'Madame Vastra! Jenny!' Eleven said as he stuck his head out the TARDIS
doors. 'I need you!' The Silurian and her maid entered the parlor where the
TARDIS was parked.
'Well, hello again, Doctor,' Vastra said. 'What is it this time?'
'We have to deal with an enemy more powerful than any you've faced before
so be sure to bring the swords.' Vastra and Jenny nodded and went to fetch
their katanas.
'So who are these people again?' Ten asked.
'Oh, just some nice ladies I bumped into,' Eleven replied. 'One of them is
a Silurian but don't hold that against her.'
'At least I know I keep interesting company in the future.'
Vastra and Jenny entered the TARDIS. 'We're ready, Doctor,' Vastra said. 'Just
lead the way.'
'Certainly,' Eleven said. 'But first let me introduce my previous incarnation.'
Vastra shook Ten's hand.
'A pleasure,' she said. 'Ever since you told me about regeneration, I
wondered if I would meet another version of you.'
'Today's the day!' Ten said and smiled.
'No offense, Doctor,' Vastra said to Eleven, 'But I think this one has the
better smile.'
'I beg to differ,' Jenny said.
'As usual,' Vastra retorted.
'And this is Captain Jack Harkness,' Eleven said. 'Formerly a Time Agent
from the 51st-Century. He's now on his own and let's just say you won't have to
worry about him dying on this mission.'
'It's a honor to meet you, ladies,' Jack said with a grin. 'If you don't
mind my saying, I love a woman who knows how to wield a sword.' Vastra and
Jenny looked at each other and shrugged.
'Er, Jack,' Eleven said tentatively. 'Don't. Just don't.'
'Sure. Fine. If you say so,' Jack said, eyeing Vastra and Jenny with
suspicion.
'Right then,' Eleven said as he manned the console. 'Off to Karn to have a
little chat with none other than the Terrible Zodin herself!'
~~~
The TARDIS settled softly on the rocky terrain of Karn. The five of them
made their way down a steep hill until they came to a clearing.
'So, there it is,' Eleven said. 'The Terrible Zodin's palace.' From where
they were standing, they had an unobstructed view of the palace. 'And look
who's guarding it. Tractators, Vervoids and Tetraps.' He turned to Vastra. 'Do
you think you can handle them?'
'I don't see why not,' she replied. 'They don't look nearly as intimidating
as the Headless Monks.'
'If you ask me, it looks like they're made out of rubber,' Jack said.
'Shhh!' Ten said, giving Jack a stern look. Vastra and Jenny drew their
swords and marched steadily towards the palace entrance.
'So who exactly is this Terrible Zodin?' Jack asked.
'Well,' Eleven said, 'She once ruled over a vast empire whose people
eventually became fed up with her and had her exiled. She took revenge by
developing a virus that wiped them all out.'
'She committed genocide on her own people?'
'Yes,' Eleven replied. He shared a knowing look with Ten. 'Since then she's
been travelling from planet to planet trying to conquer as much of the known
universe as she can. She's a master manipulator. Planets with weak regimes bend
to her will easily, while the stronger ones banish her to wastelands like
this.'
'But how could she possibly have caused all those space-time anomalies?'
'Throughout her conquests, she's managed to collect a great amount of
advanced technology. That's how she picked up the ability to manipulate
memories.'
'And now she can manipulate the Web of Time itself,' Ten said. 'She has to
have a larger goal in mind than just causing mischief on a cosmic scale.'
'Well, that's what we're here to find out,' Eleven said. He felt a tap on his
shoulder and turned around. Vastra and Jenny had returned. 'Did they give you
any trouble?'
'None at all,' Vastra said. 'I've dealt with tougher opponents in my own
kitchen. Namely rats.'
'I do my best to keep it as clean as possible for you,' Jenny said testily.
'Of course, but I do enjoy a good rat every now and then.'
'Ladies, if you don't mind, I think we should be getting on with our
mission,' Eleven said, gesturing towards the palace. The others nodded in
agreement and followed him until they reached the front door. They stepped over
the bodies of the slain guards and examined it.
'It's a good thing it's not made of wood,' Ten said. 'Otherwise, this
wouldn't work.' He pulled out the sonic screwdriver and used it to open the
door.
'I remember that particular model,' Eleven said, pointing at the
screwdriver. 'I never did get around to fixing that hairdryer problem.'
'Don't you have one of your own?' Ten asked.
'Well, I did but… you know, spoilers and all that.'
'I see,' Ten nodded, somewhat apprehensively. 'Right then, everybody.
