Month: July 2025

Categories
Doctor Who: Crossings Series 3

The Necromancer’s Tower: Part 1

On a forested, mountain planet, in the Outer Rim of its galaxy, there was a mountain. Inside that mountain was a base for genetic research. This was Tantiss Base, the Wayland Facility within Mount Tantiss, a base for the Imperial Cloning Program and its top project, Project Necromancer. Awaiting the arrival of a shuttle was a man in a black coat and pants with a white eye on his lapels. The eye had a lighting bolt going through it. The man himself had thin hair, sharp eyes, and pale skin. The shuttle arrived and a man in black robes exited. “Dr. Hemlock,” greeted the man on the landing bay. “This is an unexpected pleasure. We’re honored by your presence.”

“You may dispense with the pleasantries, Professor Yarvelling,” dismissed Dr. Royce Hemlock. “I am here to put Project Necromancer back on schedule.”

“I assure you, Dr. Hemlock,” soothed the man, Professor Yarvelling, “Lurra Rus and I are working as fast as we can.”

“Perhaps I can find new ways to motivate her,” remarked Hemlock. Yarvelling then stood in front of Hemlock.

“I tell you, Project Necromancer will see fruition as planned!” he insisted.

“The Emperor does not share your optimistic appraisal of the situation,” replied Hemlock.

“But he asks the impossible! I need more test subjects!”

“Perhaps you can explain that to Lord Vader when he arrives tomorrow.” Yarvelling balked at that threat.

“V-Vader is coming here?!” he asked.

“That is correct, Professor,” replied Hemlock. “And he is most displeased with your lack of progress.”

“We shall double our efforts!”

“I hope so, Professor, for your sake. Lord Vader and the Emperor are not as forgiving as I.” With that, Hemlock and Yarvelling entered the base.

At the mountain’s base, a noise filled the air. A blue box then appeared out of thin air. The noise stopped and the Doctor and Amy stepped out. “…Doctor,” said Amy, “this ISN’T the water world you said the Octarians live on in my time.”

“Erm, no,” replied the Doctor. “In fact…this isn’t even the intended galaxy or time.”

“…Are we too far forward or too far back in time?” asked Amy, arching an eye ridge.

“Erm…back,” admitted the Doctor. “Put simply, we’re a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.”

“Doctor!”

“We encountered turbulence! I can’t-!”

“FREEZE!” called a voice through a radio. The Doctor and Amy looked to see that they were surrounded by men in white armor and white helmets. The men were aiming laser weapons at the two.

“Oh dear,” muttered the Doctor. “Imperial Stormtroopers.”

“This is a restricted planet!” snapped one of the Stormtroopers. “Show me your identification!” The Doctor pulled out a wallet and handed it over. The Stormtrooper looked at the paper and appeared to stiffen. “…M-My apologies, Dr. Smith,” he said, suddenly being much more polite. “I had no idea you were conducting a test for the Emperor.”

“And thanks to you lot, you botched that test!” hissed the Doctor, thinking quickly. “This young lady and I were testing the stealth capabilities of Project Time Walker and you decided to bungle it! We can’t exactly deal with Rebel Scum with these results! Take me to the one in charge here! I intend to lodge a formal complaint against you!”

“Y-Yes, Dr. Smith!” replied the Stormtrooper.

“And bring the TARDIS with you!” The Stormtroopers followed the Doctor’s orders.

The Doctor and Amy were brought into Tantiss Base. The Doctor looked around in surprise. “…Tantiss Bass on the planet of Wayland,” muttered the Doctor. “And judging by the fact there are still Stormtroopers, I’d say we’re in the year 18 BBY.”

“BBY?” asked Amy.

“Before the Battle of Yavin,” explained the Doctor. “That’s 18 years in the future. Right now, there’s a scientific project going on called Project Necromancer.”

“What, to raise the dead?”

“No, but they might as well. I’ll explain more when we’re in our quarters.” Speaking of which, they arrived in front of a set of quarters.

“I’ll inform Dr. Hemlock of your arrival, Dr. Smith,” said the Stormtrooper.

“Yes, yes, you do that,” replied the Doctor dismissively. The doors shut and someone gasped. The Doctor and Amy looked to see a blue-skinned woman with two head-tails instead of hair in scientist gear.

“Who are you?!” she demanded.

“No friend of the Empire, I can assure you, Miss…” said the Doctor.

“…Rus. Lurra Rus,” introduced the woman. “And you?”

“Oh, I’m usually known as the Doctor. And this is my companion, Amy Rose.”

“Hi there,” greeted Amy.

“And you’re…hang on, that’s not safe to say yet, is it?” guessed the Doctor. She tapped the walls, then opened a wall panel to find a device. “Aha! A bug problem!”

“So that’s where it is!” said Lurra Rus. The Doctor pinched the device, crushing it between her fingers.

“There, now we can talk and fill Amy in on what’s happened in this galaxy,” she said. “Miss Rose, about a year ago, a man known as Sheev Palpatine from the planet of Naboo declared himself Emperor, sweeping aside the previous Republic in favor of the more fascist Galactic Empire. It was all part of a plan to eliminate a group of mystics called the Jedi. The Jedi used to be peacekeepers that carried laser swords and could tune in with this energy that organisms known as midi-chlorians utilized, giving them powers of levitation, telepathy, and other such powers.”

“Of course, there are those that study the darker aspects of that energy, that which we call the Force,” continued Lurra Rus. “That would be the Sith, the enemies of the Jedi…and the victors.”

“For the moment only, Miss Rus,” said the Doctor. “But, yes, Amy, this whole Empire was to destroy the Jedi Order and Sheev Palpatine, excuse me, Darth Sidious, succeeded in destroying the original Order. He even corrupted a Jedi to become his Sith Apprentice. He was once known as Anakin Skywalker, now he’s the cyborg Darth Vader.”

“…Lord Vader? He used to be-?!” asked Lurra Rus.

“Yes, Miss Rus, the hero of the Clone Wars himself,” confirmed the Doctor.

“H-How do you know this?!”

“She’s a Time Lord,” explained Amy. “History and the future are her backyard.”

“A Time Lord?” asked Lurra Rus. “But they’re just a myth.” As the Doctor was about to object, Dr. Hemlock arrived.

“I was unaware of a new scientist coming,” he said. “Please, accept my apologies for merely lumping you in with Miss Rus.”

“It’s quite all right,” assured the Doctor.

“Tell me, what do you know about genetics?” asked Dr. Hemlock.

“I dabble in them on occasion, why?”

“Then you should come with me and meet Professor Yarvelling.” That name was a new one to the Doctor.

“Lead on, then,” she said.

“Miss Rus, kindly keep Miss Rose occupied,” said Dr. Hemlock.

“Yes, Doctor,” replied Lurra Rus. Dr. Hemlock and the Doctor then headed off.

“…Why would you be here?” Amy asked Lurra Rus.

“…Midi-chlorian ‘donation’,” replied Lurra Rus.

