The Buccaneer Chronicles:

Keeping the Peace

First Edition

story and artwork by Andy Simpkins

http://www.StaggeringStories.net/

This is the fifth story of The Buccaneer Chronicles first series. Other eBooks in this series, and more besides, are available free from the Staggering Stories website.

This eBook is copyright 2010 to Andy Simpkins and is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/).

"The words played on about our heads, perhaps we went too far..."

Israel: dateline 1999. A Tuesday. Things look grim for Captain Curtis and UNIT, with an invasion by space aliens imminent.

Who can save us now?

Why, none other then that Sot'm master of disguise, Cre'at.

Oh and a mysterious man by the name of Adh Saidhe.

And just what has happened to Lord Macfadyan?

"Answer me one question. Are these the shadows of the things that Will be, or are they shadows of things that May be, only?"

Part One - "Talk of change lately, but everything's been done before."

Prologue - What Rough Beast...

"Like one that on a lonesome road
Doth walk in fear and dread,
And having once turned round walks on
And turns no more his head;
Because he knows a frightful fiend
Doth close behind him tread..."

The first man sat at a desk that wouldn't have looked out of place in any major executive's offices on Earth, Procyon or any of the other major civilised worlds of the Western arm of the galaxy. He was wearing a close fitting business suit that was the latest fashion on Earth. It was dark in colour and hugged close to his body, accentuating his tall, almost lanky frame. Appearances were deceiving however. He may have appeared lean, almost gaunt of frame but what flesh he had on his bones was all highly toned muscle, ready to spring into action at any moment. His face was thin and angular, with prominent cheekbones and a mouth that was more of a slash across his face than anything else. A light goatee beard framed his mouth and his hair was close-cropped and shot through with grey at the temples. The most disconcerting thing about him were his eyes. When you looked closely at them, they appeared to be almost black in colour, with a look that that could pierce right through to any observer's soul like an arrow. They were deep set and conveyed a melange of emotions behind them; sorrow, grief, joviality, hatred and a host of others. Behind his chair and desk was a large window that looked out onto a barren and desolate night-time landscape, the soil laid bare by immense concentric circles of strip-mining and excavation, illuminated harshly by banks of mobile lighting. The deep-throated roar and rumblings of excavation machinery and labourers going about their business was muted to a distant rumble by the soundproofing that the office had built into it. He was sifting absent-mindedly through some data on his comp-term when the communication annunciate chimed for his attention.

Sighing distractedly, he pressed the appropriate button on his desk to allow the visitor admittance to his domain.

A small globe unfolded in the air just above the table, in it was a buzz cut, white haired man. His age was some where in his late fifty's, bull neck with a bullet head. He was a large man with a look of a bully he was used to getting his own way.

"Prospector... Prospector! Prospector Seidh! Adh Seidh answer me"!

The man looked up, and with an almost beatific smile on his face and proclaimed:

"Why, my dear Executor Reeve! Just as I was getting settled in, up you pop with your florid face to stop me from getting complacent. To what do I owe the pleasure of this manifestation in my humble abode?"

Slapping down a file of transparencies on hid desk in the image, Reeve all but bellowed, " look at them!! Do you have an explanation for this!!"?

Seidh leaned back in his chair, placing down the comp-term; he looked at the hologram with a hurt expression on his face "Executor Reeve! These accusations cut me to the quick. I' am at a loss to know what to say"

"You know full well what I am going on about!!" Pausing to get control of his boiling temper, he continued: "The Spinward Corporation has given you free access, as an employee, albeit given great rein and mobility and a certain amount of autonomy, to conduct our business in the most profitable manner possible. Firstly, we must point out that the corporation is very grateful to you for pointing out the location of selenium deposits on this planet. It has proven invaluable in our negotiations with several companies involved in spaceship production and manufacture for the raw materials they need. You have made substantial inroads into increasing the corporation's profits many fold, BUT THIS! Dealing in forbidden technologies is something else!!" He paused in his tirade to collect his thoughts. At this opportune moment, the first man smoothly interjected:"

"A mere bagatelle, my dear fellow. Admittedly, time-tech is some thing of a hot potato, jealously guarded by a few of the more elderly races, but, needless to say, I have my... contacts. As for the more curious of our staff in the higher echelons of power, a few incentives to stay silent here, a few financial inducements there and... voila!" He made an expansive theatrical gesture with his hands and continued:

"No-one needs to know. The corporation is happy at its exponentially increasing bank-balances. The customers are happy because we supply what they need and anyone who asks too many questions are either handsomely paid off to ensure their silence or are unfortunately deceseied. All around, a very convenient situation, if I may say so myself!"

Executor Reeve could only gape at the man, sitting in his chair, with an almost palpable air of self-assurance and confidence. Before he could say any thing else, Seidh said, with a slight edge of irritability to his voice:

"Come now, man, before you have a heart attack, say what is on your mind!"

"But what if word of this leaks out... anyone using time-tech... the possibilities for corrupting the time line..."

"...Are inconsequential at this moment in time, to use a pun. My dear fellow, the third party I sold the relevant technology to are well conversant with its use. Rest assured, there will be no trouble from them... as far as we are concerned. Do try not to lose any sleep over it. Now, if you will excuse me, I have a myriad of minutiae to attend to and it is clamouring for my attention. Please close the door on your way out..."

With that Seidh lent forwarded and artfully flicked a contact, the holo-globe swirled closed.

Seidh sat in his chair. The look of affability had vanished from his face to be replaced with something more cold, calculating and callous. He murmured to himself..."That was easy. Bluffing your way through was child's play with that fool Reeve. The buyers for the time tech are like savages playing with a loaded pistol. One wrong touch and it will all go off in their faces. I have my reasons for selling it and I only hope that they know what they are doing with it... I may have to nip forward a few millennia just to see if there not being to stupid."

Second Prologue - 'Escape to Danger!'

The second man reclined at ease in a chair in his office. It had been appointed to him several months ago along with a new commission and advancement in rank. He was in his late thirties with an athletic build that spoke of many years of his adult life spent in the armed forces. He had dark brown hair swept back from his forehead, receding slightly and was clad in a khaki shirt and trousers. The only signs of his rank and status were the embroidered emblem on his shirt and the pips on the epaulettes of his shirt.

At that moment in time, he was looking through some reports and some of the minutiae that pre-occupy the lower ranking officers of any army of any of the civilised nations of Earth. Above him a ceiling mounted fan whirled industriously, trying in a vain attempt to dispel the all pervasive heat and humidity that was ever present in the ancient city of Jerusalem. He idly cursed the fact that air-conditioning had not been installed but he would have to grin and bear it.

He glanced at the clock on his desk and idly noted that his duty shift for that day was almost at an end. He glanced at the signed photo of Mike Yates

"Another day passes and there are no major mishaps to report. Admittedly, Pass-over is a time of great significance for the people of this city and nation but the Jewish and Moslem factions here in Jerusalem have been living in an almost easy co-existence for as long as I have been here. Hopefully, Colin, this should be a relatively easy posting for you. Another couple of months and I will be posted back to England..." He mused idly.

More frequently, however, was his attention diverted to a small photo mounted in a plain silver frame that was placed on a corner of his desk. The photo was that of a petite woman with shoulder length wavy brown hair seated on a park bench with her hands crossed in her lap. Her face had a gentle smile on it and every time he looked at it, he felt a sharp twinge of longing and desire. In the corner of the photo was written "To my dearest Colin, with all my love and kisses, Jenny xxx"

He sighed heavily and thought: "Only a couple more months and I will be back in England. I wonder how you will react when I tell you that we will be needing married persons quarters very soon..."He pulled open one of the drawers of his desk and pulled out the small plain box that lay within. Inside it was an elegantly fashioned gold ring, made by one of the goldsmiths that were so prevalent in the Moslem quarter of Jerusalem.

"I hope she will like it...Fighting disembodied life-forms, dealing with wide-spread civil disorder and with a maverick Time-Lord on the Channel Island of Jersey will seem like child's play compared to proposing to Jenny but I'm sure I will succeed in my task."

He put the ring back in its box and put it back in the drawer. He glanced at the clock again and saw that it was time to pack up and go. Just as he was about place his completed files in their relevant trays, there was an agitated knocking on the door of his office.

"Come in"

One of his more recently promoted underlings opened the door and hurried inside. He was perspiring profusely and seemed in a state of great agitation. Curtis got up and ushered the man to a vacant seat on the opposite side of his desk. He sat down and, breathing heavily and unsteadily, sat drinking at a plastic cup of water that Curtis had offered to him.

Curtis sat down in the chair opposite him, consternation etched on his features. Henderson was one of the members of the battalion of UNIT soldiers posted to his command who seemed the most calm and unflappable under pressure. He was always ready to take and carry out orders on Curtis' command and was rarely, if ever, daunted by a situation or firefight that called for his attention.

"Calm down, Henderson, for goodness sake, man. In all the time I have known you, I have never seen you like this before. Tell me what has caused this."

Henderson, having almost gained his customary composure, took a few more gulps of water and started:

"Well, sir, it was like this. Myself and several others of the battalion were guarding a group of archaeologists who were excavating that site of historic importance near to the Western Wall, or Wailing Wall, as it is more commonly known. As you know, the site is a bone of contention between Jewish and Moslem extremist factions because they both lay claim to the site as a place of extreme religious importance and therefore, both factions were none too happy at a bunch of infidel scientists poking and prodding away at, what to them, was holy ground. This fact, as well as the Jewish festival of Passover is almost upon us, has heightened tensions and small crowds from both sides have gathered at the site to generally make life as difficult for us as possible

"One of the archaeologists from Haifa University was taking echo-soundings of his and other allotted areas when he came across, what only be described, as an anomaly buried about three feet below the area that one of his students was excavating in. Naturally, this caused a great deal of excitement amongst the scientist and all his peers and we all hastened over to see what all the excitement was about.

"After a couple of hours of careful digging, the object was uncovered to a certain degree and is still in situ at the site. As soon as a few of the inhabitants saw the object, both sides immediately laid claim to the object as being an artifact important to both their religions."

Henderson paused to collect his thoughts and Curtis then said:

"Surely, if the artifact is of such historical importance to both religions, then the University of Cairo and the University of Haifa should come to an amicable agreement about who should lay claim and ownership to it...."

It was at this moment that Henderson, lost in his thoughts, immediately raised his head and stared Curtis straight in the eyes.

"Sir, the most well-versed professors from both Cairo and Haifa have both been studying the object and cannot locate it in any of their journals. It is unknown to them and sent me to seek your assistance. It is well known within our battalion that you have had 'experiences' through the course of duty that touch upon the unknown. This artefact is, in my opinion, not native to this region. In fact, I would make a tentative guess that it is of extra-terrestrial origin!"

Curtis sat in his chair, a multitude of emotions crossed over his face in an instant. Never a stranger to indecision, he pulled open one of the drawers in his desk and pulled out the holstered pistol that lay within. Pausing briefly to fit the sidearm around his waist, he said to Henderson:

"Lead me to it, I need to see this for myself...."

Inwardly, Curtis slumped." And the day had been going so well....". He bitterly thought.

Part Two - "I've just dipped into the future. We must be prepared for the worst."

