The Dommervoy Masterplan
by Andie J. P. Frankham

A lone figure stood on the bank of grass, looking down at the ruins below. Seen with the naked eye the figure was indistinct, it could have been a man but it may not have been. The air around it was calm, undisturbed for a long time. That was soon to change.

The man-like shape continued to stand, watching and waiting.

A steady wheezing and groaning sound, slowly rising in volume, disturbed the peaceful air. As the sound increased, a blue box came into being on the cobbled pathway leading into the ruins. A light flashed on top of the box, in time with the crescendos. Abruptly both the light and the sound broke off, and the peaceful air returned.

A narrow door in the box opened, and the Doctor stepped out of the TARDIS, followed by his travelling companion and friend, Ruby. The Doctor was dressed with his usual elegance, although unusually his suit was not black, but a shade of blue. Ruby, on the other hand, was dressed much more colourfully. She wore a red skirt and a loud blouse with a cornucopia of different flowers printed on it. Her jet-black hair was bundled up on top of her head, with a few strands hanging over her ears.

Ruby came to stop once she had emerged from the TARDIS and took a deep breath. ‘Oooh, this is very calming, Doctor.’

‘Yes.’ The Doctor sniffed. ‘It is the high bombardment of positive ions.’

‘Positive ions? The opposite to that zero room of yours.’

‘Quite so, Ruby.’

Ruby eyed the bunch of yellow flowers that the Doctor held. ‘So, are you going to tell me why we’re here now? And where we are, come to that.’

The Doctor started walking away, and Ruby followed, surprised that he had not bothered closing or locking the TARDIS door. It was very unusual for him not to do so, which meant either his mind was otherwise occupied, or he felt very comfortable here. He indicated the lush green hills around them. ‘This is the Eye of Orion, one of the most tranquil places in the universe. Fortunately it survived the big change over three years ago. As for why we are here; it is the first anniversary of my death, Ruby, and I have come to pay my respects.’

The indistinct man shape watched the two people leave the TARDIS and make their way up the hill. For a moment a fond smile appeared on what could have been called a face, but it was gone in a second.

In the blink of an eye the shape vanished, to reappear next to the TARDIS. The man form was not alone. Standing next to it, in flowing blue robes, sapphire eyes aglow, was a tall woman with luscious blonde hair.

Tardis smiled at the man shape. ‘He is almost ready,’ she said in her usual husky voice.