The two doctors arrived at the lab where Yarvelling was working. “Professor,” called Dr. Hemlock. Yarvelling looked up and saw the two.

“Yes, Dr. Hemlock?” he asked.

“This is Dr. Smith,” explained Dr. Hemlock. “She will be assisting you.”

“Very well, Sir,” replied Yarvelling. Dr. Hemlock left and Yarvelling and the Doctor were left alone. “A pleasure to meet you, Dr. Smith,” said Yarvelling. “I am Professor Yar-.”

“Oh, I know you, Sir,” replied the Doctor.

“…Y…You do?” asked Yarvelling. It was then he noticed the fire in the Doctor’s eyes.

“Oh yes, I have my EYE on you,” answered the Doctor. She pointed to the eye symbol on his lapels.

“…Th-This is just a symbol from my home planet,” assured Yarvelling.

“Your home planet of Skaro, yes?” asked the Doctor. “That IS the symbol of the Kaled Elite, if I recall.” By now, Yarvelling was puzzled.

“How do you know those words?” he asked. He then goggled…then snarled. “YOU!”

“Hello again, oh Dark Lord of Skaro!” replied the Doctor. “Or should we stick to our names, eh Davros?” It was then that the man dropped the façade of Professor Yarvelling completely and allowed his real persona of Davros to come to the fore. The Creator of the Daleks snarled in fury.

“You DARE come to this time, Doctor?!” he hissed.

“Entirely by accident, I assure you,” replied the Doctor. “So, how are you enjoying having a full body again? Tell me, your voice sounds like it would before your synthesizer switches on. Is that what you looked like before the Thal shell?”

“It was never my intention to regress to my pre-chair state!” growled Davros. “I point the finger of blame at YOU, Doctor!”

“Me?! YOU’RE the one that swiped my regeneration energy last time we met, you lunatic! You should have known there would be consequences! I’m surprised the Daleks didn’t kill you for daring to tamper with their genetics like that!”

“The regeneration was supposed to keep me alive, not restore my old form!”

“Well, that’s just the way the cookie crumbles!” retorted the Doctor. “It’s a lottery, regeneration! …And speaking of genetics, I think I can guess why you’re working on Project Necromancer. But really…Daleks using the Dark Side of the Force?”

Categories
Doctor Who: Crossings Series 3

Splat-tastic Deja Vu: Part 4

John, Kaori, and Octavio made their way to Octavio’s quarters. He opened up his private kitchen and pulled out a bottle of vinegar. “…You cook?” asked John.

“Of course I do!” replied Octavio. “A real king can’t rely on servants for everything!”

“Hm, is that Takoyaki I’m smelling?” asked a Slitheen woman’s voice. The group found hiding places in the room as the Slitheen entered. She sniffed the air. “Oh, playing hard to get, eh? Well, that’s all right. This old girl could use the mental exercise!” She continued sniffing. “Mmm! That smell of adrenaline! It’s intoxicating!” Octavio was trying to load the ink tank with the vinegar quietly. “Ooh! That fear! Flooding your bodies with instincts that tell you to run because fighting is impossible!” The Slitheen then heard a click. She then pulled the table away to reveal Octavio having finally closed the lid! “There you are, Your Majesty!” cackled the Slitheen.

“ONE OF YOU! FIRE!” shouted Octavio. John and Kaori leveled their blasters at the Slitheen and pulled the triggers. John’s didn’t fire, but Kaori’s did. The Slitheen was doused in vinegar and gasped in horror as the acetic acid in the vinegar did its work. There was one last prolonged fart…then the Slitheen exploded, her green meat scattering all over the room. “…Okay…” mumbled Octavio. “I…don’t ever want to see that again.”

The Doctor had finished making her psychic communicator. Amy looked down the hall when she heard the fart and resulting explosion. “What was-?!” she yelped.

“The acetic acid in vinegar causing bubbling in the Slitheen’s calcium phosphate anatomy, causing an explosion,” explained the Doctor.

“…Vinegar makes a Slitheen blow up?!” asked Amy.

“Makes any Raxacoricofallapatorian blow up,” replied the Doctor. She then inspected her handiwork. “…Welp, all done here. …Just wish I had brain lube for this.”

“Brain lube?”

“Just a joke. I’m going to be in some considerable pain, considering I’m trying to telepathically reach halfway across the galaxy. …Well, Doctor, brace yourself!” The Doctor put the electrodes on her head and switched her communicator on. She then felt incredible pressure in her head, like her mind was about to explode! As she groaned and strained, she tried to send her thoughts concerning the Slitheen’s presence and a plea for help to the Galactic Council. For the Doctor, it felt like hours. For Amy, it felt the same, seeing the Doctor in pain with no idea how to help her. In reality, it was only minutes. The Doctor then switched off her communicator and tore the electrodes off her head.

“Doctor!” yelped Amy.

“I’m all right!” panted the Doctor. She then slowly smiled. “Help was a lot closer than I thought.”

“Doctor?” asked Amy.

“Come on, Amy,” directed the Doctor. “We’d better go greet them.”

“Greet who?!” Amy HATED it when the Doctor acted like this!

“What is taking her so long?!” complained Tafrasa.

“You know how she likes to toy with her prey,” replied his brother. “I’m more concerned with what’s taking Inkadia so long! Those codes should be released by now!”

“Erm, guys-!” called a young Slitheen.

“Not now, son,” replied Tafrasa.

“Dad, it’s really-!” insisted the young Slitheen.

“In a minute!” hissed Tafrasa. That was when the New Squidbeak Splatoon burst in.

“HANDS WHERE WE CAN SEE THEM!” shouted Captain Trey, the original Agent 3. The Slitheen just laughed.

“My dear boy, if that’s all you’re worried about-.” said Tafrasa.

“No! Dad, listen to me!” insisted his son. John, Kaori, and Octavio then arrived.

“NOBODY MOVE OR THE VINEGAR MAKES YOU ALL GO BOOM!” shouted Kaori.

“…You DARED kill my cousin!” snarled Tafrasa.

“Dad, believe it or not, there’s someone worse coming!” interjected his son.

“Oh, what is it?!” snapped Tafrasa.

“A Wrarth Warrior ship!” his son finally explained. “They were hiding right behind Earth’s moon! Someone called them for help!”

“A Wrarth Warrior ship?! Impossible!” Tafrasa finally checked the instruments. As he did, the Doctor and Amy arrived.

“Ah, here we all are!” she said. “And judging by your panic, Tafrasa, I see you discovered the Wrarth Warrior ship I contacted.”

“How?! You couldn’t contact the outside world!” snarled Tafrasa.

“You left me in a room with hypno-shades,” replied the Doctor. “It was easy to make a psychic communicator. I was prepared to send a plea for help to the Galactic Council Chambers, but a psychic among the Wrarth Warriors intercepted the call, taking a load off my mind quite literally. They should be arriving in about…” That was when flashes of light appeared, then formed humanoid arthropods with a pincer claw replacing the left forearm and five tendrils making up the right hand. They had huge red eyes and digitigrade legs.