Chapter One - Long, Hot Summers in Jerusalem

The third man turned away from the time rotor on one of the panels of the hexagonal console to look at the two faces staring back at him expectantly. One of the faces was that of a young human woman, in her late teens or early twenties. She wasn't too sure herself. Her name was Blanche Simmonds. She had a round, pleasant face but had a hard bitten and street-wise look about her that spoke of her tough upbringing working for a gang of pickpockets and cut-purses and, later, living rough, surviving by her wits alone on the streets of Victorian London. She was about 5 and a half feet tall, with ether very light brown hair, or dark blonde, once keep short in a crop to hide her female attributes from the male members of the street gang she was once a member of. At this moment in time, it was longer and she had it swept up into a bun tied up on the back of her head. She was dressed in a loose fitting t-shirt and jeans which had become her preferred dress since becoming one of the Buccaneers traveling companions The second face was metallic in composition, belonging to a race of bio-mechanoid life-forms called Sot'ms and it's name was Cre'at. It was about two feet in height, cylindrical in form with a thick, black beard of organic strands framing its mouth from which it drew nitrogen from the surrounding air to power its internal systems. Two portals on either side of its head where human's ears would be contained two extendable or removable arms. On top of its cranium was a small, but potentially lethal laser cannon.

It was then that the Buccaneer said to his traveling companions:

"Right, that's the time rotor sorted out. This old girl of a TARDIS has been around the block a few times and can be rather cantankerous at times. I know we were stuck in the vortex for a few days but now everything should be sorted. Look, what do you expect after that nasty business with the time ram, hmm? Do I have to do all the thinking in here? Right, where would you both like to go? No. Actually, neither of you deserve to choose. You, Blanche wimped out last time and as for you, head..... Well, I mean........ what do you think you were doing not telling me about those tracks, hmm? Sometimes I wonder where your loyalties lie, dear Sot'm"

"'Ere, Bucky, why don't we try a nice 'oliday planet somewhere. I could do wiv putting my feet up and loungin' by a nice pool somewhere with a long tall glass of something strong wiv all those bits in it." Blanche said. Her pronounced Cockney vowels cutting through the air.

* I must concur with the adolescent human female. It would do well to partake of some enforced idleness and as you say 'recharge your batteries'. I find this phrase grossly inaccurate. You organics survive by the inefficient breaking down of proteins and carbohydrates and not by absorbing energy through directly implanted power cells. * Stated Cre'at in its usual mechanical and monotone voice.

The Buccaneer sighed. Sometimes the Sot'm could be quite literal in its speech and could be exasperating at times but it managed to convey its meaning across, albeit, in the most circumspect means possible.

"Right. As it happens I was going to suggest a holiday anyway. I want a picnic! If we are all agreed, with a flick of a switch and some inputted spacial and temporal coordinates, we shall go a 'holidaying. I am already attired for any suitable surroundings and the TARDIS knows where to go. We shall be there in just a thrice!"

Blanche raised a hand to her face to hide a smile and to stifle a snigger. Suitably attired! He was clad in his usual garish garb. What she saw was a 6 foot tall humanoid male, with long dark blond hair tied in a pony-tail and with a light beard framing his face. He was clad, in what he considered to be muted clothing. He was wearing a knee-length purple velvet overcoat, underneath was a waistcoat, black in colour, heavily decorated with gold brocade and was wearing a white shirt with enormously baggy sleeves poking out of his overcoat. Flared pantaloons were tucked into knee length black leather boots. A belt buckle carved with an elaborate double infinity symbol completed the outfit. The Buccaneer liked to compare himself to the corsairs of 17th and 18th century Earth but he bore more than a marked resemblance to followers of the New Romantic music movement that was prevalent in England in the early 1980's. His sartorial elegance was questionable but he was a more than competent Time-Lord. Well, at least, that's what he thought.....

The time column hummed quietly to itself and operated for approximately 20 seconds before grinding to a halt. Despite the Buccaneers entreaties and flicking of switches, the time column stayed irresolutely immobile.

"Hmmm, strange. Checked and double-checked the blessed thing and still it malfunctions. As I said, this TARDIS is rather set in its ways and wouldn't malfunction without a reason. We seem to have landed somewhere. Lets have a look out of the viewer and have a peek at what is going on..."

He flicked a switch on the console and a hologram immediately lit up between two of the gothic arches with a view of what was outside. It, unfortunately, wasn't too impressive. All that the trio of travellers saw was a wall. Stretching about 10 to 15 metres into the air and was pitted, scratched and marred by the passage of time. Bending over the console, Macfadyan checked the temporal and spatial coordinate readouts.

"Well, Blanche, we are somewhere hot and sunny and not too far from your place of temporal origin. We are on Earth, late 20th century and in a place called Israel which is situated between what is called by the locals, the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, It might not be quite what we had in mind but we can at least spend some time here and have some rest and relaxation."

Taking a parasol from a hat stand near the main doors of the TARDIS, he activated the doors to allow egress to the world outside.

The heat hit them all as soon as they exited the TARDIS. Blanche was sweating as soon as she set foot on the sandy soil outside. Cre'at was, however, impervious to extremes of heat, pressure and cold due to his structure and could tolerate the heat and humidity indefinitely.

"Come now, child. Given the temperature, I have made provision for a few bottles of water with which to keep ourselves hydrated while we are here. "She eagerly snatched the proffered bottle of water and gulped from it greedily.

"Phew, Bucky, just like a hot and sticky day in Victorian London. All we had to drink from if we were thirsty was a horse trough outside one of the local taverns."

The Buccaneer set aside that particular mental image and turned around to look around at the TARDIS." Hmmm, must make a note to repair the chameleon circuits at sometime or other. It doesn't quite fit in...." he murmured absently.

The TARDIS, its chameleon circuits, in an almost constant state of disrepair, had taken on the appearance of something.....almost....approximating that of 20th Century Earth. Its appearance was that of a shop. However, in it's windows were 5 shop window dummies that were clad in clothing that could be best described as 'abbreviated'. Painted on each of the windows was the image of an apple, red in colour and with a bite taken out of it. Above this image was, in English script, written the words 'Ann Summers'

The Buccaneer strode purposefully on, Cre'at hovering after him and Blanche bringing up the rear, occasionally glancing back at the disguised TARDIS and shaking her head in disbelief and curiosity. Already, a few tourists were strolling up to the 'shop' and taking photos while a small crowd of locals had gathered around it in bemusement.

The trio of travellers spent their next few hours wandering around the markets that were prevalent in the ancient city of Jerusalem. From all around, vendors hawked their wares and a small smile was seen to appear over The Buccaneers features. Offering a polite'la, shucran, effendi' to some of the more persistent Arabic salesmen who offered cheap souvenirs and tourist trinkets in his direction. He was like a child, gazing upon the world through fresh, wondering and uncorrupted eyes. Even Cre'at, normally impervious to such distractions, had entered into the spirit of the occasion. It had chosen a cardboard body and had attached it to its underside. It was in the form of flowing Arabic robes and, for good measure, had wrapped a headscarf around the top part of its cranium to conceal its head-cannon. Regrettably, given its appearance, it had taken on more than a passing resemblance to a local politician whose face was featured on some tattered and peeling local election posters that had been plastered up on walls and columns. The baffled Sot'm had to, for the next half hour or so, fend off the attentions of locals who wanted wish it good luck in the forthcoming elections. Having no hands to shake with, apart from the ones it had mounted in its cranial cavity, it could only pass on its best wishes and ask them if they would like some ham. This caused bafflement amongst the locals and they went away, shaking their heads and wondering if he had been sampling too much of the apple tobacco that was commonly smoked through the tall hookahs that were commonplace in this part of the city.

The trio stopped, pausing to take sips from the water bottles they had with them. It was then that the Buccaneer noticed Blanche's pockets had taken on a distinctly bulging appearance. The Buccaneer rolled his eyes heavenwards and said:

"Blanche, if you would be so kind as to empty your pockets..."

"Awww, Bucky..."said Blanche imploringly.

"Now would be a good time!..." said Macfadyan reproachfully, already having a good idea of what would come out.

Out of the young woman's pockets came two compact APS cameras, several wallets containing a variety of dollars, pounds, deutchmarks and other international currencies and some pass-cards to some of the more well known international hotel chains who had hotels here.

"Blanche, this is supposed to be a holiday and I do not want your kleptomaniac tendencies to run riot. You are not in Victorian London now and you must keep your pick-pocketing habits in check!"

"Well, a girl 'as to keep 'erself in good practice..."she offered in a half hearted and none too convincing attempt to placate the Buccaneer. Macfadyan sighed inwardly and made a mental note to himself that he would have to make sure that any future clones of Blanche would have their light-fingered tendencies taken away from them. It wasn't too important but he added it to the list of things that he had to do around the TARDIS. However, before moving on, Macfadyan paused, as if to sniff the air. There was a strange tingle at the back of his neck, something he had never felt before. It was mildly perturbing. However, deciding to put it to one side also, he strode off, head held high and with his usual look of contempt for the primitive Humans around him.

***

Henderson and Curtis pulled up in the jeep, it was obvious where the dig was located, the crowds of people, large earth moving equipment. Curtis climbed out of one side Henderson out of the other, almost immediately they were accosted by a tall lean man with a thin angular face, his close-cropped hair and bearded had a light scattering of grey. He was wearing an outlandish Hawaiian shirt, khaki shorts and a multitude of cameras around his neck; he flashed a press pass under Curtis's nose

"Joss Momos, The Guardian international correspondent. What is U.N.I.T.'s interest in this dig and the artifact that has been found?"

Eyeing what he hoped was a Dictaphone instead of a lie detector (there was a whole range of flashing L.E.D's that reacted to the sounds of his voice) and grateful he wasn't being questioned by Alf Roland, the notorious Press hound, he replied,

"Not at all Mr Momos. We are here in a U. N. capacity. Merely to make sure there is no trouble and that the historical artifact goes to the correct repository."

Joss looked at him rather askew

"Oh my dear Captain Curtis, we are mere months a way from the dawning of the new millennium. We are bound to see things of miracle and wonder, lasers in the jungle, the camera following us in slow...mo"

This time it was Curtis turn to look at him oddly

"Well yes quite, if you would please excuse me Mr Momos." With that Curtis and Henderson pushed pass.

Adh Saidh was still looking around himself in interest, dropping the manic smile as he dropped Joss Momos's press card back into his pocket. The back of his neck tingled for a moment and with a sudden start he recognised Cre'at gliding through the crowds. Quickly he started looking for the arrogant form of Macfadyan. Yes, there he was strolling around with his nose in the air as if he'd sniffed a permanent bad smell,

"What a tosser!"

With a slightly sad look towards Blanche Adh turned and disappeared in to the crowd.

***

It was then that Macfadyan looked around him and then announced:

" It would seem, in our perambulations around this quarter of Jerusalem, we have almost come back to where the TARDIS is. I would suggest that we head back there and have a bite to eat. It will be sunset in a couple of hours time and I wish to see some more sights before we set off."

