Romana clapped her hands together decisively, trying to snap the Doctor out of his stupor.
‘So,’ she said, ‘where next? We can take this old TARDIS anywhere you like. What do you think, Doctor?’
‘I think,’ the Doctor replied, ‘that you should take over flying for a while.’ He headed for the corridor to the rest of the TARDIS.
Before he disappeared into the deep darkness of the rest of the ship, Romana called out to him. ‘It'll be okay, Doctor,’ she said reassuringly. ‘You'll get past this.’
‘Oh, Romana,’ he said. ‘Of all the things we've seen today, that's the only thing that's truly impossible.’
He turned a corner, and then he was gone. Romana looked up at the time rotor, as it began its steady rise and fall. She started to cry again, and knew in her hearts that the Doctor was doing the same.
Zilch found himself lying flat on his face in the thick snow. He tried to clamber to his feet, which wasn't easy and took several attempts, as he was within the confines of his heavy mechanical suit, and his hands were bound in cuffs. Eventually he stood up, knee-deep in snow, and looked around.
‘I did it!’ he cried out, laughing excitedly. ‘I actually did it! Even without our machine, I worked out the equation to get us to Gallifrey!’
By his side, a Kuricam appeared in a teleport glow. ‘Your assistance is appreciated,’ it said, as it began to trudge through the snow. Its thin, mechanical legs struggled to carry it across the wintry landscape. ‘Keep up, prisoner.’
Zilch nodded, and followed the Kuricam. ‘I knew I could do it. Everyone always said I was stupid, that I was always so easily distracted, but–oh, it's snowing!’
‘The target is nearby,’ declared the Kuricam.
‘I am good, though,’ Zilch went on. ‘I'm smarter than anyone ever gave me credit for–‘ Suddenly Zilch tripped over his own feet and collapsed onto the snow again.
‘You are quite the genius indeed,’ the Kuricam replied, its tinny voice dripping artificial sarcasm. ‘Scan beginning in five, four, three, two, one...’
Zilch picked himself up, again with great difficulty, and turned his attention to the Kuricam.
The Kuricam channelled all its power to its laser circuitry. It strained as it extrapolated its body heat and radiated energy outwards. Its body sparked with electricity, as it used all its back-up power and emergency resources to melt the surrounding snow.
A body began to reveal itself, still and lifeless, but every inch the person that the Kuricam had been searching for.
‘It's him! That's the Cavalier!’ Zilch realised. He approached the man's body, and knelt down beside it. ‘He's dead,’ he announced gravely. ‘No regeneration. He's gone.’
‘Death is not a valid excuse. The Cavalier must be punished for his crimes.’ A light exploded out from the Kuricam's lens, as it scanned the lifeless body once again. ‘Capacity for regeneration still exists.’
‘So I brought you here like you asked, but why? What are you lot planning?’
‘Justice will be swift,’ the Kuricam said. ‘Resurrection may take longer.’
~~~
ARCHAEOLOGIST'S DISCOVERY LEADS TO FAME AND FORTUNE declared the newspaper headline. Romana smiled to herself, as history was back on track. She continued to flick through the paper, while people played and frolicked in the park around her.
The sun was hidden behind a thick layer of cloud, but the air seemed cool and pleasant. It had been raining recently, and would no doubt rain again, but everyone was enjoying the brief moment of calm.
Romana sighed contently. ‘This is nice,’ she said to herself. As a tennis ball came hurtling towards her head, she reached out and caught it without looking.
‘Nice catch!’ shouted the Doctor. He made his way over to her, and sat down beside her on the bench.
Romana handed him the tennis ball. ‘I don't know why you're bothering,’ she said. ‘He's back to his old self, and he'll never change again.’
‘More's the pity,’ replied the Doctor miserably. ‘We can't do any throwing and catching games now. Watch this.’
The Doctor hurled the ball across the park towards K-9, who was parked, still and motionless. The robot dog didn't react at all when the tennis ball hit him in the side with a great metallic thump.
‘He can't even move on the grass.’ The Doctor chuckled to himself, and then noticed what Romana was reading. He indicated the paper. ‘Any news?’
‘Nothing bad,’ she replied. ‘Nothing that breaks the laws of physics. Everything's like it used to be.’ She hoped so, anyway.
‘That's a bit of a shame,’ sighed the Doctor. ‘It's quiet. Far too quiet for me.’
‘Gives you plenty of time to be alone with your thoughts.’
‘Exactly.’ There was a sad look in the Doctor's eyes. Suddenly, he stood up and stared across the park. ‘Is that...?
Romana didn't look up from the newspaper. ‘What's wrong?’
‘N-nothing,’ the Doctor replied. His voice was shaky, uncertain. ‘Nothing's wrong, exactly. Romana, look!’
She did as she was told, and looked to where the Doctor was pointing. Between the trees, cloaked in shadow, she saw a man. He began to walk towards them, and as he got closer, Romana could just about make out his face. His eyes were so familiar.
‘That's impossible,’ Romana said.
The Doctor wore the biggest grin. ‘No. Just improbable.'
THE END
written by
SAMUEL MARKS
copyright 2014
artwork by
COLIN JOHN
copyright 2014