“All right, you Slitheen scum!” snapped one of the creatures. “Which one of you is Tafrasa Dav-thon Thackarin-Day Slitheen?!”

“YOU’LL NEVER TAKE ME ALIVE!” shouted Tafrasa as he readied his claws. He was then gunned down by the commander.

“Wait a minute-!” yelped Amy.

“Oh, no worries, Amy,” soothed the Doctor. “Their sidearms are stun guns. No lethal settings at all.”

“Of course, Doctor,” confirmed the Wrarth Warrior Commander. “I take it you ARE the Doctor that sent that psychic distress signal? The same one that helped us bring Beep the Meep to justice?”

“That’s me!” replied the Doctor.

“Wh-What’s going on here?!” asked John.

“Everyone, meet the Wrarth Warriors, a proper space police force,” introduced the Doctor.

“Sergeant Zivka, at your service, everyone,” said the Wrarth Commander. “My troops and I have been tasked with bringing the Thackarin-Day Slitheen back to Raxacoricofallapatorius for life imprisonment.”

“They’re still doing that these days?” asked the Doctor.

“They’re reserving the death penalty for the worst of the Slitheen,” explained Zivka. “We’ll put the Slitheen onto their ship and send it away to their homeworld via remote control.”

“And then what?” asked Captain Trey.

“Well, the humans ARE coming,” revealed Zivka, “but they’re not preparing warships, but embassy ships.”

“Embassy?” asked Kaori. “You mean…they really want peace?”

“Naturally.”

“While usually surrendering to their knee-jerk reactions,” said the Doctor, “humans genuinely don’t want to fight their neighbors.”

After they were cuffed, the Slitheen were marched back to their ship. The Wrarth Warriors oversaw the whole operation and keyed in a command for the ship. The Slitheen ship then rose into the air. “…I do have to apologize for the death of one of them,” the Doctor said to Zivka.

“It was self-defense,” replied Zivka. “I cannot hold-.” He was interrupted when a massive laser fired from the ground. It struck the Slitheen ship and destroyed it. “What in-?! Who fired that?!” demanded Zivka.

“It was self-defense!” replied Octavio.

“They had surrendered! You executed them unnecessarily!” snarled the Doctor.

“They were too dangerous to be kept alive, Doctor!” argued Octavio.

“There was a kid among them!” shouted Amy.

“I had to make that sacrifice to protect my people!” retorted Octavio.

“Don’t you dare start with me about that, Octavio!” growled the Doctor. “I know one word that could remove a psychopath like you from power!”

“You don’t have that kind of power!” laughed Octavio.

“You’re right, that’s giving myself too much credit,” replied the Doctor. “I know six words.”

“You’re lying.”

“Six little words.” She motioned for Zivka to follow her as she approached Octavio’s aide. She then whispered something to them. Zivka looked back, then nodded. The aide…looked uncertain. The Doctor then walked away. “Come on, Amy, back to the TARDIS.”

“…Wait, what did you say?!” demanded Octavio. “Doctor, WHAT DID YOU SAY?!” The New Squidbeak Splatoon, John, and Kaori then followed the Doctor as the Wrarth Warriors returned to their ship.

The Doctor and her group made it to Inkopolis Plaza. “So, it’s back to adventure for you guys?” John asked Amy.

“Well, the Doctor’s gotta cool off first,” replied Amy. “Let’s just say there’s a lot of personal pain from her I don’t fully understand.”

“Pray you never do,” replied Trey. “I saw that look in my predecessor’s eyes and I occasionally have that look. Doctor, I don’t know the scope of the war you fought in, but I hope I never do.”

“…So do I, Captain Trey,” said the Doctor. She opened the TARDIS doors and she and Amy went inside. The TARDIS then dematerialized.

“…Fresh!” whispered Kaori.

“Doctor, there’s something I DO need to know,” said Amy.

“What’s that?” asked the Doctor as she focused on the controls.

“What did you say to Zivka and Octavio’s aide?”

“…I just asked them a question,” replied the Doctor. “Perhaps you can answer it like they did.”

“What was that question?”

“…Don’t you think he looked tired?” Amy’s eyes goggled.

“…You killed his political career!” she said.

“He’s not the first politician whose career I killed like that,” replied the Doctor. “From what I glimpsed of the Octarian Nation’s future, he’s forced to abdicate thanks to the stresses of the Slitheen Incident and his successor’s role as King is rather like that of the Japanese Emperor, a ceremonial head of state with the Prime Minister of the Octarian National Diet as the real political powerhouse.”

“…And the humans?” asked Amy. The Doctor grinned at that.

“They make peace with the current dominant life of Earth and bring them to the stars!” she revealed. “Inkling and Octarian colonies dot the edge of the galaxy, even moving to other galaxies, like humans and Mobians!” Amy smiled.

“That’s a future worth seeing!” she said. “…Are there still Inkling and Octarian colonies in my time?”

“Yeah, actually! Wanna see?”

“Heck yeah!” With that, the Doctor set the controls and the TARDIS spun through the Time Vortex!

Categories
Doctor Who: Crossings Series 3

Splat-tastic Deja Vu: Part 3

The Doctor’s mind raced with ideas, but no concrete plans. John was about to say something, but Amy stopped him. “Better let her plan,” she advised.

“…Why would they wait this long?” muttered the Doctor.

“Pardon?” asked Amy.

“Even accounting for my usual life-style, the Slitheen could have picked any time I visited in the 21st century, so why here and now?”

“Maybe their ancestors tried?” guessed Amy. “And maybe they really wanted it to hurt somehow?”

“But how?” muttered the Doctor.

“…Maybe they’re gonna try again with the old Slitheen plan?” asked Kaori.

“…You know, I think you have something there,” said the Doctor. “There ARE still nuclear weapons on this planet, yes?”

“Yes, but we never got to touch them,” replied John.

“We never really bothered,” explained Octavio. “They’re nothing more than a suicide pill. The one thing us Octarians and you slimy hipsters agree on.”

“Octavio, is there a way we can monitor communications here?” asked the Doctor.

“Yeah, but we can’t exactly contact the outside world or any other part of this particular dome while the lockdown’s in effect for this room.”

“Let me worry about that. Show me.” With that, Octavio showed the Doctor a communications console. The Doctor started combing through the channels until she stumbled across Tafrasa speaking.

“-of Inkadia, heed my words,” he said. “The mammals that once dominated this planet have spread to colonies beyond our world. They have intercepted our Golden Disk and are making their way back to Earth…but not with peaceful intentions.”

“What? Already?” asked the Doctor.

“Our scientists have searched the solar system,” continued Tafrasa, “and they have found…massive weapons of destruction, capable of being deployed within 45 seconds!”

“That can’t be right!” muttered Kaori.

“It’s not right,” replied the Doctor.

“And, regretfully, they are capable of taking over our leaders’ minds!” Tafrasa went on. “Imagine my horror when I discovered that they enslaved our beloved DJ Octavio! Our scientists can baffle the mammal probes…but not for long. We’re facing…extinction. Inklings, Octarians, Jellyfish, all of us…unless we strike first! According to what I read from scientists from all walks of life, Splatsville lies directly beneath the belly of the mammal mothership! I beg the powers of Inkadia; pass an emergency resolution! Give us the access codes!”