There were gestures of assent from Blanche and Cre'at and they set off towards the landing site. As they drew near to the site where the TARDIS had materialised, Macfadyan noticed that there was unusual activity at a fairly large pit near the Western Wall. Digging equipment, of the Jumall Corp, surrounded it. He noticed that there were a few academic types wandering around, clutching clipboards, tape measures and other tools of their trade. There were also a few military types, looking casual in their stance and demeanour, but ready to spring into action at any given opportunity. Around the periphery was a small crowd of curious bystanders, jostling each other in an attempt to see what was going on.

Lifting up the length of tape that had been pulled around the circumference of the site to keep any over-enthusiastic observers at bay, Macfadyan, Blanche and Cre'at casually wandered over to a spot on the excavation site where there were two scientists and two man clad in the khaki green of the local military, one of them hunched over a shape half-buried in the soil. They did not notice his approach as they were deep in conversation and were totally oblivious to his presence, overhearing the man in green khaki who was crouching over the half buried object mutter "better tell H.Q. we've got a 'Police Box' incident"

Macfadyan harrumphed loudly, peered over their shoulders and said:

"Hmmm, if I am not mistaken. That is Keldian in construction, very high-tech, very hard to get hold of and probably there for all the wrong reasons..."

All three turned around in surprise and the military officer did a double take as he saw whom the stranger was.

"Macfadyan!!"

"Ha! Look Cre'at! It's lieutenant, erm, ah........Crumbly, isn't it?

And the grin his face held was a textbook description of the word; "wicked"

Chapter Two - Vision On

All three were in Curtis' office. Macfadyan and Blanche were seated opposite Curtis who was on the opposite side of the desk from them. Cre'at hovered nearby, observing the scene and was recording it, both visually and aurally.

"Now that we are all here, perhaps you could tell me what you are doing here? It has been several months since your last appearance on Earth and, needless to say, there have been no alien invasions, disembodied spirits running amok and the Channel Island of Jersey is gradually rebuilding itself after having a little brush with primordial emotions and subconscious fear being unleashed en masse. Frankly, Macfadyan, I find your presence here unnerving...."

Macfadyan studied his nails for a long moment before answering.

"Frankly, my dear Crumbly..."

"That's Curtis!...Captain Colin Curtis" He interjected annoyed.

"As I was saying, given the circumstances on Jersey, I think I handled the situation quite well. Admittedly there were quite a few dead and a lot of walking wounded but people are malleable and will soon forget about the incident. Humans are very adaptable and can cope with any situation, however grave, and overcome it. I am sure, given time, they will be grateful for my intervention in what could have been a very serious situation."

Curtis choked slightly as he took a sip from a glass of water that had been placed on the desk. "The sheer gall of the man!" he thought.

As Curtis was recovering from his coughing, he continued:

"As you are aware, my TARDIS does not do things without a reason, however vague and obscure they might be. After we left you on Jersey, we had some business to attend to on your planet, approximately 100 years in your past, subjectively speaking, and then had to settle a little matter in Central America, 500 years in your past. After a little journeying elsewhere, we decided to set a course for a holiday planet for a little vacation. Saving Earth is rather taxing so we all thought that it would be best to take some time out, as the saying goes, and relax and enjoy the scenery."

Cre'at frowned slightly Macfadyans statement was at odds with his own memory, but perhaps he hadn't mention Catharcerous because it was outside the human's remit.

Curtis growled deeply in his throat. He had found Macfadyan to be a thorn in his side the first time he had encountered him and his impression of the Time Lord had not improved in the slightest. He found Macfadyan to be pompous, over-bearing and too fond of blowing his own trumpet far too much of the time. The Time Lord was also fond of taking the credit where it should have been given to others. The sour taste that was present in his mouth when he first encountered Macfadyan was starting to creep back.

"Continue,..."Was all he managed to say. Any more provocation and he would have given Macfadyan a good tongue-lashing and would have told him what he could do with his over-blown ego. The end result would have been both interesting and anatomically impressive.

"As I was saying, my good fellow, my TARDIS, old and rickety as she is, detected a temporal distortion emanating nearby to this place and time, one previously unencountered by my fellow Time Lords, and it piqued mine and the TARDIS' curiosity enough that we should stop and take a look."

Both Blanche and Cre'at both turned around in surprise. Macfadyan had said nothing of this when they had set their original course for a holiday planet.

"'Ere, Bucky. I thought you said that we were going for a spot of rest and recuperation. You never said that that you were dragging us into another scrape!" said Blanche indignantly.

* I find your concealment of the true meaning of our course and destination to be somewhat alarming. This statement is somewhat inaccurate. As we Sot'ms are incapable of emotion, I can only say that I am slightly disconcerted that you chose to conceal our true destination from us. * Said Cre'at. Somewhere within the Sot'ms interior structure came a slight grinding noise indicating that it was having difficulty in comprehending the situation and neural pathways in its processing unit were coming into conflict.

The Buccaneer dismissed their protestations away with a casual wave of his hand and said:

"Something like this cannot be ignored. We have all seen the artefact that was unearthed at the site and I would like to go back there and examine it further. The technology, although belonging to a definite race and time line, is indeterminate in its structure and function. This has made me curious and I wish to find out more."

"Very well." said Curtis. "However I must remind you that the site in question is of a highly contentious nature given the nature of the artifact and both of the predominant religions in this city laying claim to it as one of their holy relics. This is understandable given the obscure origins of it and the circumstances with which it has appeared in this city. I will accompany you along with a small detail of my men so you can examine it at your leisure. My men are provided for your protection, as you will understand."

"That is all I ask, Captain, and it is very gracious of you" Curtis could hear the sarcasm in Macfadyan's voice. ."If we are finished here, then we should go to the excavation site without anymore delay." the Time Lord continued.

***

The sun was just starting to set as they made their way from the provincial UNIT headquarters to the site. Upon reaching the site, they all noticed that there was a small crowd gathered around the edges of the site. The mood was unsettling as many members of the crowd were shouting abuse at each of the opposing religious denominations. Egyptian locals, clad in robes and headscarves, were catcalling at members at of the Orthodox Jewish community, who for the most part, endured the comments stoically whilst reading from the Talmud and nodding their heads in prayer. A few of the younger members of the Jewish community were shouting back at their Arabic counterparts in Hebrew and gesturing offensively. The UNIT officers who were stationed around the edge of the site looked uneasy and were clutching their rifles nervously. In short, the situation was akin to a powder keg waiting for a match to be applied. Looking at the locals, listening briefly to them and feeling the atmosphere, Macfadyan's face contorted into a sneer. Idiots, he thought. All that fighting over religion and that inability to let go the past and try to build a new, safer world for their offspring. Pathetic. I have no time for primitive killers. And he turned his back. It never even occurred to him that turning one's back on a situation like this was to make one almost as guilty as the killers he despised.

Climbing down into the trench where the object was first uncovered, Macfadyan squatted down and peered closely at the orb. It was approximately the size and shape of a football, metallic in appearance with a few small indentations and markings of an unknown nature scribed into the surface of it. There were no switches or any other signs of how to activate it on its surface.

Macfadyan straightened up and rubbed at his chin thoughtfully.

"Well, it is definitely Keldian in design but as to its purpose, I am at a loss to explain. I am familiar with most of their technology and they are simply not geared to any thing militaristic. They are a pacifist culture and only use technology to further their own well-being. In short, Crumbly..."

"That's Curtis!" the soldier snapped irritably.

"...I am at a........... loss to explain."

Blanche was looking around her nervously. In the short time that they had been examining the artefact, the mood of the crowd had grown decidedly uglier. The shouting had escalated and there were signs of pushing and jostling in the crowd. As they watched, the jostling progressed at an alarming speed until blows were exchanged. The UNIT officers stationed at the edges of the crowd started shouting orders to try and quell the unrest but to no avail. In a moment, the unruly crowd were exchanging blows and the situation threatened to turn into a full-scale riot... and somewhere amongst the mob, someone picked up a small rock and threw it...

Seeing the rock arcing gracefully through the air Macfadyan razed his arm to deflect it, but he was too slow. The rock bounced of his arm and rolled up his temple.

Macfadyan fell.

***

It felt like he was falling through the earth, tumbling end over end, a tunnel of stars streaked by. Then he shot out in to deep space, floating there with no up or down, his brain started to work at double time 'this is not real some form of mental link, a vision, hallucination? What ever it was, time to wake up now, wake up now! WAKE UP NOW!!'

The pattern of the stars in which he floated were intimately familiar to him but they escaped his memory. Suddenly space heaved and swirled, then ripped asunder as a wormhole opened in front of him and a flotilla of ships poured out of the gap. The wormhole then collapsed behind the last ship but instead of vanishing it seemed to collapse into the last ship. Macfadyan spun round with the ships and followed them down to a broken planet. By the time he reached it, some of the vessels had landed. Time had passed mechanical diggers were out in force and the strip mining of the planet was well underway. Focusing in on what was obviously the command ship he dived ghost like through the bulkhead, down a corridor and through three walls. In to a cabin that appeared to belong to the Captain, a large bull necked aggressive man, who was watching a holographic representation of a thin angular faced man with a goatee beard and a light scattering of grey at the temples,

"Adh Seidh answer me".

The man looked up disinterestedly and a car sales man's smile splashed a crossed his features

"Why my dear Executor Reeve! Just as I was getting settled in, up you pop with your florid face to stop me from getting too complacent. To what do I owe the pleasure of this manifestation in my humble abode?"

Before Macfadyan could hear the aggravated reply he was of again speeding through metal, rock and land. Before him stood a great escarpment, a massive mountainous rock slammed down in the middle of the craggy plane; diving through it he got the sense of worship and devotion. The centuries of chanting and incantation hung heavy in the air. He plunged in to the main chamber, surrounded by gold tapestries, cushions and quilted rugs. In front of him stood an all female congregation in saffron robes of yellow, orange, red and gold, every where there was a flame motif. On the high chair sat a handsomely attractive woman, whose countenance seamed much older than her years.

Blanche was hovering around the edge of the natural coven fingering the gold weave of some of the tapestries that hung on the walls, Cre'at floated near the floor with Curtis who was seated on one of the cushions, who was looking around himself in polite interest. Macfadyan was seated on one of the purple cushions directly in front of the centre chair. In a most strange way he dived in to his own head, it was like being a passenger in his own mind.

There was a definite feeling of hostility in the air, like the time he want to the Spanish court with the English ambassador, just before the Spanish Armada attacked

The high priestess leaned forward in her chair

"We no longer smash ships as the other Time Lord asked. People are here now, not many but some. They leave us alone, but give us respect. Then ye kind came, he brings with him humans, who are grey of mind and have greed in their bellies. They come to pillage and rape our planet. You Will have them removed!"

"ME! Why me?"

"Because it is one of ye kind, ye share the responsibility as much as if it was your own"!

"Now look just because this interloper happens to be a Time lord doesn't..."

"SILENCE! It has been decided!"

He surged to his feet; it was one of the few times that he understood the term towering rage

"NOW JUST ONE MOMENT MADAM!! Do you have any comprehension with whom you are dealing with! Do you know who I am?"

The priestess sat bolt upright and gazed in to the middle distance

"Ye are the butterfly before the storm, the Father of sin, Grandfather to Paradox, Lord of the Flies, Holder of the Sword Sinister. The sins of those that come after can be laid at your door because it is ye they are trying to emulate. Ye are the first link in the end of days and the last chance to stop it. Magus! Warlock! Judder Man! Ye are the path to hell. Destiny's wish! Time's curse! Death's Champion!"

