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Chapter One Time in the Time Vortex is an abstract thing; not something that people (humans in particular) can get their heads around. For the briefest of seconds a corridor was opened in the Time Vortex, tearing a huge gap through its interstitial matrices. In those brief seconds three people shot through that corridor like a bullet from a gun. There were bound together by the holding of hands, creating a circle of genetic and psychic energy. Seconds later the corridor vanished and the Time Vortex was restored to its usual state of flux *** The air frizzled and an outline of three people appeared. Within seconds they had solidified, standing in a circle in front of a large cedar tree. The largest of the three figures was the first to act, removing his hands from the two younger people. He looked around, rubbed the bronze amulet hanging from his neck and muttered to himself. ‘Hmm. This is slightly wrong.’ The young man and woman looked at each, smiled and looked up at the sunny sky. Almost in unison they raised a hand to protect their eyes from the glaring sun. ‘This is Earth, isn’t it?’ asked the woman. The large man turned to face her. ‘Yes, Alf, it certainly is.’ ‘Nice one, Doctor.’ Alf removed her sunglasses from one of the pockets of her combat trousers and placed them over her eyes. She looked over at Nick who was putting on a less advanced pair of sunglasses. ‘Nick, I’m home!’ Nick grinned, and squeezed her hand while the Doctor wasn’t looking. ‘Welcome back to Kansas, Dorothy,’ he said. Alf smiled back. ‘Well, we are in the correct year, although not in the place I wanted to be. Oxford Street, ha!’ The Doctor wandered around the space they had appeared in. They were encircled by a ring of ancient stone catacombs that had sunk into the ground over the years, all overgrown with foliage. ‘1986, Highgate Cemetery unless I am mistaken.’ Nick looked around. Could have been anywhere. ‘How can you tell that, Doctor?’ ‘This the Lebanon Circle. As for the year, well I can tell that by the weathering of the stone catacombs.’ The Doctor smiled. ‘Notice how those catacombs are in both the Egyptian and classical styles? Nice mix, that.’ ‘If you say so.’ ‘I do.’ The Doctor looked over at Alf. ‘I brought us to Earth on purpose, for you. Maybe, in some way, this will help you get some kind of memory recollection. I suggest you go and explore London.’ Alf was still smiling. ‘Thanks, Doctor.’ ‘Least I can do. After all it is my fault that you lost you memory. Kind of.’ He winked. ‘Besides, I want to have some time with Nick.’ Alf nodded. ‘Yeah, sure. You ain’t seen each other in half a year; catch up time would be good. I’ll be fine on my own for a while.’ Nick wandered over to Alf. ‘Don’t feel obligated.’ ‘I don’t. Quality time is good. And finding some memories is something I have to do alone.’ She blessed him with her most sincere grin. ‘Thanks for the consideration, though.’ The Doctor extracted a roll of money from his coat. ‘While you’re out there, I’d like you to pick up some supplies. We‘ll meet back here in about three hours.’ Alf took the money, bid farewell to her friends, and began to make her way through the catacombs. Nick watched her as she walked out of sight. The bounce in her step was unmistakable. ‘That was nice of you, Doctor.’ The Doctor grinned. ‘Well I owe both you and Alf a lot. Time to make up for some past mistakes.’ He sniffed. ‘Can you smell that?’ ‘Yeah.’ It was hard to work out what the smell was, but it reminded Nick of a fire he had witnessed on Draconia. The Doctor looked around the small circle, and with a cry of excitement pointed to a small build up of energy hanging before the cedar tree. They both walked over to it. ‘What is it?’ Nick asked. The Doctor probed it with a chubby finger and pulled back quickly. ‘Ow!’ He sucked the tip of his finger. ‘That hurt.’ ‘So, what is it then?’ ‘The remains of some kind of spatial portal. At a guess I would say that it was this that pulled us slightly off course.’ With a pop the fissure closed up and faded into nothingness. ‘And now it is gone. Hmm.’ The Doctor took a deep breath. ‘Never mind. Come on, let’s go and talk.’ *** Nick sat down as the Doctor went to fetch some drinks. They were in a small coffee shop just off Hampstead Heath, and Nick was in the best mood he had been in for half a year. The Doctor is alive! An odd observation to make considering that the Doctor was only a few feet away from Nick, but he could still not believe it. Nick continued to watch the Doctor - so full of life, so vibrant, so full of smiles. Nick couldn’t help but smile himself. ‘What about Falex?’ Nick asked as the Doctor sat at the table and passed Nick a drink. ‘Falex has been returned to Taureas II. EnalcKarnip’s idea. It was a good one, as ideas go.’ Nick sipped his drink. He smiled. ‘This is the best drink I have had since meeting you, Doctor. What is it?’ The Doctor held up the fizzy brown liquid in his glass. He grimaced. ‘Pepsi Max apparently. Wanted some good old-fashioned Coca-Cola but they don’t serve it here.’ He too sipped his drink. ‘Hmm. Not too bad, I suppose.’ ‘Anyway,’ Nick said, steering the conversation back to where he wanted it, ‘I know where Falex has gone. I spoke to him. But what I am saying is what about when Vorkuuthh has some information for us? How is he supposed to get in touch with us when we are five hundred years before he was born?’ The Doctor wagged a chunky finger. ‘Not true, Nick. We are only four hundred and...’ Nick glared. ‘Don’t be pedantic! You know what I mean.’ The Doctor sat back in his chair, smiling from ear to ear. Nick raised an eyebrow in question. Suddenly the Doctor sat forward and grabbed Nick’s hands. ’Ah, Nick, it is so good to have you back by my side. When I returned from my mission to find that you had gone missing... well, I was none too happy. And then when I did hear about you I was horrified.’ The Doctor indicated Nick’s legs. ’I should have went on that mission with the Sword of Tuburr.’ Nick rubbed his left leg. He could feel the implants under his trousers. ‘Yeah, well, you had more important things to do.’ He looked the Doctor in the eyes. ‘Really, I don’t blame you.’ ‘Good.’ The Doctor sipped his drink. ‘And I am sorry about the deceit. If I could have got a message to you about the clone I would have. Believe me.’ ‘I do. I always have believed in you, Doctor, ever since you took me under your wing when I became human.’ This pleased the Doctor. ‘As for the business with Falex. Well, we shall return to the twenty-sixth century from time to time. Pop in and see how everyone is. What about Alf?’ Nick nearly spilt his drink; such was the unexpected way in which the Doctor had changed the topic. He eyed his mentor. Did the Doctor know about him and Alf? Nick wasn’t too sure. ‘Erm, what about her?’ ‘Does she trust me? I just assumed she would want to come with us, which is why I made the Time Amulets threefold in nature.’ Nick laughed, a nervous reaction. He really did not want to get into a discussion about Alf with the Doctor. ‘Of course she trusts you. She’s been helping you for a while now, hasn’t she? And anyway, why else would she have come with us?’ Nick could have kicked himself for saying that last bit. Way to go, mate; just add fuel to the Doctor’s suspicions. The Doctor was thoughtful. ‘Hmm. Well, the way I see it, Nick, is that Alf is with us because I am the only link to the past that she has. A past she simply cannot recall. Hopefully her trek through London might help.’ ***
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