“No, he wouldn’t!” realized John.

“A nuclear strike at the heart of the beast,” Tafrasa confirmed, “is our ONLY chance of survival! Because, from this moment on, it is my solemn duty to inform you…Planet Earth is at war with its ancestral rulers, the human race!”

“He’s lying,” said the Doctor. “The humans don’t go to war against you lot. Spoilers, but the dominant races, both old and new, make peace with one another.”

“So why would the Slitheen want to make up a threat?” asked John.

“And why throw me under the bus?!” demanded Octavio.

“And how will all that get at you?” asked Kaori.

“Reverse order,” replied the Doctor. “I put a lot of work into this planet, the Slitheen don’t need Octavio anymore, and it’s all part of their spectacle.”

“Do you think the powers of Inkadia will believe Tafrasa?” asked Amy.

“Why not?” asked the Doctor. “Inklings and Octarians are just like humans and Mobians in that regard. That’s what the Slitheen want, the whole world in a panic! You get scared, you lash out, the codes for the nuclear arsenal the humans left behind are released, and the Slitheen go nuclear!” The Doctor worked on the console.

“But why?” asked Octavio. “And what are you doing?”

“I’m getting into contact with Tafrasa,” replied the Doctor.

“But I just told you-!”

“And you’re right,” assured the Doctor. “But you didn’t have me around. I’m asking the computers running the communications systems very nicely to let me speak with him. AHA!”

“You got it?!” asked Amy.

“I got it!” replied the Doctor. “What’s his comms code, Octavio?”

“Well, if he was stupid enough to keep it, 4-7-8-4-2.” The Doctor keyed in the code.

“Aha! He IS stupid enough to keep it!” she cheered. She then spoke into the mic. “I will speak to Tafrasa Dav-Thon Thackarin-Day Slitheen under Jurisdiction 2 of the Shadow Proclamation!” Someone then picked up.

“I’m here, Doctor!” snarled Tafrasa’s voice.

“So, tell me, Tafrasa, since when did the Slitheen fall to senility? I mean, your external skin’s getting pretty hard, that’s a sign of advanced age for a Raxacoricofallapatorian.”

“I assure you, it’s more than just a repeat of what the Passameer-Day Slitheen attempted!” replied Tafrasa. “And since your precious humans are going to die in the process, I’ll overlook the comments about my age!”

“So you get the codes, convince the Inklings and Octarians that there’s an invading fleet of humans, they retaliate, but the missiles don’t strike any ships, they strike other countries.”

“And the radioactive shockwave would destroy the recolonization fleet on approach while we wait out the disaster in our own ship and claim salvage! A real pity that the humans would be exposed to the vacuum and cold of space!”

“But you’d destroy our planet!” protested Kaori. “You’d destroy something beautiful-!”

“Earth was never beautiful and never will be!” snapped Tafrasa. “Tigers, green plants, canyons in the sea, Inklings! It’s all ugly! Better to reduce the planet to molten slag and sell it off piece by radioactive piece! We’ve already sent the advert out, Doctor! The sale of the millennium! Enough raw fuel for every cut-price starliner and budget hauler! Surely you’re aware of the Galactic Depression, Doctor.”

“A depression that the Slitheen started! This is part of that Operation: Homeward Bound I heard about! You tank the galactic economy, Raxacoricofallapatorius becomes the poorest planet, they can’t fund their law enforcement, so you swoop in and take over the government! This is a venture to raise capital!”

“Precisely!” confirmed Tafrasa.

“At the cost of 5 billion people!”

“A bargain!” At that, the Doctor drew in a breath.

“…I give you a choice, Tafrasa Dav-Thon Thackarin-Day Slitheen,” she warned, “stop this plan, leave Earth peacefully, or I’ll stop you.” Tafrasa laughed at her.

“What, you?!” he said. “Trapped in your box?!”

“I beat the Passameer-Day Slitheen that way,” replied the Doctor.

“Not this time, Doctor! You may have restored communications between rooms but my cousin is skilled at keeping even YOU from contacting the outside world!” Tafrasa then switched off communications.

“Doctor, if he’s right-!” gulped John.

“He’ll be proven wrong,” assured the Doctor. “…But I can’t do this alone.”

“Are you getting Rassilon to help?” asked Amy.

“No, she’s too busy,” replied the Doctor. “No, I need to contact the Galactic Council. It was re-established after the Meep Army beheaded and ate the original council.” Amy blinked at that as the Doctor worked.

“…Th…the Meep…? …You know what, given that Gallifrey and Ragsi…Ruggsa…” The Doctor rolled her eyes. “Give me a minute!” protested Amy. “Ragsa…”

“Raxacoricofallapatorius,” said the Doctor.

“…Raxacorico…”

“Fallapatorius.”

“Raxacoricofallapatorius!” cheered Amy.

“That’s it!” praised the Doctor. “Well done!”

“Are you two listening to each other right now?!” snapped John. “You two think you’re so clever right now!”

“Yeah,” replied the Doctor.

“You sound like Marina Ida before her defection!” snarled Octavio.

“Hey, she only defected after YOU lost hypnotic control over her, just like the other Octolings living with us!” argued Kaori.

“Hypnotic control?” asked the Doctor.

“My spicy wasabi beats keep my soldiers under my control,” explained Octavio. “I needed TOTAL loyalty from my soldiers to protect my people!”

“You brain-washed innocent people!” retorted Amy.

“You also conscripted ten-year-olds!” said Kaori.

“…Octavio, how do you send your hypnotic signal out?” asked the Doctor.

“Put on those goggles and I’ll show you!” replied Octavio as he pointed out a row of red and black visor-style goggles. The Doctor pulled out a pair and examined it.

“…Actually, one might help slightly. …But many…” she took out a lot, then found a toolkit and started taking them apart.

“Hey! That’s Imperial Octarian property!” snarled Octavio.

“It still is,” replied the Doctor, “just being used for a more benign purpose.”

“Doctor, what are you doing?” asked Amy.

“I’m making a psychic communicator,” explained the Doctor. “There are plenty of psychic races in the Galactic Council at this time, so hopefully I can reach them.” At that moment, klaxons blared.

“What in-?!” asked John.

“That’s the intruder alarm!” replied Octavio.

“Turn that off, Octavio!” ordered the Doctor. “I need to concentrate!” Octavio turned off the alarm and goggled.

“…Oh no, not again!” he complained.

“What is it?” asked Kaori.

“It’s that stupid New Squidbeak Splatoon!” grumbled Octavio. “Captain Trey is leading the charge!”

“The New Squidbeak Splatoon?!” asked John. “WHOO! MY HEROES!”

“They’re the ones that beat Octavio in recent times!” explained Kaori.

“No, no, no!” protested the Doctor. “We have to send them away!”

“Doctor?” asked Amy.