Macfadyan fell to his knees in Jerusalem.

Blanche saw Macfadyan stagger for a moment as the rock glanced off of his skull. He slumped to his knees and clutched at his head. Rushing over to him, periodically punching or kneeing someone to gain access to the ailing Time Lord, she reached his side and crouched down beside him, an anxious look on her face. Cre'at joined them a moment later. Hiss face was only capable of limited expression but he had a look of consternation and concern on his metallic features.

"'Ere, Bucky. Are you all right?? Are you okay??"

The Buccaneer straightened up to his full height. An almost alien look crossed over his face which made Blanche take a step back in surprise and fright. He touched the side of his head in disbelief and bellowed:

"NO, BLANCHE!! I AM NOT ALRIGHT!!!"

"Bucky...?" Blanche said, in a voice, which was a cross between a whisper and a whimper.

"HOW DARE THEY!!? HOW DARE THEY!!!?LOOK AT THEM!!TELL ME, WHAT DO YOU SEE??"

His voice had a raw, ragged edge to it and the mischievous light that was normally present in his eyes was gone, to be replaced by something that hovered just this side of sanity...

"I'LL TELL YOU WHAT I SEE...A BUNCH OF SEMI-EVOLVED HUMANOIDS.THEIR HEARTS SET ON THE STARS AND THEIR BRAINS STILL STUCK IN THE PRIMORDIAL SOUP!!I HAVE SAVED THIS MISERABLE BACKWATER PLANET NUMEROUS TIMES FROM DESTRUCTION OR FALLING INTO THE HANDS OF ALIEN POWERS AND THIS IS HOW THEY REPAY ME!!"

He ranted at Blanche, Cre'at and nobody in particular.

"THEY STUMBLE BLINDLY THROUGH THEIR LIVES WITHOUT GIVING HEED TO WHAT LIES BEYOND THEIR IMMEDIATE EXISTENCE,UNAWARE OF WHAT LIES OUT THERE,WAITING TO TAKE THEIR LIBERTY,OR EVEN WORSE,THEIR LIVES AWAY. I HAVE THE POWER AT MY COMMAND TO CONSIGN THIS PLANET TO THE SAME FATE AS CATHARCEROUS;A JUMBLED HEAP OF MOLTEN SLAG AND ROCKS TUMBLING AROUND THE ORBIT THAT A PLANET USED TO OCCUPY!! AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME,I WOULD GLADLY SEND THIS PLANET TO THE SAME FATE AND YET I STILL STRIVE TO PROTECT THESE IGNORANT AND MENTALLY STUNTED BARBARIANS FOR REASONS I CANNOT DEFINE OR EXPLAIN!!!"

"Listen, Bucky, why don't you come back to the TARDIS wiv us, put your feet up and relax for a while??" pleaded Blanche, tears were forming at the corners of her eyes as she tugged at his sleeve in a futile attempt for him to see sense and to seek the shelter and security of his ship." We've 'ad a few tough times recently so please, come back wiv me an' Cre'at so we can talk about it."

He angrily shook away her hand and said:

"No, Blanche. Leave me alone. I wish to be on my own for a while!"

Blanche and Cre'at could only look on as Macfadyan half ran, half stumbled, with tears in his eyes and his throat constricting in anguish, pausing only long enough to fell a passer-by who had accidentally got in his way with a single blow. Through the twilight streets, running away from something he could not see and something he could not escape...

There was one other person who had witnessed the outburst that Macfadyan had unleashed. The rioters had been quelled and were being sent on their way and Colin Curtis, Captain in the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce, stood in the middle of a deserted Jerusalem street, a heavy frown creasing his features...

Part Three - "You're In The Army Now."

Chapter Three - Any Portal in a Storm

Night had fallen over Jerusalem. The rioters who had occupied the area surrounding the excavation site had been dispersed, or had been taken into custody for a few hours before being sent on their way with a formal caution and,for the moment, all was quiet. The heat of the day had subsided, thanks to the breezes that blew in from the desert and it was another cool evening. Overhead, the stars looked down and shone in a sky unblemished by clouds. Off to one side of the excavation site, two UNIT soldiers had taken advantage of the quiet moment presented to them and were having a well-earned cigarette break. They were both hunkered down on a rock that jutted out of the sand and were indulging in light-hearted conversation and swapping dirty jokes and off-colour stories. Both their heads snapped around as they hear a soft but unidentifiable noise commence behind them. Grabbing at their rifles that lay on the ground in front of them, they made their cautious way over to the edge or the pit that delineated the excavation site. What they saw made them almost drop their firearms. The artefact that was due to be excavated fully the following day was emitting an unearthly ethereal glow. As the two UNIT soldiers looked on in stunned disbelief, the artefact began to punch a hole through our reality to somewhere... and somewhen else...

***

Blanche sat and stared into space in one of the chairs dotted around the main control room of the TARDIS. She had been like that for the best part of two hours. She had long since finished crying and sat there, rocking gently while she had her arms wrapped around her knees.

Unfamiliar with a situation like this, Cre'at had tried to comfort the girl but was at a loss as to what to do.

"I've never seen 'im like that before. It was as though the old Bucky 'ad gone and there was somethin' 'orrible in his place. I've bin scared before but never like this." she whispered.

* I, too, share your concern. His behaviour in that instant was abberant, to put it mildly. His last regeneration was traumatic and he may still be showing after-effects, even now. It is something I must ponder upon... * The Sot'm lapsed into a contemplative silence.

"'Is eyes. It looked like there was a wild animal in there, about to escape." said Blanche." 'E might be a pompous prig at times but he looked like 'e was going mad back there!" She sniffled.

At that moment, there was a loud banging at the main doors of the TARDIS. Blanche jumped and Cre'at turned around to see what was up. From behind the door, there came a muffled voice, shouting urgently:

"Miss Simmonds! Cre'at! If either of you are in there, please open the door. Captain Curtis has sent me to find you and get you to help us. A...situation...has developed and you are the people best qualified to help us! Please, if you are in there, please, open the door!"

Blanche wiped at her reddened eyes and walked to the door. Upon opening it, a private dressed in UNIT fatigues rushed in. Looking over his shoulder as he entered, Blanche saw a column of soldier's quick timing past, supported by numerous military vehicles and troop carriers setting off to a destination that she could not see. She could also see that a strong wind was starting to be whipped up by an unknown source. Sand was being blown in through the open TARDIS doors that scoured the skin on her face and whirled around in mini dust storms around outside the doors.

The soldier, who had performed the perfect double take at the interior of the Ship, straightened up, saluted briskly and said:

"Private James Henderson, attached to UNIT Special Forces for the Middle Eastern region. Is the person known as Macfadyan present? We need his help urgently!"

Closing the doors behind her and brushing sand from her clothing, Blanche replied: "No, we ain't seen Macfadyan for at least a couple hours.' E was in a right state when he was at the excavation site. I thought 'e was going to break down or commit murder, judging by the look on his face."

Cre'at floated over and said:

* I have been tracking his whereabouts using the equipment on the TARDIS and have pinned down his location to somewhere near the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. I cannot determine his position any further as his bio-signs seem to be 'out of phase' and shifting in and out of this time line. I am at a loss to explain and I would deduct from the information available that he is in a place where there is a high degree of temporal flux. *

The UNIT soldier gawped at Cre'at for a moment, slightly wondering how a two foot high oil drum with metallic humanoid features, moving mouth parts and extendible arms could hold itself supported in mid-air without any visible means.

"With your knowledge of other worldly technologies, you will be of help to us. Please, come with me, as we need your help. There is a crisis of extreme magnitude forming and with your expertise in alien encounters and technology, you are needed." Henderson said desperately to Cre'at and Blanche.

***

They exited out of the TARDIS into a howling wind that enveloped them and swirled around their bodies. Almost blinded by the sand that was whipped up, they had to hold onto each other's sleeves or coats so they did not lose sight of each other as visibility was reduced to about 5 metres. Shouting over the din that the wind made, Blanche shouted:

" 'Enderson, where are we going??"

"To the excavation site. That is where the nexus of the disturbance is!"

"Woss a 'nexus'?" said Blanche

"You'll see..." said Henderson grimly.

Curtis was at the scene, his features set in a scowl as he directed men and munitions to selected areas around the outside edge of the site. "Glad to see that you could make it, I wouldn't want you to miss out on this little spectacle. Where is Macfadyan? I gave you express orders to locate him, Henderson!"

"He cannot be located, sir. He went missing a few hours ago and despite numerous searches, cannot be located in this area."

"Damn the man! As much as it pains me to say so, I could do with his help right now. Now, Miss Simmonds, Cre'at," Curtis said with an expansive wave of his arm, "You will see the scale of the dilemma we are all facing now!"

They followed the direction that his arm was pointed in and caught their breath. In Cre'ats case the saying was purely subjective as he did not need lungs to respire but what it and Blanche saw made them look on in awe and horror.

The alien artefact that until an hour or so ago had been quiescent in its resting place in the sand was ablaze with an unearthly and almost blinding glow. Approximately 20 feet in front of it, the air had puckered, expanded and was forming into a swirling vortex about 20 feet in diameter. Sand and small objects were drawn towards it to be caught in its grasp to circle around the nexus of this unearthly sight. At the eye of the storm was a circle or sphere, approximately 10 feet in diameter. It was hard to tell if it was a solid object, an opening or something else as it seemed to absorb all the remaining light around it and hurt the eyes of the onlooker if they looked at it for too long. The sphere or opening was black...pitch black in colour and suggested the depths of infinite space and held back a vacuum that threatened to engulf them all.

"What on Earth is it?" Blanche shouted to Curtis, who was shielding his eyes from the sand that was whipping around and blowing into their eyes.

"No, it is not on Earth, Miss Simmonds, I have been briefed about this before. It is a spatio-temporal rift. Something is on the other side and it wants to get through to this time and place!! Whether it is friendly or hostile, I cannot tell."

Cre'at hovered over to where they were standing. The Sot'm was having difficulty in maintaining its position in mid air and both Curtis and Blanche could hear the Sot'ms internal gyroscopes whining as it tried to maintain its equilibrium.

* According to my internal sensors, I am detecting multiple life-signs on the other side of the opening. I am also detecting an object which I believe is a twin to the artefact we see before us. It is still slightly out of phase with our space-time coordinates but I am led to believe it and whatever life forms are with it are slowly converging and will occupy our space-time in a matter of minutes. If I may use an analogy with which you are familiar, the object in the pit is like a reel, pulling a bubble of space-time and whatever is contained within it towards itself. The two will merge very shortly. I would exercise extreme caution. *

As they looked up the opening had lost its aura of blackness and what taken on a dull glow. In side they could see the vague outlines of humanoid figures moving about, in what seemed to the observers, a state of anticipation. Curtis looked decidedly uneasy and shouted orders to his men to take up defensive positions on all sides of the opening.

At that moment, the artefact in the pit emitted a shrill whine and enveloped the surrounding area in a brilliant green-white glow. The opening lost some of its opaque appearance and the life forms inside could clearly be seen.

"Stand by, men, they're coming through!!" bellowed Curtis. His words were whipped away by the wind so he reached for a loud hailer and repeated the order.