Allons-y!' They entered a large foyer filled with cobwebs. Beyond it lay a long
corridor lined with statues of previous rulers of Karn. Eventually, they
reached the cavernous throne room. In its center, the Terrible Zodin sat atop
her throne looking more smug and self-satisfied than a Cheshire cat. She was a
pale yet striking woman wearing an ornate gown that perfectly complimented her
expression.
'Well, Doctor, it's about time,' she said flirtatiously.
'It certainly is,' Eleven replied. 'These anomalies you've been causing are
why we're here.'
'More than one of you I see. And you've brought some freaky friends, as
well.' Vastra took a menacing step forward but Jenny held her back.
'We're not here to chat,' Eleven said. 'We want to know why you feel the
need to bend the rules of time and space however you see fit. Is it boredom?
Experimentation? The desire to conquer the universe?'
‘Ah, those are very good guesses but I'm afraid the explanation is far simpler,
Doctor. I wanted to attract your attention.'
'Really?' Eleven could not stop himself from smiling. 'That's going a bit
far just to ask me out on a date, isn't it?'
'No, you silly boy. You're thinking of the last time we were together. Of
course, that did turn out rather well for the both of us.' She winked at him.
Jack, Vastra and Jenny looked at the two Doctors.
'Don't look at us!' Ten said. 'We told you she can alter memories.'
‘Yes, that does come in handy,’ the Zodin said. ‘But I've brought you here
to witness something none of you will ever forget. Nothing less than my greatest
triumph. You see this?’ She indicated a jewel-encrusted lever that stuck out of
her throne's right armrest. ‘Now watch what happens when I pull it.’ Before
anyone could stop her, the Zodin pulled the lever and a time rift opened up
next to the throne. It emitted a light that was practically blinding.
‘Listen,’ Eleven said, stepping forward. ‘I can't let you-‘ But the Zodin
did not allow him to finish his sentence. Instead, she promptly stood up and
ran into the rift.
‘Should we follow her?’ Jenny asked.
‘I don't think so,’ Ten replied. ‘We'd end up who-knows-where and
who-knows-when without a TARDIS. Believe me, you don't want to find yourself in
that situation.’
‘Tell me about it,’ Jack said knowingly. ‘Although, I do still have my
vortex manipulator. A few adjustments with your sonic screwdriver and it'll
work again.’
‘Only in an emergency, Jack. We're not in one of those… yet.’
‘Why don't we just seal the rift?’ Vastra asked. ‘Trap her before she can
return?’
‘That would be an excellent plan… except we don't know what she's planning
just yet,"’Eleven said. ‘We need to find out what the ramifications of her
actions are. So our only option is to wait.’ A few moments later, the Zodin
returned and threw a struggling man onto the floor. The new arrival quickly got
up and brushed himself off. He was a disheveled-looking man dressed in a blue
leather jacket with a brown satchel strapped over his shoulder. He looked at his
surroundings, taking everything in and then rounded on the Zodin.
‘You!’ he cried. ‘What the hell do you think you're doing! Where am I? Why
have you brought me here?’ The Zodin said nothing.
‘Jack, Vastra, Jenny,’ Eleven said slowly. ‘I would like to introduce you
to… my eighth incarnation.’ The man turned to face Eleven.
‘You mean that you're…’ he said.
‘Yes. I'm number eleven and this is number ten. And if I'm not mistaken,
you're in the middle of-‘
‘Fighting the Time War,’ Eight said. ‘At least I was until she intervened.’
He shot a disdainful look at the Zodin.
‘But if you're here now,’ Ten said, ‘That means the timeline will be
changed. Without you to end the war, the Daleks will be victorious.’
‘Precisely,’ the Zodin said with a smirk. ‘I told you this would be my
greatest triumph.’
‘Not quite,’ Eight snapped. ‘All I have to do is go back through the rift
and my future selves can seal it behind me. Some triumph, Zodin! You seem to
have forgotten the fact that I have free will!’
‘Do you?’ she said and glanced at the rift just as a well-dressed elderly
woman stepped through it. She was carrying a battered suitcase and had tears in
her eyes.
‘Grandfather?’ she said, looking at Eight.
‘Susan!’ all three Doctors cried simultaneously.
‘That's right!’ the Zodin yelled and immediately grabbed Susan by the
throat. With her free hand, she reached under the throne's cushion and took out
a gleaming ray gun. She held it against Susan's head and smiled maliciously. ‘You
thought you had free will, Doctor, but as you see it's not as easy as that. You
now have only two choices. Either you stay on this side of the rift or your
granddaughter dies.’
~~~