“The Slitheen won’t be affected by the Splatoon’s ink!” explained the Doctor. “It will be a massacre!”

“There’s also a chance it could cause confusion for the Slitheen!” said Amy.

“It’s too risky!” countered the Doctor. “Raxacoricofallapatorians are fast, strong, and the females have poison darts in their fingers! The New Squidbeak Splatoon WILL be slaughtered! Kaori, John, you two will have to save them. Octavio, is there a vinegar supply and can the ink tanks be loaded with it?”

“Yes to both, but-!” replied Octavio.

“Then lead them there!” directed the Doctor. “And watch your backs!”

Categories
Doctor Who: Crossings Series 3

Splat-tastic Deja Vu: Part 2

“Well, this is familiar,” muttered Amy as she sat in a cell with the Doctor, John, and Kaori. She noticed that the Doctor was wetting her finger in the water glass she was given and rubbing it along the rim to make sound.

“…No, still not the right frequency,” she muttered.

“Frequency for what?” asked John.

“Well, I noticed that the locks are sonic locks,” explained the Doctor, “and I wondered if I could replicate the sound. Hence the musical glass.”

“It’s a full octave,” explained a voice. A fat Octoling arrived.

“That’s the Octarian Ambassador!” whispered Kaori.

“So it’s a series of eight notes?” guessed the Doctor.

“And played at high speeds that only a machine could achieve,” confirmed the Octarian Ambassador. “But, good news for you, I managed to get you an audience with King Octavio.” He held a device to the cell door and it played a rapid-fire octave, unlocking the door.

“Very kind of you,” said the Doctor.

“Why would Octavio want an audience?” asked Amy.

“Gloating, maybe,” remarked John.

“Yeah, that sounds about right,” agreed Kaori.

The Octarian Ambassador led everyone to the throne room. Octavio was still in his Octobot. “Well, well!” cackled Octavio. “A pair of slimy hipsters and their mammal friends!”

“DJ Octavio, what prompted this whole thing in the first place?” asked the Doctor.

“To finally claim what was supposed to be mine! All of Inkadia!”

“Another two-bit tyrant,” muttered Amy. “…Hang on, Kaori, John, is this whole place really called Inkadia?”

“Yep,” replied Kaori.

“And why would you need to conquer all of Inkadia anyways?” asked the Doctor.

“To undo the Inklings’ victory over my people 100 years ago!”

“Oh, for Pete’s sake!” complained John. “Our grandparents offered ways for you guys to get power for your homes!”

“Inefficient and unreliable!” retorted Octavio.

“Could someone fill me in on what happened?” asked the Doctor.

“100 years ago,” explained John, “the Inklings and Octarians fought in a war for survival. Before that, we were peaceful neighbors, but rising sea levels forced us to fight over the remaining land.”

“We held the advantage over the Inklings!” continued Octavio. “We were more disciplined! They couldn’t even get out of bed early enough to fight!”

“But we had ten limbs over their eight!” boasted John.

“No, it was because of sheer luck!” shouted Octavio. “If that plug wasn’t carelessly pulled, we’d have won the instant the Great Octoweapons stormed your central stronghold!” Octavio was about to continue when…someone farted. Everyone glared at the offending farter, the Octarian Ambassador.

“…Excuse me, would you mind not farting while I’m getting both sides of history?” asked the Doctor.

“Would you prefer silent but deadly, Time Lord?” asked the Ambassador. That caught the Doctor’s attention.

“…How did you…?” she asked. Amy then sniffed the air.

“…That’s not a fart smell,” she said. “That’s…bad breath?” Kaori and John smelled the air.

“…Yeah, that smells like someone not brushing their beak,” said John.

“That’s not chitin decay,” said the Doctor. “No, that’s the smell of…calcium decay. …Wait…” The Doctor looked at all the overweight Octolings. “…Are you lot…Jingatheen? Rackateen?”

“This is for the Passameer-Day Slitheen, Time Lord!” replied the Octarian Ambassador as he reached for his forehead. He then pulled on a hidden zipper that allowed a bright-blue light to shine out.

“Oh no! OUT!” called the Doctor as others did the same.

“Wh-Wha-?!” spluttered Octavio. He was then grabbed by Kaori and John and hauled away with the Doctor leading the escape. Amy snuck a look back to see something within the Ambassador’s skin pulling it off like it was a tight latex suit! The creature wearing the skin had bulbous skin, black orbs for eyes, sharp teeth, a long neck, and arms with three fingered claws.

“RUN, AMY!” called the Doctor. Amy ran as the creature and several of its friends had stripped down so they could reveal their trunk-like legs! The creatures then roared and gave chase! They were fast for such bulky aliens!

“What’s going on here?!” yelped Kaori.

“Later!” replied the Doctor. “Octavio! Safe room! Now!”

“Take a left here!” called Octavio. Everyone ran left. “Fourth door on your right! HURRY!” The Doctor quickly found the door and everyone dashed inside. There were several ink tanks and firearms.

“Ooh! Weapons!” said Kaori. She strapped an ink tank on and it filled with her color ink. The Doctor then cannibalized several weapons and a flashlight to make a gadget. She then grabbed the gun the ink tank was paired with, then aimed it at the creatures while holding the device above the gun.

“One false move,” she warned the creatures, “and my little gadget here will accelerate the decay of the ink in Kaori’s tank as it’s fired! Splat! Acetic acid shower! Now spack off!” The creatures backed up. The Doctor looked to her group. “They’re calcium-based life-forms. Acetic acid, usually found in vinegar, makes them explode when in contact with their skin.” She returned her attention to the creatures. “All right, question time! Why are the Slitheen here? Revenge, I’m guessing?”

“We have a long memory, Doctor!” snarled the creature that impersonated the Octarian Ambassador.

“Slitheen? That’s the name of their race?” asked John.

“Name of our race?!” scoffed another of the creatures.

“No, no, they’re criminal Raxacoricofallapatorians from the planet of Raxacoricofallapatorius,” corrected the Doctor. “Slitheen isn’t their species.”

“Precisely!” said the phony Octarian Ambassador. “Slitheen is our surname! Tafrasa Dav-thon Thackarin-Day Slitheen, at your service!”

“…Tafrasa? Didn’t you send me a death threat?” asked the Doctor.

“I see you’ve gotten my message, Doctor!” snarled Tafrasa. “I was a little boy when I heard about what you did to the Passameer-Day Slitheen!”

“What did she do?” asked Amy.

“…Erm, excuse me, your device will do what, Doctor?” asked another Slitheen. “Accelerate the ink’s decay?”

“That’s right,” confirmed the Doctor.

“Could you explain the science behind that?” The Doctor floundered at that. “…A bluff from prey!”

“Well, let’s end this hunt…with a slaughter!” cackled Tafrasa. He and his compatriots clicked their claws together in anticipation.

“If you can see,” said the Doctor. She switched on the device and bright light flashed the Slitheen. As the Slitheen tried to get their eyesight back, Octavio pressed a button and blast-doors shut in front of them while also sealing the windows. “…Thanks,” said the Doctor.

