!” Wickham laughed mockingly. “How could they not give up with the hypnotic trance they’re under! They’ll soon get tired, but they’ll still keep on fighting!”
Wickham kept laughing as he went back to his office desk and sat in his chair.
“They have been put to good use,” he said to the Skeletron commander. “See to it that your Hunters are sending the clouds filled with the deepening rain that I’ve provided for you. All shall fall asleep and dream endlessly.”
“Understood,” replied the Skeletron commander. “We will go and do as you bid.”
“Yes!” Wickham said, gratified. “All shall do as I bid, whilst I sit here in my office relishing my victory!”
Wickham continued to laugh manically whilst the Skeletrons left his office. They didn’t find Wickham to be funny at all.
In the city streets below, the Doctor and Jen made their way towards the Blufor Beer Factory. They both looked up to see the marvellous city structure before them. Jen couldn’t help but feel a little small compared to how tall the building was.
“That’s a lot of floors to cover,” she said. “I hope there’s a map of the building inside to tell us where Wickham is.”
“Hold on,” the Doctor stopped her before she went any further. “Let’s gain entry into the building first. No need to trip off the alarms.”
With that, the Doctor took out his sonic screwdriver. As they reached the entrance, the Doctor switched it on for it to buzz into life. Thankfully, the Doctor’s sonic screwdriver turned off the electrical alarm beams that could detect an intruder. They managed to get inside the building.
Once they were inside, Jen looked around to see if there were any security guards on duty. She was surprised to see that nobody was about.
“Doctor, where are the security guards?” she asked. “Are they off fighting in the war as well as the soldiers?”
“Possibly,” the Doctor replied. “Unless they’ve got flying robots with deadly laser cannons.”
Jen turned to look outside where they’d come in. She started to warn the Doctor. “Err…Doctor…” she began.
The Doctor didn’t acknowledge Jen as he said, “Oh don’t worry now. With my sonic screwdriver, I can…”
“No, no, Doctor,” Jen shook him. “Look outside! On that massive screen!”
The Doctor looked to see where Jen was pointing outside. He saw quite clearly the massive screen that overlooked the city. On the screen was the face of Wickham. He was looking smug and proud. He spoke clearly as he gave an announcement.
“Citizens of Grealas and all who come from Davastos,” he began. “Hear me! I am Wickham, the new ruler of the Grealas and the Davastos Empires! I have infinite power! Do not oppose me!”
Jen tugged at the Doctor’s sleeve as they looked to the screen. “It looks like he’s broadcasting from his office.”
“Very possibly,” the Doctor replied. “It’s a broadcast across the entire continent, I believe.”
They continued to watch as Wickham made his speech.
“Be warned, citizens!” he continued. “If you walk the streets, you’d better be careful! Rainclouds will fall on top of you!”
Jen and the Doctor then saw rainclouds appear in the sky outside almost immediately. Raindrops began to fall. The TARDIS duo could hear the rain hitting the windows of the Blufor Beer Factory building where they were standing.
“Thank goodness we got in here just in time, Jen,” the Doctor said. “Another moment and we would’ve been sleeping beauties.”
“So that’s the deepening rain!” Jen realised.
“Yes,” the Doctor answered grimly. “And the Skeletrons have open fired with the rain on a massive scale due to their sophisticated cyber technology and expertise.”
Jen then noticed the massive screen that was outside changing. It showed two people in two different locations. One was fighting on the battle lines; the other was in a control room of some kind. Jen recognised the two people immediately.
“Doctor! There’s Danny on the screen!” she exclaimed. “And there’s that Commander…”
“…Stack, yes,” the Doctor finished. “What are they doing wherever they are?”
The screen soon switched back to Wickham’s face. His voice then rang out again, as he said mockingly, “If you’re watching this Davastons, your soldiers are dying because your thick-headed commander is giving out the orders and the lieutenant called Danny Williams is leading them into battle.”
Wickham’s laughter echoed out all over the city. Jen was disgusted.
“If anyone dares to try and resit my power,” Wickham continued, “you won’t find it so easy. But that’s how life turns out, doesn’t it? Men die happy from burping and having too much beer before they fall asleep endlessly. I can stop this, but Grealas will have to follow my commands as well as Davastos. You know what I’m offering. Think about it. It is a simple choice to make. Good day to you.”
The last thing that the Doctor and Jen saw on the massive screen was Wickham getting up out of his office chair. Soon, the screen faded into black. Jen couldn’t believe the nerve of the man. The thought of Wickham trying to take to control of people by making them sleep and die via drinking heavily.