There was a soundless explosion of light as the two sections of reality met and the first of the invaders came through, particle and energy weapons blazing furiously. The reply from the UNIT troopers was bursts from semi-automatic machine guns and hand-grenades thrown towards the interlopers. Several of the invaders fell to the concentrated bursts of machine gun fire and the others who came streaming through to take up defensive positions behind machinery which had been overturned by the gale which still howled around them.

They were squat bipeds covered in a silvery space armour. Domed helmets covered their heads and they held rod like weapons between their three, stubby fingers.

"SONTARANS!"

Chapter Four - "Take On Me"

"SONTARANS!" Blanche yelled.

It was true.

Sontarans had dared to openly invade and attempt to establish a bridgehead on this planet. Slow moving they were but they were hideously strong, somehow nimble also, they could defeat an ordinary man in hand-to-hand combat with ease. In fact, so confident were they of victory, they had even not bothered to wear their helmets, their hideous, troll-like faces, round and smooth wearing rictus grins of premature triumph.

The battle waged on, Sontarans had fallen to grenades and lay sprawled out on the sand but an alarming number of UNIT troopers had also fallen victim to the energy weapons that the enemy carried. The Sontarans body armour was tough enough to turn aside machine gun fire but they were vulnerable enough when they were hit in the exposed area of their heads.

Cautiously sidling over to Curtis who was sheltered behind the shattered hulk of what once had been a bulldozer, Blanche said:

"Curtis, listen. Somethin' Bucky told me about just came to mind. One place a Sontaran is vulnerable is a spot on their necks called a Probic Vent or summit. It's where they are hooked up to when they ain't in use, I fink. They might be strong but they are sorta stupid wiv it. You must tell your men to go hand to hand wiv these bastards and tell them to take sumfink' sharp!"

Curtis mulled over this for a moment and then called out to a section of his men who were sheltered nearby.

"Listen men, I want you all to attach bayonets, use your knives or any other thing that will puncture and cause damage. This scum has an Achilles heel. Look for a small opening at the base of their necks, just above where their armour ends. It means going hand to hand but I'm sure you are all spoiling for a good scrap!" His men growled their assent and pulled out assorted combat knives and other sharp blades they had in their equipment bags.

Suddenly Blanche let out a bestial scream and Curtis whirled around. Several feet from where they where crouched was a Sontaran, a look of fury on its distorted alien features. It was raising an energy weapon with the intention of reducing these humans to their component atoms.

"Primitive Earthers, die!" it said in its guttural voice.

Before Blanche could react further, Curtis had sprung to his feet and rushed the Sontaran. It raised its arm in an attempt to block the 8-inch long combat knife that came whistling down towards it. Its arm was knocked aside as Curtis drove his knee into the creature's midsection. The move surprised the clone warrior and it grunted in pain and doubled over and as it did, Curtis grabbed it in a headlock around its thick neck and drove his knife into the small opening in the base of its neck. The Sontaran gave voice to a bubbling hiss and collapsed on the ground in front of Curtis, dead before it touched the ground.

Curtis looked at the lifeless corpse of the Sontaran and said:

"That his how you do it men, are you up for it?!" As one person, the remaining UNIT troopers rose to their feet and rushed the surviving Sontarans, howling war cries and seeking to avenge their fallen comrades.

The Sontarans were taken aback by the sudden change in circumstances. One moment, they had the Humans pinned down and taking shelter and the next, seeing them rushing towards them, howling like Banshees and seeking to send them to oblivion. A few of the onrushing soldiers were cut down by meson blaster fire but before they knew it, the Sontarans were grappling desperately with enraged UNIT soldiers who had seen too many of their friends and colleagues perish.

While this battle was raging, Curtis shouted over to Cre'at who was hovering nearby and cheerfully shooting with his head cannon at any Sontarans that came near:

"Can you do anything to disable the device? If we can sever their lifeline to the other end of the nexus, we will have a fighting chance. What can you do?"

* I will have to inspect the device further in order to ascertain a means of disabling it. I will need covering fire as Sontaran energy weapons are capable of penetrating my outer casing. As this technology is relatively new to me, I cannot guarantee a successful conclusion. *

"Very well." Turning to Blanche, he handed her his side arm and said: "Right, Miss Simmonds, you are going to have give cover while Cre'at and myself head out to look at the alien device." Clicking off the safety, he handed the pistol to her and said: "Just remember, point and shoot this at anything who isn't Human and looks like they fell out of the Ugly Tree and hit all the branches on the way down."

Blanche gave him a mock salute and with a wry smile on her face said:

"Don't worry, Captain Crumbly..."

"That's Curtis..." He said resignedly

"I'll nail the bastards good and proper, I like a good scrap and this reminds me a lot of the fights in the back-streets of Victorian London between my gang and the other mobs that used to pickpocket over in Cheapside. I wos a dab 'and with a cut-throat razor..."

"Then rest assured, you will have plenty of opportunities to use this then. Use it wisely, Miss Simmonds!"

Crouching low to avoid the occasional bursts of energy weapons fire and machine gun blasts that still cut through the air, Curtis and Cre'at made their way over to where the device was situated. Hovering over the device, Cre'at scanned for any means of de-activating it. Daring to brave the unearthly glow that still enveloped the device, he extended its arms and cautiously touched the device. Curtis could almost see the Sot'm visibly relax and then he proceeded to carry out a manual inspection of the device.

After an eternity to Curtis but was in fact about 30 seconds, Cre'at turned to him and said:

* It is as I said, I cannot access this device through manual or scanning means. It is too well made and shielded from my sensors to access its internal systems. I will have to employ more direct means of shutting it down. I would suggest that you retire to a safe distance. *

Looking at the Sot'm for a long moment, Curtis turned away and was about to retreat back to the barricade when he felt small but strong manipulator digits grasp his sleeve.

* If I am unsuccessful, please salvage my memory core. It is impervious up to and including violent nuclear fission. If you are so disposed at some time, could you return it to the Cybernetics Function on Sotus? I am sure they will find it of some use and will learn from my recorded visual and aural records. Also, please take care of Binky..... *

Curtis choked slightly and felt himself warming to this emotionless, impassive mechanoid life form, even if the reference to "Binky" threw him slightly.

"Very well, I will see what I can do..."

Turning back to the device, Cre'at simply said:

* Go... *

Running back to where Blanche was sheltering, he enquired:

"How does the battle go for you, Miss Simmonds?"

"Bleedin' things. They might be slow and stupid but some of them are still smart enough to dodge a bullet. Got three of the buggers and winged two but they are so dim, they just keep wanderin' around looking for somethin' to shoot at! You know, I don't fink they take you seriously, I mean, normally, Sontaran troopers are crafty little gits, or so Bucky says. He hates Sontarans.Always goes a funny colour when they're mentioned....."

"We might have bigger things to worry about in a minute. Take a look over there..."

What they both saw was the sight of Cre'at, having finished his inspection of the artefact, hovering back about twenty feet and several feet up in the air. Bolts of energy weapons glanced off of his external plating and some almost burned through to the Sot'ms internal systems, causing him to dip alarmingly in midair as he rerouted internal power to crucial systems and considered what to do next.

Even over the roar of the vortex, they could hear the Sot'm charge up his head cannon. A moment later, a brilliant beam of coherent and devastating energy shot from the muzzle of the weapon. Blinding in its intensity, the energy beam made contact with the alien orb and splashed over it in a dazzling display of pyrotechnics. The device emitted a high-pitched whine and the aura surrounding it flickered momentarily. The beam flickered out and Cre'at looked visibly drained of energy.

* Even my most powerful burst of energy is proving to be difficult to penetrate the devices outer casing. I shall endeavour to keep a more sustained burst on the sphere. *

Again, an instant later, another beam of coruscating energy played over the surface of the device.10 then 20 seconds later, Blanche shouted:

"Look at the opening! Somethin's 'appenin' to it!"

All gazes, Human and Sontaran, looked in the direction of the conduit.

Even to the untrained eye, it was apparent that the orb was about to start a swift and very violent demise. The glow surrounding the opening had started to flicker and the howling wind had picked up in intensity. Cre'at continued to play the energy beam on the artefact, and then all of a sudden, the gusts of wind began to change direction and started to draw objects toward itself at an alarming rate. There was an almighty rush of displaced air and the blinding glow of the opening winked out of existence, to be replaced by the complete blackness of interdimensional space .The volume of the wind increased to a deafening roar as any object; Sontaran, Human or inanimate object was pulled towards the rent in reality.

Summoning up every last erg of energy left in its internal power systems, the Sot'm played one final blast of firepower over the artefact. The result was instantaneous and deadly. The opening contracted at an alarming rate but also intensified in its strength. Several Sontarans, caught in the grip of the vacuum, tried to grasp at any unyielding object in order to delay the inevitable, but to no avail. Their limbs flailing as they were pulled through the air, they were sucked through the swiftly closing conduit into a horrible death, suffocating in the limitless depths of the starless and never-ending space between the dimensions....

Curtis, half-blinded by the swirling sand and the still-blinding glow of the conduit, took one last look at it before it shrank into nothingness. His mind could have been playing tricks on him but he swore he could have seen several figures, standing just inside the closing aperture. Tall and impassive they stood with their arms crossed, their features and bodies hidden by long flowing monk-like robes and their faces hidden by hoods, seemingly impervious to and unaware of the maelstrom that was enveloping the world outside. Before he could take stock of the unearthly sight presented to him, there was an almighty boom as the conduit finally collapsed, leaving in its wake, a silence that was almost as deafening as the hurricane like winds that had been swirling around only moments before.

The remaining Sontarans, caught by surprise at the events that had just unfolded, realised that the day was lost and lay down their arms in a collective gesture of surrender. It was then that they were surrounded by the surviving UNIT soldiers who took them into custody for questioning.

Curtis turned around to scan what was left of his battalion and said: "Gentlemen, I want that orb taken into custody and try to get a trick cyclist to test these chaps. Also...."

He was interrupted suddenly by a muffled clang as something heavy hit the sand. Turning around, Blanche and Curtis saw the immobile form of Cre'at lying on the sand 20 feet away from them. Rushing over to the stricken Sot'm. They both kneeled over Cre'at. The glow that normally lit up the Sot'ms visual receptors was absent and a thin plume of smoke drifted up into the air from the muzzle of the head cannon that had wrought so much devastation minutes earlier. To all intents and purposes, the Sot'm was permanently deactivated...

Crouching over the inanimate alien, tears streaming from her eyes, Blanche sobbed: "Cre'at, you stupid lump of metal, come back to us! I know I took the mickey out of you an' called you 'Mr. Balloon'. Life won't be the same without you and you even managed to hold Bucky in check. Who will I have to take the piss out of now?! Bucky can be so thick skinned and to all intents and purposes, have 'is head stuck up 'is own behind, the silly bleeder wouldn't even notice...."

Curtis could only stand back a few feet and observe the scene in silence. The creature he had only known for a few short days; both here in Jerusalem and months back on the Channel Island of Jersey months ago had willingly sacrificed himself to save a race of bipedal mammalian organics that he only had a clinical and distracted interest in. He vowed that he would carry out the wishes of the Sot'm by any means he could.