“My pleasure…and my desperation,” admitted Octavio. “They can’t get at us, but WE can’t get at them.”

“You mean we’re trapped here?!” yelped Kaori.

“That gives us SOME time to make a plan,” said Amy. “…And some explanations. Doctor, why are the Slitheen angry at you?”

“Well, I WAS involved in the destruction of the Passameer-Day branch of the family,” replied the Doctor. “March, 2006, the Passameer-Day Slitheen had infiltrated the British Government, sending a signal advertising nuclear fuel. The idea was to get humans to panic and fire their nuclear weapons at a supposed threat up in space. But it was a made up threat. The humans fire their missiles, they start a nuclear holocaust, and the Slitheen would have sold the chunks off as raw fuel. But one of my friends got ahold of a missile and fired it at the main government building for the United Kingdom, 10 Downing Street. It destroyed the Passameer-Day branch with one survivor, but I received a death threat from Tafrasa, a young man at the time.”

“He’s trying to avenge his heroes?” asked John.

“Mafia types have a warped sense of heroism,” remarked Amy.

“I suppose the question is how do we deal with our Slitheen problem?” asked Kaori.

“…If we can contact the human colonies…” mused the Doctor.

“Human colonies?” asked Octavio.

“The humans that were born here are the only ones that died in the floods,” said the Doctor, “but there are other colonies out there.”

“And you want those mammals to come here?!”

“It’s our best shot.”

“Doctor, what if the humans want to stay on Earth?” asked Amy.

“Then we make sure they negotiate with the new natives of Earth,” replied the Doctor. “The third Golden Age of Earth starts in just a few months!”

“Oof! My eyes!” complained a Slitheen woman as she rubbed her eyes. “How did she find the time?!”

“It doesn’t matter, Cousin!” replied Tafrasa as his sideways eyelids blinked rapidly. “The Doctor’s options are still limited as long as she stays in there! Now, we must cut off communications with any human colonies! It’s time to avenge the Passameer-Day Slitheen! Brother!”

“Yes, Tafrasa!” replied a male Slitheen.

“Are your friends in position?” asked Tafrasa.

“They’re ready, but must we go for a video broadcast? Surely audio is sufficient.”

“You’re just saying that because you don’t want to wear that suit!”

“It’s tight in all the wrong places!” protested Tafrasa’s brother.

“You’re the one that chose the cheap compression technology!” scoffed the female Slitheen.

“Now, see here-!”

“ENOUGH!” bellowed Tafrasa, ending the argument. “The people of this planet love spectacle as much as humans do. A video broadcast is the only chance we have to prove to them how dire the threat to their world is! Now quit arguing and suit up!”

Categories
Doctor Who: Crossings Series 3

Splat-tastic Deja Vu: Part 1

In a city plaza by a tower with a giant long fish wrapped around it, various people were doing their own thing. The people had black eye masks, but these were no bandits. They had pointed ears and what looked like two club tentacles with the males tying them back and the females just letting them hang loose. These were the humanoid descendants of squids, the Inklings. Right now, a female Inkling with orange tentacles and headphones was bobbing her head to the beat of a song by a music group, the Squid Squad. As she listened, she then heard a strange noise. …That wasn’t part of the song. It sounded like a wheezing, groaning noise, followed by a thud. She stopped her music and headed off to the alley where a shady individual used to sit at. She blinked when she saw a blue box. “What in the name of the Great Zapfish?” she muttered.

“Hey! Kaori!” called a voice. She looked behind her to see a male Inkling with goggles on his forehead and blue tentacles. “Hey, girl! What’s going on?” asked the male.

“John, did you set this up?” asked the Inkling girl, Kaori. The Inkling boy, John, looked at the blue box.

“…Nope, that ain’t mine,” he said. “It says ‘Police Public Call Box’. Maybe it’s a new police thing?” At that moment, the door was opened from the inside and out stepped…

“AMY?!” yelped Kaori. There she was, Amy Rose from Mobius!

“Kaori! John!” greeted Amy. She hugged the two Inklings, then looked inside the box, the TARDIS. “Doctor, come on out!” she said. At that moment, the Doctor stepped out.

“So the telepathic circuits worked?” she asked.

“They sure did!” confirmed Amy. “Kaori, John, meet the Doctor from the planet of Gallifrey!”

“An alien?!” yelped John.

“Yep! That’s me! I come in peace!” confirmed the Doctor. “And you two are…?”

“I’m Kaori, this is John,” introduced Kaori. “Welcome to Inkopolis!”

“Interesting,” mused the Doctor. “This is 12,000 years after the great flood of 4756.”

“…I…I suppose,” said John.

“She’s a time traveler,” explained Amy.

“I see…anyways!” Kaori changed tactics. “What are you doing here, Amy? The Smash Tournament isn’t for a while.”

“I just wanted to visit friends,” replied Amy. “We just came from far into the future after Earth gets roasted by the sun.”

“Still 5 billion years away,” assured the Doctor. “Let’s just say we’re looking for a place to relax.”

“Ooh! Maybe there’s a turf war going on!” said Kaori.

“Turf war?” asked the Doctor.

“The Inklings can fire their ink through special firearms,” explained Amy. “The idea of turf wars is to cover more surface area than your opponents. It’s a four-on-four game.”

“I got it!” called John after he looked up the newest matches. “There’s gonna be a turf war at Urchin Underpass with both teams from Splatsville in a few minutes!”

“Let’s go see!” replied Kaori.

“Come on, Doctor! It’ll be fun to watch!” urged Amy.

“…All right, might as well get stuck in,” mused the Doctor.

“All right!” cheered John. “This way!” He led everyone to a train station.

The train took them to the viewing gallery at Urchin Underpass. The Doctor and her group took their seats and awaited the teams’ arrival. Four cubes appeared in the air on each side of the stage. “The cleanup must be abysmal under there,” muttered the Doctor.

“Not really,” replied Kaori. “Our ink evaporates pretty quickly after it’s left alone for a while.”

“Really?” The Doctor had to figure that out somehow. Just then, squids and octopuses appeared on the cubes, one team in purple, the other team in green. The squids then turned into Inklings and the octopuses turned into life-forms similar to the Inklings! “So squids aren’t the only ones who gained a humanoid form?” asked the Doctor.

“Nope,” replied John. “A couple of years ago, we had Octolings join us. They’re the better half of the Octarians, our ancient enemies in the Great Turf War. Any time you see an Octoling in a turf war, they’ve abandoned their king, Octavio.”

“Three! Two! One! GO!” shouted the announcer. The two teams launched off their cubes and fired at the ground. An Octoling girl on the Purple Team aimed what looked like a sniper rifle at an Inkling boy with a giant roller paintbrush and fired! The Inkling burst into purple ink and what looked like a sad, cartoony squid flew up into the sky.

“Sh-She just-!” spluttered the Doctor.

“Look over there, Ma’am,” directed John. The cartoony squid then entered one of the cubes and the Inkling boy came back, looking a bit miffed.

“…H…How?!” asked the Doctor.