“Doctor, we’ve got to stop this!” said Jen, determined. “It’s gone too far!”
“I agree,” the Doctor joined in. “But did you see the way that Stack and Danny behaved? They weren’t themselves, were they?”
Jen began to understand. “You mean…they were…”
“Hypnotised, yes,” the Doctor answered. “And that’s possibly down to the work of the Skeletrons if I know their adapted methods via cyber control.”
“And that means the other soldiers – the Davastons and the Grealans. They’re under the control of that same spell the Skeletrons are using,” Jen deduced. “That jerk Wickham is making them fight blindly and unwillingly. We don’t even know how to break that trance they’re all in.”
“Don’t worry, Jen,” the Doctor reassured her. “We’ll do this step by step.”
“Step by step?” Jen echoed, puzzled. “I don’t understand.”
The Doctor then came to decision. “I’m going to try and find Stack in that control room he seems to be in. From the look of the architecture and panelled walls, he must be in this building. I’ll have to break him out of his trance.”
“I’ll go and find Danny,” Jen offered. “He’s out there on those battle fields on the front line.”
“Jen,” the Doctor began to warn her. “Think what you’re about to do before you go out there. The rain’s still pretty heavy, not to mention enchanting. You’ll find yourself falling asleep. Not to mention being trampled by a lot of soldiers running on the battlefield.”
“If you can provide me something that will protect me out there then,” Jen suggested, “I’ll be a very happy girl.”
“As a matter of fact, I can provide you with something, Jen,” the Doctor said. “Hang on a minute. I’ve got them in my coat pockets somewhere.”
“The TRW bracelet?” Jen guessed.
“Exactly,” the Doctor said pleased. “It’ll help you to make you aware of the passage of time and prevent you from falling asleep. You’d better put on a raincoat while you’re at it too. It’ll be tough in all that rain outside.”
The Doctor fished out from his coat pockets one of the Temporal Referential Waveband (TRW) bracelets that he and Jen had used once when they visited Lord Hamilton’s stately mansion in the 1920s to tackle the Navre. He also fished out a raincoat in a bag that he had tucked away safely inside his bigger-on-the-inside coat pockets should it be needed. Jen took the TRW bracelet and the raincoat in a bag gladly. She fitted the bracelet onto her wrist, which hurt slightly once it was attached. She also donned the raincoat as she was ready to go outside.
“Alright,” Jen said happily. “I’m sorted.”
“You be careful out there, Jen,” the Doctor told her. “Don’t tangle yourself with any Skeletrons. Unless of course you have to tangle with any Skeletrons.”
“You watch yourself too, Doctor,” Jen said. “Don’t let Wickham get to you.”
“I hope you’ll be able to get Danny out of his trance,” the Doctor said.
“Same to you too with getting Stack out of his trance,” Jen said.
“It won’t be easy, Jen,” the Doctor reminded her.
“I know, I know,” Jen acknowledged. “But it’s got to be done.”
The Doctor smiled as he and Jen embraced each other in a hug. They soon set themselves off on their missions.
“See you later, Jen,” the Doctor called to her.
“Take care, Doctor,” Jen called back.
With that, they split up. Jen headed off outside with her raincoat on as well as her TRW braclets to make for the battlefields where Danny was last seen. The Doctor meanwhile made his way deep into the Blufor Beer Factory building to find Stack as well as confront Wickham.
Stack stood in the control centre at the Blufor Beer Factory. Monitor screens were all around him. His eyes were fixed on the screens as he watched the soldiers fighting on the battlefields.
Entranced, Stack barked into a microphone, saying, “See to it that no soldier abandons his or her posts! All soldiers are to fight the enemy to the last! All starships are to converge! All army tanks are to roll up the hills! Nothing on Grealan soil must be kept alive! Davastos shall be victorious! Davastos shall win the day! Freedom shall be ours!”
No one else was in the room with Stack. He was alone, barking out his orders like mad to his soldiers.
“Do you understand the meaning of the word obey when you follow a command?” he continued to bark, entranced. “Follow it to the letter! Obey my commands! Follow my instructions! Kill those Grealan scum!”
At that moment, the Doctor entered. He managed to find Stack in the end. Stack didn’t notice or hear him enter. He just stood there, facing the monitor screens. The Doctor approached Stack to face him.
“Stack, listen to me!” the Doctor cried. “Stack, this is the Doctor! Do you hear me?”