He looked at Blanche and saw that she had curled her small hands into fists and was hitting the lifeless Sot'm on its metallic casing in an agony of anguish and despair.

"You stupid bloody thing. What am I goin' to do now? Left on the TARDIS with a stupid, pompous prig of a Timelord for company? I won't survive a bleedin' day!!"

Suddenly she drew back with a small gasp as the Sot'ms visual receptors lit up and it floated of off the sand to hover unsteadily in mid-air.

* There is no need for cardiac massage, Blanche, as I do not possess a circulatory system. However I do appreciate the sentiments you have just expressed.... *

***

With the smoke of the battle clearing clean-up squads and medical team moved in to the area, checking bodies, administering fist aid, last rights or just tagging and bagging for burial detail. The Medic laid the cold hand a crossed the bodies chest

"No pulse looks like a civi, caught one of those laser pistol blasts in the face, the Captains going to go spear! Mark him down and lets move on."

His companion made a non-committal grunt and the two moved on in their grizzly task.

The body lay there undisturbed for about fifteen minuets, then there was a great gasp of air and the man with the burnt and ruined face sat bolt upright. Looking around him he quickly grabbed a flap of dead skin from under his chin and pulled.

With slight elasticity his blood smeared face snapped off to revile the features of Adh Seidh. Getting up he produced a bottle of water and a cloth, and as he walked quickly down the street he proceeded to wipe off the last of the latex, spirit gum and tomato sauce. Reaching a curtained alcove he produced a key unlocking the curtain he pulled it back and stepped in to the inky blackness of the alcove, his voice echoing out

"Hallo who have you been nattering to?"

The curtain slid closed of its own accord, then a whiring, chuffing noise mingled with a discordant, electronic bleeping started. The alcove and curtain faded into the blank wall.

***

Curtis sat and stared into space as he considered the events of the past few hours. He was back in his office, seated at his desk. Only the desk lamp positioned nearby illuminated the room. His face was streaked with sweat and grime and his uniform was caked in perspiration, dirt and Sontaran blood. His body ached all over and his attention kept wandering to various cuts and abrasions that covered his body. All these things were of secondary importance compared to what was going around in his head. His reverie was interrupted when there was a light tapping on the door.

"Come in."

The door opened and Henderson limped in. His left leg was heavily bandaged and he was trying not to drag it too much as he walked. One of the Sontarans had winged him with an energy weapon and as a result he had second-degree burns to his calf and foot. He was, however, satisfied that the creature who had inflicted this injury was now suffering a horrific fate in interdimensional space.

"Take a seat, James. Well, tell me the good news an the bad news."

Henderson slid a thin folder of papers over the desk towards Curtis and said:

"Well sir. The good news is that the prisoners are proving very cooperative to questioning and we have been able to glean quite a substantial amount of information out of them - all of it practically useless. The shrinks say they have the intelligence of children, sir. Their High Command obviously didn't expect us to put up any resistance. The one Sontaran that did show a bit of nouse killed itself - we're still not sure how. We think he might have been some kind of officer or NCO. All of which will be sent on to UNIT Headquarters for further action. The excavations site has been looked over and has been pronounced clear of any kind of contamination; biological, viral or radiological. The Keldian sphere and the fragments of its twin we were able to locate have been passed on to the relevant authorities."

"...And the bad news...."

Henderson drew a heavy breath and said:

"During last nights engagement, we lost a total of 17 men, most of whom were casualties caused by energy weapons fire. We lost 3 men during hand to hand skirmishes and another 4 men were lost when the spatial-temporal rift closed and should therefore be deemed as missing in action..."

Curtis open the folder and looked at the pictures and profiles of the men who lost their lives in the attack last night

." Most of them were just fresh out of training, eager to see a bit of the world and they thought this would look good on their CV. Join the Army, see interesting countries, meet interesting people and get killed by genetically cloned aliens..." he bitterly thought. "Why did Earth have to attract the wrong sort of person?" he wondered to himself. As soon as that thought crossed his mind, he knew what he had to do and who to inform.

"Thank you James. You are dismissed. Go and put your feet up and pass on my congratulations on to the rest of the men. I have things I need to do here and I need to do it while it is still fresh in my mind."

"Very well, sir. Oh and Colin..."

Curtis looked up suddenly. It was very rare that Henderson addressed Curtis by his first name.

"Yes, James. What is it?"

"Nothing really Sir. It was just the way you dispatched that Sontaran earlier .It couldn't have been done by a lesser man. I suppose me and the lads just want to say thanks..."

Curtis felt his face redden and he said gruffly to try and hide his embarrassment:

"Any man would have done the same thing in a situation like that, given the proper training..."

"Understood, Sir. Goodnight" Henderson said, trying to hide the smile that came into his voice.

After Henderson had left, Curtis thought for a while longer and decided that the plan of action he had decided on was the right one. He switched on the computer situated on his desk and he sat before it. He steeple his fingers and, his face lit by the glow from the visual display unit, began to type....

***

Blanche lounged at ease in one of the many chairs dotted around the main control room of the Tardis. She had her feet curled up underneath her and was sipping at a cup of tea while reading a magazine. By her side was a large box of chocolates from which she idly selected one from time to time and popped it into her mouth. Considering the scenes of destruction and slaughter she had seen a couple of days ago, she was calm and composed, having been witness to and a participant in street fights, albeit on a less advanced and technological level, back in her home time. People get killed every day, she mused, but the Sontarans were the bad guys and had to be gotten rid of. She could sometimes only see such things in clear shades of black and white and that had seen her through many difficult times, both in Victorian London and on her travels with the Buccaneer. She was pragmatic in that respect and couldn't understand why Macfadyan what to stand back and look at all sides of a situation. She already had a foresight of what it was doing to Macfadyan's mental state and wanted to keep such thinking at arms length.

She looked up at that moment to see Cre'at come gliding into the control room. The mechanoid had been busy and Blanche had rarely seen the creature for the last couple of days as he had been occupied with recharging his almost depleted power cells and making repairs to his internal systems and outer metallic carapace.

* There is still no sign of Macfadyan? * Cre'at asked of Blanche

"No, it 'as been a few days since our run-in with the Sontarans and there is still no sign of 'im. I am wonderin' what we are to do. One option is that we stay put and get some 'elp from UNIT as to what we can do; the second is to wait for Bucky and see if he turns up. Another option is for you to try and pilot the TARDIS out of 'ere. As to where we should go, I'm buggered if I know....One choice is for me to go back to Victorian London an' for you to go home to Sotus."

The Sot'm, if he had been capable, would have sighed regretfully.

* Unfortunately, it is a little harder than that. I am privy to most of the functions of the TARDIS but some are beyond my capability. Besides, Macfadyan can be somewhat overzealous in guarding some of the more important functions from me. This is understandable given the fact that time technology is a closely guarded secret known only to the Council of Timelords and the Guild of Engineers back on Gallifrey. I would be able to shift the TARDIS out into the vortex but I am unable to calculate spatial-temporal coordinates and implement them. In essence, we would be out in mid-stream with no way of getting to the shore, to use a metaphor *

"That stupid sod, Macfadyan!" Blanche shouted and banged her fist on the arm of the chair." 'e goes wanderin' off after almost scarin' the crap out of us all and leaves us marooned 'ere! If 'e were 'ere now, I would pull the silly bleeders beard out,' air by 'air and then I would get really angry...."She lapsed into a sullen silence.

* I share your sentiments, Miss Simmonds. Macfadyan has been rather remiss in his attitude towards us. He has a responsibility towards us and ,despite his blusterings, knows he is indebted to us for saving his life and getting him out of awkward situations on more than one occasion. He cannot remain absent for much longer as he needs this ship. Correct me if I am wrong but he has an innate sense of wanderlust and needs this ship to slake his thirst for exploration. *

"'avin ' a sense of wander-wotever it was is one thing but to go off in a bleedin' huff is another thing entirely. If that daft sod were to come through that door now, I would give 'I'm a great sloppy kiss on that stupid bearded face of 'is, ask 'I'm where he 'ad been for the past few days and only then I would kick 'is balls up into 'is 'ead!"

Blanche was interrupted in her rant by a loud knocking at the TARDIS doors.

Looking at each other, wondering who could possibly be disturbing them, Blanche uncurled herself from the chair and went to the main doors. Upon opening them, she was presented by the sight of Macfadyan standing there. He was covered in a thin coating of sand and his clothes bore signs of a long sojourn somewhere. His face was dirty and had a faraway expression on it.

"Bucky?" said Blanche almost enquiringly.

Macfadyan looked at Blanche in a rather distracted manner as though for a few moments he did not recognise her, licked his lips nervously and then said:

" I misplaced my key, child. Must be here somewhere...." he absently patted his pockets

Blanche got hold of Macfadyan's hand and gently led him into the main control room.

"Where the hell 'ave you been, huh? Me and Mr balloon was worried, we were........'Ere, are you ok?"

Upon entering the control room, Macfadyan had slumped down in the armchair that Blanche had been previously occupying. He looked around his surroundings as though he had been away for months.

"You stay there, Bucky, I'll get you somethin' to drink." said Blanche

As she made her way out of the control room, Cre'at floated in front of her.

* Shall I tell him what you plan to do or shall I? * said Cre'at, with a mischievous smile on his face...

***

Captain Colin Curtis looked out of the window of his office down onto the street below. Below him was the sight of everyday life being paraded before his gaze. Street traders were setting up their stalls and relishing the thought of selling statuettes of Egyptian gods and other souvenirs to the tourists that were starting to appear.

One trader had come out of his shop to engage in conversation with a party of English tourists, fresh from a scuba-diving holiday out in the Red Sea and up in Jerusalem for a couple of days to de-gas before flying home to England, judging by the amount of t-shirts they were wearing depicting diving companies and operators that were prevalent around the northern reaches of the Red Sea.

Moving in on one of the party who had made the mistake of stopping to look in the window of his shop, he said to the individual, a tall, heavily built man in his late thirties with rapidly thinning dark brown hair concealed beneath an 'Emperor Divers' baseball cap and dressed in a white t-shirt and shorts.

"Inside, you will find many bargains, sir. Come inside and we will see what we can do for you..."

The tall Englishman, taken aback by the openness of the trader, followed him into the shop, pausing long enough to say to the rest of his party:

"I'll catch up with you guys in a bit."

The rest of the party cackled with glee. Most of them had been out to this neck of the woods before and were only too aware of the predatory nature of the shop-traders when it came to the unwary tourist.

"You got to hand it to them, they know how to make the unsuspecting part with their money..."Curtis thought idly to himself.

He sat himself down at his desk, looking at the ever-present pile of paperwork stacked neatly on his desk waiting to opened and the appropriate action sought. and marshalled his thoughts. There was a tapping at the door and a UNIT courier strode in. Under his arm there was a plain brown A4 envelope and he managed to catch sight of an official seal on it. Signing for the document, he dismissed the courier and placed it on his desk. On the envelope was stamped the words: Top clearance documents, for receiver's eyes-only. Drawing a deep breath, he tore off the seal and looked at the message contained within...

***

Attn Captain Colin Curtis, UNIT divisional commander
Northern Middle East Sector
Orders contained within:

Having received your report following the disturbance, civil unrest and extra-terrestrial incursion in Jerusalem and your prior report to activities on the British Channel Island of Jersey, we have given great consideration to what action to take following the appearance of the Gallifreyan Timelord known as Lord Macfadyan.