“I dunno, those things just bring us back,” replied Kaori. “I’m not a scientist.”

“Even then, it’s not perfect,” remarked John. “They can’t prevent ALL deaths, just turf war related ones.” It was then the song changed.

“Oh boy! Now or Never!” said Kaori.

“That’s the Squid Sisters version, isn’t it?” mused John. “Come on, Green! Come on, Green!” A countdown then appeared on the big screen. At the end of the countdown, a whistle blasted. Out stepped two cats! One was clearly an adult, the other was a kitten!

“Are…are those…the judges?” asked the Doctor. She notice that their black and white fur pattern made them look like they were wearing black suspenders and bowties.

“Judd and his clone, Li’l Judd,” explained Kaori. The two cats were walking upright and were dancing just a bit as meters below them filled with the teams’ colors, green for Judd and purple for Li’l Judd. Li’l Judd then pulled out a purple flag as the purple team’s meter had 52.6% turf covered. The way Li’l Judd pulled the flag out seemed to knock Judd flat onto his stomach. The Green Team wailed at their loss with an Inkling girl stamping her feet like a little kid while the Purple team were dancing in victory with an Inkling girl on the team hugging her gatling gun like it was a toy.

“So that’s a typical turf war?” asked the Doctor once they all returned to Inkopolis Plaza.

“Yep! The next stages should be announced soon,” said John. “Now if the Squid Sisters would-!”

“Oh, here we go!” complained Kaori. “You were like that when Off the Hook took over stage announcements!”

“Come on! You can’t beat the classic Squid Sisters!”

“Erm, who ARE the Squid Sisters?” asked the Doctor.

“They’re a pair of pop idols,” explained Kaori. “Cousins from Calamari County. Their names are Callie and Marie. On top of music, they’d host Inkopolis News right here in Inkopolis Plaza to announce the stages for turf wars and other related activities. They were then succeeded by Pearl and Marina, the rapper and DJ group known as Off the Hook, they’d host Inkopolis News over in Inkopolis Square. These days, a trio of idols known as Shiver, Frye, and Big Man, are doing the news from Splatsville. Their group is called Deep Cut and their news broadcast is called Anarchy Splatcast.”

“Interesting,” mused the Doctor.

“…Doctor,” said Amy, “something’s making the fur on the back of-!” She was interrupted as a giant tentacle wrapped around her, pinning her arms to the side and gagging her mouth.

“WHAT IN-?!” yelped the Doctor. She then saw that the tentacle had feet…and a face with inflated lips and eyes with green sclera and purple corneas! “Oi! Let her down!”

“Not a chance!” replied the tentacle. “My king has need of her!” It then dove into a sewer grate!

“That was an Octarian!” said John. “They haven’t attacked Inkopolis in a long time!”

“Come on, John!” said Kaori. “You too, Doctor!”

“Naturally! That’s my friend he kidnapped!” The Doctor and the two Inklings followed the Octarian.

The group ended up in a valley with all sorts of kettles littering the place. “…Octo Valley,” said John. “What a dump. A force of Octavio loyalists still live here, even after his defeat by the New Squidbeak Splatoon.”

“…Splatoon?” asked the Doctor. Her answers were cut short as someone laughed overhead. Everyone looked up to see a spherical machine with fists and a mix table flying down. Amy was still bound by an Octarian in the machine, and piloting the mechanical beast was a giant octopus with a green X scar and a kabuto style helmet.

“GYAH HA HA HA HA!” laughed the octopus. “Tried to party without me, huh?! A bit of a reunion with Smash Brothers and a spectator?!”

“DJ Octavio!” snarled Kaori.

“So that’s the Octarian Leader?” mused the Doctor. “Mr. Octavio, sir-!”

“You will address me as DJ or Your Majesty!” snarled Octavio. “Unless you want your brain remixed!” Amy shouted something, but the tentacle still wrapped around her mouth muffled her.

“Quit squirming! You can’t even bite me!” snapped the Octarian restraining her.

“Sir, that’s MY companion you have as your hostage,” continued the Doctor. “I urge you to release her at once.”

“Fat chance, Ape Girl!”

“Steady on there!” protested the Doctor. That was when Octarians restrained her as well as Kaori and John. Octavio took the time to brag.

“On behalf of the Octarian Nation, I welcome you distinguished guests to Octo Valley! GYAH HA HA HA HA!”

Categories
Doctor Who: Crossings Series 3

A Colorful Game: Part 4

The earthquake reached the command center, cluing the Doctor in on what was happening. “Oh dear,” she muttered. “It’s risen.”

“You mean Rita’s-?!” gulped Albert.

“Summoned the very first Dragonzord, yes,” confirmed the Doctor. “Maiden, we need to deploy the Zords.”

“I can’t!” replied Maiden. “I’m locked out of all systems!”

“What?!” The Doctor then recalled what she and Banza did. “Of course! Retina scan!”

“Oh, of course!” realized Maiden. “Miss Rose, I’ll need your help!” The android quickly pulled up several functions. “Now, when the light on the retina scanner flashes, look into it!”

“Right!” replied Amy. Maiden then keyed in a few commands. The light flashed and Amy looked into it. “Oof! Bright!” she yelped.

“Ranger System: Online!” cheered Maiden. “All weapons and gear available! Albert-!”

“Send out the Battlizer too!” directed Albert. “I have a feeling Tanya will need it!”

“Banza was repairing the Battilizer Deployment equipment before his death,” explained Maiden. “You’ll have to deliver it yourself.” She pulled out a gold device that could fit over a Morpher.

“Understood,” replied Albert. “In that case, IT’S MORPHING TIME!” Albert inserted his key into his Morpher, then posed as he became the Blue Dragon Ranger. He then pressed the call button on his Morpher. “Tanya, we’re back in action!” he reported.

“We’re all in our suits here, Albert!” replied Tanya on the other end. “We’re summoning our Zords!”

“I’m bringing the Battlizer! I’d say the situation calls for the full power of the Dragon Ultrazord!”

“Good thinking! Hurry!” Tanya ended the call, then Albert spoke into his Morpher again.

“Launch Blue Dragon Zord!” he said.

“All voice commands: confirmed!” reported Maiden. “Launching all Zords!”

Far off from New New York, a hangar opened from the ground. Once done, lights flashed on. Those lights were the eyes of the Dragon Zords! The Dragon Zords, mechanical dragon-themed mecha, flew out of the hangar, en route to the battlefield!

“Gotta go!” Albert said to the Doctor and her team.

“Have fun!” chuckled the Toymaker.

“…Must you?” muttered the Doctor.

The Zords and Albert arrived at the battlefield in short order. Albert handed Tanya the Battlizer. “It’s now or never, Tanya!” he said.

“Well, I always liked ‘Now’!” replied Tanya as she put the Battlizer on her Morpher. “Activate Battlizer!” She pressed the button on her Morpher and golden armor appeared over her usual red suit. “All right, everyone! Into your Zords! Activate Dragon Striker Ultrazord!”