Stark ignored the Doctor as he continued to bark out orders at the screens to his soldiers in a trance. “All soldiers shall keep their minds to their jobs,” he said. “Never delay! Keep on fighting! And keep those beer drinks on you! They’ll give you strength and energy whenever you need it!”
“Stack, listen to me,” the Doctor tried to reach him. “You’re under Skeletron control. You’ve got to snap out of it! Snap out of it, Stack! Listen to me!”
Oblivious to the Doctor, Stack went on, “No delays, I say! The fight must go on! I must…I must protect my men!”
Stack seemed to falter for a moment. The Doctor saw it as a good sign.
“You’re condemning your men to death!” the Doctor told him. “Don’t you realise that, Stack? Snap out of it! You must stop the fighting!”
“No!” Stack bellowed, hearing the Doctor this time, but still entranced. “A soldier’s duty is to fight to the bitter end!”
“Your duty Commander Stack is to order a ceasefire and end the bloodshed,” the Doctor said sharply. “Hasn’t there been enough fighting on the battlefield today? Isn’t it time to end the suffering? Surely you need a break, Stack. You’re soon to retire from fighting, aren’t you?”
“Retire…from fighting?” Stack said, confused. The hypnotic hold on him was beginning to falter. The Doctor could sense it.
“Yes!” the Doctor said, feeling hopeful. “I can see it in your eyes! The mists are beginning to clear! Stop the fighting, Stack! Give the order to stop the fighting! Then it’ll be alright. There’ll be no more death; no more suffering. Isn’t that a good thing, Commander? Isn’t that what you want for the Davastos Empire. To be at peace? And possibly with the Grelans?”
“No more death; no more suffering,” Stack said, breaking out of his trance. “Yes. Yes, I see that now.”
“That’s it, Commander Stack,” the Doctor said encouragingly. “The effects of whatever’s been controlling you are beginning to wear off.” A pause ensued. “Now, speak into the microphone again. Give the command to…”
But at that moment, the Skeletrons entered the room. They gnashed and gnarled with their teeth as they advanced upon the Doctor.
“Oh dear,” the Doctor said grimly. “Just when I thought we wouldn’t be interrupted.”
“Stay where you are, Commander,” the Skeletron leader addressed Stack. “Do not move. The fighting must go on! Understand? The fighting must go on!”
Within seconds, Stack slipped back into his trance-like state.
“Yes!” he said. “The fighting must go on! We must continue the fighting!”
As Stack resumed his fixed gaze on the monitor screens, the Skeletrons turned their attention towards the Doctor.
“And now for you, Doctor!” the Skeletron leader said viciously. “You shall die!!!”
Some of the Skeletrons drew their swords and some of the Skeletron raised their arm blasters at the Doctor. The Doctor guessed the Skeletrons’ arm blasters were filled with the deepening rain. The Skeletrons made to advance upon the Doctor.
“Oh well,” the Doctor then shrugged. “I suppose I’ll have to do this the hard way. Sonic!”
At that, the Doctor took out his sonic screwdriver and switched it on instantly. The screwdriver buzzed loudly as the Skeletrons came towards him. Soon, the Skeletrons shuddered violently. So did Stack. Both he and the Skeletrons ended up falling onto the ground. The Doctor switched off his sonic screwdriver and gave it quick kiss before he placed it back inside one of his coat pockets.
“There!” he said satisfied. “That wasn’t so difficult, was it?”
The Doctor then examined Stack as he’d fallen on the floor. Checking his pulse, the Doctor was satisfied to find Stack okay. He then tapped his face gently.
“Here Stack, wake up!” he said encouragingly. “Come on, sunshine! Up you get!”
Eventually, Stack woke up. He was completely baffled by everything that was going on around him. He was also free of his trance.
“What happened?” he demanded to know. “Where am I? Where’s Lieutenant Williams?” He then saw the Doctor and became surprised. “Doctor, what’s going on? What am I doing on the floor? What is this place anyway? Explain Doctor!”
“All in good time, dear Stack,” the Doctor reassured him, smiling. “Now there’s a command I would like you to give to all those soldiers fighting on the battlefields outside. You remember what the command is don’t you, Commander? Hmm?”
Stack looked at the Doctor puzzled. He tried to recollect in the back of his mind what had been going on lately.
© Tim Bradley, 2020
| Go back to | Go next to |
| Return to The Infinity Planet (Z) | |
| Return to Zorbius | |
| Return to The Eighth Doctor by Tim Bradley | |
| Return to Doctor Who by Tim Bradley | |
| Return to Doctor Who | |
| Return to Sci-Fi |