As you stated in your report, we too at Command HQ have grave misgivings as the errant and disturbed behaviour displayed by this individual and the threat posed to internal and external security. You have been witness to this individuals lapses of unreasonable and diminished mental and cognitive functions and we agree that a potential threat is posed to this planet if he were to remain here for long periods of time. Earth neither has the technology or the military ability to withstand or repel encroaching alien forces nor do we wish to be embroiled in a conflict between warring extra terrestrial factions .You have stated that he acts as a 'magnet' drawing unwanted alien interests to wherever he appears and we must, however, reluctantly, and after checking with our "Scientific Advisor", agree.

Your orders are as follows:

You are to be relieved of all duties pertaining to UNIT activities for your sector. A replacement officer will appointed to take over and carry on with your duties.

You will tie up any affairs you have, both monetarily and social in preparation for what you are being appointed to carry out

You are to approach the Gallifreyan Timelord and using all means possible work your way into his confidence. If successful, you will be our eyes and ears, to use a metaphor as he continues on his journeys. Gaining, and earning the trust of an individual such as he will not be an easy task but we have every confidence in your abilities.

You will also be required to keep a comprehensive journal, both noting the activities and behaviour of Macfadyan as well as logging notes of destinations you will be visiting, both temporal and extra-solar.

One last note and this is to be carried out to the letter:

If for any reason, you suspect that Macfadyan is continuing to display errant behaviour and you deem this behaviour threatening or dangerous to Earth, you are to reply with TERMINAL, repeat TERMINAL action in order to cease Macfadyan's actions.

All that remains for me to do is to wish you the best of luck in your mission. You are the best man for the job as you have been in proximity to Macfadyan for a prolonged period of time and are suitably equipped for the task that lies ahead of you. Good luck to you

Signed this day,

Brigadier Carlos Mendoza, Senior Commanding Officer, UNIT HQ

Curtis sat and stared at the document for a long time, digesting all that it contained and considering the fate that lay before him. 'The moving hand writes, and once written, moves on.' He knew what he had to do.

***

A couple of hours later, he was standing outside the exterior of Macfadyans TARDIS. He knew that device of old when he and the Buccaneer first encountered each other in Jersey. It all seemed such a long way off. Looking at the TARDIS for the first time close up, he was only too aware of the shabby state that some of the circuitry contained in the TARDIS was in. The exterior was still that of a shop that sold marital wear and appliances. Looking in the window, he saw that one of the shop-window mannequins, wearing a skimpy basque and stockings, bore more than a marked resemblance to Blanche at her most winsome and alluring.

Upon inspection of the other mannequin in the other window, this one wearing the latest line in novelty male thongs, Curtis found out that it had a striking similarity to Macfadyan. Shuddering inwardly, he composed himself and banged on the door.

A few moments later, Blanche opened the door.

"Wotcha Crumbly! 'ow are you?"

"I am fine, Miss Simmonds. Has Macfadyan turned up yet?

"Yeah, 'e reappeared a couple of days ago. Wanna come in for a cuppa?"

"That would be very kind of you. I need to speak to Macfadyan for a few moments anyway."

Following her through the doors, she and Curtis made their way to the main control room. As he stepped over the threshold into the ship proper, he had a moment of mental dislocation as a strange mental buzzing passed through his mind. It passed almost immediately and he asked of Blanche:

"What was that strange sensation I felt just now?

"Dunno, I felt it too, the first time I set foot inside the TARDIS. It only 'appened the once. Think nuthin of it..."

"Bucky! The Cap'n's 'ere to see you!"

Curtis had, amongst other things, been given documents and drawing showing him what the interior of a TARDIS looked like. However, writing and drawings could not do justice to the sight that was presented to him.

He was in a chamber, about 20 wide with a high roof supported by gothic arches. There was plush carpeting underfoot and the room was dominated by the massive and imposing hexagonal control console that was situated in the centre of the room.

Looking around further, he noted that one of the walls over the back of the control room faded into a waterfall, tumbling gently over into a rock pool, surrounded by a woody glade. Dotted around the room were several sumptuously upholstered leather armchairs, three had cats reclining in them and a couple more had magazines strewn around them. Oddly, despite the gentle light from an unknown source, there were candles dotted around the place.

"Sorry, never 'ad much time for 'ouse-keepin'. "Blanche said with an embarrassed smile.

By the door that he had just entered through was a hat-stand. Hanging on it was a long velvet frock coat and a rather moth-eaten wide brimmed hat with a feathery plume stuck into it. Hanging on there also were a variety of umbrellas and parasols.

"Ah, Curtis there you are. Please do sit down." came a voice from beyond a dark archway.

Sitting down in the proffered armchair, he sipped on a cup of tea that Blanche brought for him.

"So, how does the world outside go? Sorry for stamping off like that. I have had a rough time recently. Saving Humanity and the universe at large. It does get to you after a while!" The Time Lord walked into the chamber, a slight smile on his face.

Curtis looked at Macfadyan for a moment. The Timelord did not appear to be showing any of the uncharacteristic behaviour that was prevalent during his stay in Jerusalem. He was to all intents and purposes, calm and relaxed, with his usual half smile playing over his bearded face.

"I will cut to the chase, Macfadyan. I am here to offer you a proposition."

"Go ahead, I'm all ears." Said Macfadyan,a mischievous smile lighting up his face as he sipped from his tea.

"During your absence, Miss Simmonds Cre'at and myself were instrumental in stopping and repelling a heavily armed attack force from coming through an extra-dimensional portal and setting up a bridge head on Earth. Heaven knows what would have happened if they had managed to succeed. The city and the surrounding areas would have been razed to the ground in a scorched earth policy so that an exclusion zone would have been established for miles around. None of our forces would have been able to approach near to their bridge-head without being detected and wiped out of existence.

"This would have only been for starters. Using the technology of the portal, they would have been able to call for more machinery and troops from their own time and place and reinforcing their position on this continent. Before humanity could band themselves together and form an organised resistance, the Sontarans would running amok amongst them. Those who are not killed outright would be put to slavery striping this planet of all its vital resources or otherwise made to pledge cringing fealty to their oppressors. A dark chapter would then unfold for humanity, one which both of us fear Humanity would never be able to free itself from.

" Therefore, I wish to offer my services to you as an advisor of sorts. I would assume that in your travels, you have come across many intelligent life-forms, both benevolent and malevolent. You will need someone there, someone with my military expertise and training to help you, should you require someone to assist you in case the situation demands some...strong-arm tactics. You are able to think or bluff your way out of a situation but sometimes, the only solution is to have a mind that can outwit and, regretfully, sometimes be stronger than them."

The Buccaneer set down his empty cup and saucer on a nearby table and sat back in his chair and steepled his fingers while he contemplated what he was about to say.

"Mr. Curtis, you present an interesting argument. Let me tell you about what I have witnessed. As you have probably been briefed during your training, we Gallifreyans are a long-lived race. You are also aware that when one physical body is mortally wounded or killed outright, we have the ability to regenerate ourselves into a new physical form. You Humans only have the one life and the one body and thus your lifespans to us are as mayflies dancing in flight over a pond on a summers day. But you should be thankful of that, you only have a limited time in which to experience and savour everything that life has to offer. Our extended lives are both a blessing and a curse. Having a lifetime measured in millennia instead of decades can lead to stagnation of a culture and an atrophying of the spirit and can lead to an ennui that only continued sensation can slake. That is one of the reasons I decided not to return to Gallifrey after.....something happened. I felt as if the conformity and ritual that governs life on my home planet had become a noose around my throat, threatening to squeeze the life out of me and that I felt to be an intolerable situation. Of course, he wouldn't have made that choice so I'm glad he did, the irritating, useless little........

"You are true in what you said, in my travels through time and space, I have fought in some of the holiest of wars and smashed some of the holiest jaws, to coin a phrase. All this I have done because I did it out of a need to fulfil the sense of altruism that resides within me. As you so eloquently stated, there are a lot of good people out there but also a lot of scum that needs to sink back into the depths from whence they crawled out of. However I must point out that I have accomplished a lot on my own and with the able assistance of people who have accompanied me on my travels and have benefited quite a few cultures along the way, without risk of blowing my own trumpet too much..."

Curtis, sensing defeat, rose to leave; "I am sorry to have troubled you. I will take my leave now. I bid you well on your travels." But before he could make his way to the TARDIS' doors was called back by a forced 'ahem' from the Buccaneer. He sat back down in front of Macfadyan, curious to hear what Macfadyan had left to say.

Clearly relishing the moment, Macfadyan said to Blanche, who was lounging in a chair nearby, engaged in conversation with Cre'at:

"Blanche, would you be useful for a change and get us some more tea, our guest might be needing it..."

Blanche sloped out of the control room muttering: "What did your last bleedin' slave die of..."

"My apologies for Blanche, she can be rather forthright and blunt in her manner of speech but her heart is in the right place. I should know, I made sure of it" he chuckled.

"What else did you want to say to me, Macfadyan? I have work to get back to and it won't go away. Make what you have to say brief and I will not trouble you any more." Curtis said in his most clipped tones.

"Well you see, it is like this, my dear Human. We all have a code of ethics and protocols that we must all adhere to. A need to believe and carry out the wishes of that is greater than ourselves. This applies to me and it also applies to you. I have a sense of fulfilling my destiny in trying to make this universe a better place and you have your sense of duty, honour and obeying your superior officers that has been drilled into you since you first enlisted with the military forces on Earth."

"Carry on..."said Curtis. A sudden sense of foreboding had suddenly came over him.

Gesturing expansively with the half-full cup of tea that threatened to splash out all over the carpet, Macfadyan continued.

Macfadyan set aside his now empty cup and saucer and leaned forward in his chair with an earnest look on his face.

"I do what I have to do because it seems right, for wont of a better term. Fate throws all manner of things at us during our brief flirtation with existence and it is down to us to deal with them as best as we can. You have been sent here for a reason. That reason has yet to disclose itself but I need you here with me for another reason that may surprise you.

"I have been around the known galaxy and numerous timelines for quite a while now and in all that time, I have never come across a race so complex, so beguiling, so infuriating, so appealing and so mystifying as Humanity. I still find them a mystery after all this time and, to be perfectly frank with you, I need your.....well, I need your..... help."

"For reasons that I still cannot fathom out, I have an inordinate fondness for the race of semi-evolved bipedal humanoids that inhabit the third planet of Sol. The Council of Timelords back on Gallifrey dismiss them as nothing of any consequence but I beg to differ with them.

"It is my honest opinion that Humanity, given the right nudge in the right direction, has a lot to offer the galaxy and could do a lot to right the wrongs that are so prevalent in it nowadays. It also has a destiny"

Macfadyan looked to find out that a plate of biscuits had been placed on the table next to his chair during the time that he and Curtis had been in discussion. He picked up the plate and offered it to Curtis.

"Ginger Snaps, your favourite, I do believe. As I was saying, your presence on this ship could be of vital importance. I need someone here to serve me, if that is the correct term to use, as an advisor. Most importantly, I need some one here to serve as my conscience. I have acted rashly in the past, or so I'm told and I need someone to temper my judgement with enough of the innate but seldom used wisdom that your planet has yet to offer. You have had some fleeting experience with it as your mind is disciplined and organised enough to comprehend what could be possibly in store. We need each other for all the right reasons. However, I must warn you, what lies ahead isn't for the faint hearted. I myself am having........problems. Something is........wrong, either with me or........I'm just not sure. Recently things have become, well, both confused and clearer, if that makes any sense So, what do you say?"

At that moment, Lord Macfadyan, former Timelord of Gallifrey thrust out his hand and offered it to Captain Colin Curtis, formerly of the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce. After a moments deliberation, he took the proffered hand and shook it.

He just never saw the crossed fingers behind the Time Lord's back........

***

The following morning was cool with a light breeze blowing just enough to stir the ever-present sand that lay about on the ground. The enveloping heat of the day would not be felt for a couple of hours yet and Curtis was grateful for that as he carried the possessions he would need for his journey through the streets of Jerusalem.

He was filled with a sense of anticipation at what lay ahead of him but his heart was heavy as well. The previous night, he had been on the phone to Jenny. He had to be guarded in what he told her and the only thing he could tell her was that the was going away on an open ended mission. The only reassurance he could offer was the cryptic remark was that 'he would be back before she knew it...'

She had accepted the news with stoicism but knew the tears would start as soon as he hung up the receiver. It had been a difficult leave taking but he fervently hoped it would not be a valediction.

He reached the Buccaneer's TARDIS and before knocking on the door, he took one last look around at the sights, smells and sounds of the planet that had raised and nurtured him.

The sun was just climbing over the assorted spires, domes, minarets and other buildings that constituted one of the most aged and historic cities of Earth. Numerous tourists, fresh from their slumbers in the Sheratons, Novotels and Marriots that dotted the city, were strolling around, eager to soak up the sights that Jerusalem had to offer. Secular Jews made their way to the Western wall to offer their prayers to Jehovah and Moslems made their way to the mosques around the city to give thanks to Allah.

"So many contrasts and yet so similar in their aims. They all seek solace from a higher source. So many rivers and yet they all lead into the same sea...If only they knew what sights I would soon be seeing, it would make this, as historic and splendid as it is, pale into insignificance. Ahead of me lie alien sights and sensations that would have the most jaded tourist or traveller selling their souls for." thought Curtis as he banged on the door of Macfadyans TARDIS

The door opened moments later and Macfadyan poked his head out.

"Ah, Crumbly, there you are! Come on in..."

Curtis was too preoccupied to correct Macfadyan as he followed him into the ship. Once they reached the Control room, Macfadyan said:

"Just put your bags over there. I managed to browbeat Blanche into preparing your quarters and you can take them along shortly once we have got underway."

Curtis sat himself down in a chair and looked on as Macfadyan busied himself as he flicked switches, fiddled with slider controls and generally made sure that the TARDIS was ready to depart.

As Macfadyan carried on with the flight preparations, Blanche and Cre'at both made their way into the Control room. Upon seeing Curtis, Blanche rushed over and wrapped her arms around him and gave him a hug.

"Glad you could make it, Colin. Bucky woz up 'alf the night wearing out the carpet wiv 'is pacing up and down, wonderin' if you would turn up today!"

* I am most heartened that you have decided to accompany us on our travels. It would make a refreshing change to converse with someone besides an adolescent humanoid female whose hormones are still running rampant throughout her. *

"Oi, leave it out, Mr. Balloon!" said Blanche as she gave the Sot'm a playful slap on his burnished metallic exterior. The Sot'm maintained a stoical silence as he turned to look at Macfadyan as he finished his calculations.

"Right, all done. With a flick of this switch, we shall go a' journeying."

Upon closing the relevant circuit, the time column in the centre of the console began to rise up and down slowly. A powerful "Thud" echoed around the chamber and a discordant bleeping noise filled the air. Moments later, there came a wheezing, groaning sound.....

Curtis was disappointed. Apart from the movement of the rotor, there was no feeling of motion. He was prepared to feel a sudden burst of acceleration or other such forces to signify that the TARDIS was now out of normal space-time and spiralling through the nether regions of extra-dimensional space.

The only sight or sensation he was rewarded with was the sight of Macfadyan, straightening up from his work over the console, rubbing his hands with satisfaction and saying:

"Right, I could do with a cup of tea and some biccies right now!"

Strolling around the console to where Curtis was seated, Macfadyan said to Curtis:

"How does it feel to be one of the privileged few to leave the planet of your birth to go wandering throughout the cosmos?"

Curtis got up and stretched his legs.

"I'm not too sure at this moment in time. Leaving Earth, I am sure, will be unsettling at first but I am sure I will get used to it."

Macfadyan gave Curtis a pat on the shoulder.

"It will soon pass, I am sure. Your bags are over in the corner, if you would like to follow Blanche where she will show you where your quarters are. When you are ready, come back up here and we will chat some more."

"That is very kind of you, Macfadyan. Please allow me some time to get settled in and I would be only too happy to oblige."

"That's the spirit! Now, if you would excuse me for a moment, I have matters I need to .Make yourself at ho...."

Macfadyans face suddenly paled to a ghastly pallor and his face sagged as all the animation that characterised it drained out of it as he suddenly slumped to the floor in a faint.

In his mind he was falling again.

"Macfadyan! Are you all right?!" said Curtis

"Bucky! woss the matter. Talk to me!" said Blanche as she rushed over to the stricken Time Lord.

Even the Sot'm, Cre'at, was concerned.

* Do you require medical assistance? *

At that moment, Macfadyan's eyelids fluttered open and he gave voice to a small groan. He propped himself up on his elbows unsteadily and gave a weak smile to his audience.

"Sorry about that, It caught me quite by surprise. I have heard all about cosmic angst but have never experienced it myself..."

Aided by willing hands, he got to his feet. As he propped himself up on the console while he regained his bearings, a concerned look crossed over his face and he murmured aloud;

" Adh Seidh....."

"Wot did 'e say? It sounded like nonsense to me?" said Blanche enquiringly.

" I think he said 'Adh Seidh', Miss Simmonds." said Curtis

"You are correct, my military friend." Macfadyan said ."As for who or what 'Adh Seidh' is, I have the horrible feeling we are going to find out.... very, very soon...."

Epilogue - "I hear the playback and it seems so long ago..."

Transcript of an additional section of an audio report to Major Curtis, U.N.

Background - countryside. Summer? Sounds of "Tea" being poured, etc. From what we can tell, we think he was recording this in his garden. Dating suggests early summer, 2004. It's a bit confusing, he seems to be just rambling. And his personal pronouns are very... fluid, I think would be the best description. He seems to drop into sounding bitter, every now and again. I'll leave it up to you to fathom why.

"...So you see, Curtis, this Luther Blisset affair has set me thinking.

When I look back now, at the Jerusalem incident, the first thing that springs to mind, is that it could have been so much worse. You see, he was in such a state right then... getting worse. I didn't really know this of course, oh no, nor would he admit to it if he had. Heh, a right old jam he was in, I can tell you. Hmm. Note to self: Stop Cre'at selling his so-called "lemonade". He's getting far too used to this country way of life, if you ask me. Must actually analyse the stuff. Could be illegal. Bad Thing.

Where was I? Oh yes. Blisset. No. no, hang on... er.... right. Got it. You once asked me, Colin, just where he went ot back then. Where I ran off to. Well, at first, anywhere. I'd had a vision - a sort of premonition. And it had rattled him. Me. No.... Him! I am NOT him. Right. Anyway. So, he ran off down some back streets, looking for somewhere peaceful to calm down, reflect. Hah! Peaceful! In Jerusalem. He found a park, a small space of scrubby grass. Panting a little, I think. So, he took his time, and the panic slowly passed. But he wasn't in a good way. His shields were down, so to speak.

And thats when he heard the most beautiful music. You know what we're like for music, Curtis. A wonderful chanting. Gregorian, or something like it. Sound familiar, Curtis? It seemed, as always, to sound like it was in his head. So, I followed it. Through a maze of tiny back streets. Past merchants, pedlars, thieves, beggars.

His destination was a small, yet beautiful, gothic church Stood smack bang in the middle of a street of cheap and cheerful shops, fruit and veg tumbling off the stalls. A haven of peace amidst an atmosphere of fear.

The perfect place, I thought. Somewhere to calm. Somewhere to breath. Somewhere to... to... be.

So he crashed through the doors, out of the heat and oppressiveness and into a cool calmness.

I don't know how long he was sitting there. In peace. In quiet. In calm. Trying to still his racing mind. Trying to meditate. Trying to find what it was he had forgotten. Then someone sat next to him. Looking up, he saw a cowled figure, gazing impassively ahead.

Why are you here, asked the monk.

Do you mind? I'm trying to think, child. I replied.

So I see. No one has time for religion it seems.

I've never had time for that, he replied. Though I have been mistaken for it at times, he added.

Indeed? Came the reply. Our people decided they didn't have the time for us. Now we wander. Journey from place to place.

Hah! He said. Same here. My people didn't want me around either. I survived. Bet it niggles them, though. Thats if they even know I'm alive.

And are you?

Am I what?

Alive?

Well of course I am, idiot! How could you be talking to me if I weren't? This is twentieth century Earth. You don't have the ability to talk to the dead.

No, I suppose not. But if you could, who would you talk to?

I gave him a look. Well, he tried to. How do you stare out a cowl?. Hah!

Humour me.

Ok, I said.

And then I said nothing for a long time.

When I spoke, it was one word.

Blanche.

Blanche?

My.... my friend.

You would talk with her?

I.....I have to apologise, you see?

Why?

I couldn't save her. She... died.

Ironic, isn't it, Colin? MM... more coffee needed. Hang on....

Where was I?

Oh yes.

So, I said. Its my fault.

You killed her?

As good as. I tried. I did try. He just couldn't stop it happening.

You have to live with these things. You say you tried? Then you did not kill her. You were the one trying to save her. She died. You live. Get on with it.

He looked at him.

Your very straight forward for a man of the cloth

I sense you are not one for lectures.

You are of course, right.

All in all, it was an odd meeting. I stayed for some time. In silence. Thinking. Meditating. Occasionally the monk would approach, to check that all was well. I fancy he somewhat lost track of time in there.

Later, when I went back to speak to the monk again, just before we left, I couldn't find the place. Oh, my mind was clearer then it had been in an age. But still, I couldn't find it. I know I got the street right. Only now, after Greenwich, does it make sense.

I only spoke to the monk once more. As I was leaving I said that I'd been longer then I had wished. I had to get back to the TARDIS.

TARDIS? Replied the monk, backing away.

My home. Well, it is now, anyway.

If only I'd realised then and there.

It still hurts, you know, Curtis. The pain of the psychic shock has faded, slowly. But it still hurts. Inside. I said this then, to one of them. Now I say it again. Because of them.

You see, I couldn't save her. She... died.

I have to make a move. I've just seen Cre'at going down Allen Road in his scout uniform. I know, I know, you told me to stop him, but he is very much a law unto himself. Right. Phone me when you get this. Any questions, etc.

One does have to wonder just who he is referring to in that second reference to someone dying. Has he killed again? If so, Geneva needs to be told. We'll leave it with you, Major.