“RIGHT!” replied all the Rangers. They all leapt into their respective Zords, then they started shifting into limbs, a torso, and weapons. The parts combined and formed a giant, multi-colored, humanoid robot. The Rangers all appeared in the cockpit and took the controls.

“Open a channel to the Dragonzord!” ordered Tanya.

“Got it!” replied Poppy. She keyed in a command and Rita appeared on screen.

“What do you Power Losers want?!” demanded Rita.

“We’re giving you one last chance to surrender, Repulsa,” warned Tanya. “If you don’t take it, we’ll destroy the Original Dragonzord AND the Master Morpher.”

“Fat chance! I’ll destroy you Rangers and take the Morphing Grid for myself! I’ll be the ONLY Power Ranger and finally set this universe on the path of evil where it NEEDS to go!”

“Your funeral.” Tanya closed the channel, then all the Rangers pulled on the control sticks they were using. The Ultrazord then swung its weapon at the Dragonzord. The Dragonzord countered with its tail, activating the drill on it to cause damage. Sparks flew off the Ultrazord as it stumbled from the attack. The Dragonzord then fired missiles from its fingers, causing the Ultrazord to stumble the instant it was hit. “All right, you disgrace to Green Rangers!” snarled Tanya. “You asked for it! Ultrazord: Final Attack!” The Rangers pressed the thumb buttons on their controls. The Ultrazord then twirled its weapon above its head, creating an energy ring, then swung the weapon and the energy ring restrained the Dragonzord. The Ultrazord then ran at the Dragonzord and slashed at it with its weapon. The Dragonzord sparked as Rita tried to regain control. No dice, the Dragonzord regained control of itself and ejected Rita. She tumbled to the ground and her transformation was canceled, showing her gasping in pain. At that moment, she spotted the Master Morpher.

“One of…Tommy’s…other forms!” she panted. “That’s it!” She then crawled forward. “The Black…Dino Thunder…Ranger…will work! When I’m…done with…the Rangers…they’ll be history!” That was when she spotted the hem of a familiar blue dress!

“Speaking of history,” purred the Toymaker as she picked up the Master Morpher, “guess who’s back?!”

“Toymaker?! I thought the Doctor took care of you!” gulped Rita. “I-It’s a relief to see you again, old friend!”

“Cut the malarkey, my old opponent!” snapped the Toymaker as the Master Morpher turned into a toy in her clutch. “We’re not friends! I entertained your thoughts of conquest since before we found this planet! Now it’s time to put the toys away!”

“Oh no! I’ve still got plans for the Stookies! They’re a lot better than the Putty Patrollers!”

“Well, I’m sad to say you have no choice in the matter! Speaking of Putty Patrollers, interested in seeing their creator again?!” The Toymaker snapped her fingers and a familiar circular container appeared. “Your old gang’s here! Minus Lord Zedd, of course!”

“Wait! No! YOU CAN’T!” begged Rita. “NOT THE SPACE DUMPSTER!”

“Why not? You’re a toy broken beyond even the skill of a restorationist on YouTube,” chuckled the Toymaker. “All toys that end up in such a state go straight to the trash!” The Toymaker laughed as she opened the lid to the space dumpster and Rita was sucked inside!

“Mistress Rita!” called a rough voice from inside.

“Goldar! Squat! Baboo! Finster! Scorpina! What are you nitwits doing here?! Who’s the kid?!” screeched Rita. The Toymaker closed the lid and sent the space dumpster out into space to travel forever.

“And that, as they say, is that,” chuckled the Toymaker. The Doctor, Amy, and the Rangers ran up to them.

“…I don’t recall that being part of the deal,” remarked the Doctor.

“I have altered the deal, Doctor,” replied the Toymaker. “Pray I don’t alter it any further. Now, that path to Grand Zeno? Who is that person who has such favor with him?”

“A Saiyan that answers to Kakarot and Son Goku,” answered the Doctor. “He was sent to a human colony just moments before the Saiyan Genocide.”

“Ah, I know which colony that is,” smirked the Toymaker. “Oh, Doctor, if you’re lying, I COULD just turn you into action figures of your and current incarnations. I have a few stop-motion adventures in my head.” The Toymaker then opened a door somewhere and a bell rang like an old shop door. She stepped through, then vanished.

“…Well, now what-?” asked Tanya as she looked around. Then…she saw it. “…Guys! LOOK!” she said as she demorphed. There, just above the outer limits of New New York…was a hole in the clouds that covered the skies. The hole got bigger and bigger until…everyone could see blue skies and the sun! Tanya canceled her transformation as she fell to her knees, tears welling up in her eyes.

“…We won,” sighed the Doctor happily. All across the city, everyone was leaving their shelters and looking up at the sky. There wasn’t a dry eye in the city. All that stress of worrying whether or not they’d see tomorrow…it was finally leaving them. As Albert looked up, he started singing.

“On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,

The emblem of suffering and shame.

And I love that old cross where the dearest and best,

For a world of lost sinners was slain.

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross

‘Till my trophies at last I lay down!

I will cling to the old rugged cross

And exchange it some day for a crown!” The Doctor remembered the last time she heard that hymn. She listened keenly and could hear everyone else singing that hymn, just like when the Under-city was finally freed.

The Doctor and Amy returned to the TARDIS as the rebuilding began. “So, a new dawn for New Earth,” said Amy.

“A long awaited dawn,” replied the Doctor. “I just wish Banza could see it. …I had to inform his TARDIS what happened. It got the coordinates for Gallifrey and resolved to head to the TARDIS Graveyard beneath the Citadel. It will finally die so it can be scavenged for parts and scrapped respectfully.”

“Would your TARDIS do the same?” asked Amy. “I mean, if it turns out you DON’T have unlimited incarnations-.”

“The old girl and I already talked about it.” By now, the Doctor had unlocked the door and she and Amy went inside. “She plans to be my tomb if and when I permanently die. She’ll stay wherever I fall. But, enough about that! Let’s see what awaits us next! Any old friends you want to visit?” Amy thought a bit.

“…Doctor, have you been to an Earth populated by squids?” she asked.

“…Sounds rather wet,” mused the Doctor. “How about you put your hands on the telepathic circuits and tell the TARDIS about it?”

“You mean like you did with sending a message to Rassilon?” asked Amy.

“That’s right, only this time, you’re talking to the TARDIS itself.” The Doctor brought Amy to the appropriate panel. Amy then took off her gloves and placed her hands on the controls, thinking about what she told the Doctor.

Categories
Cosmic Roses Stories

Explanations

Belinda’s scarf appeared in an abandoned warehouse, then curled around to make a dome, then returned to Belinda’s hand once everyone arrived. “…What was that?!” gulped Yazmyn’s grandmother, Hannah as Ruby and her friends freed their families.

“Umbra-teleportation,” explained Belinda. “My family has had powers over darkness since we crawled onto the lands of our home-world of Angela.”

“Now, let’s heal you all up as we explain what’s going on here,” said Wilma. She used her lantern to bathe everyone in a warm light. Their wounds were slowly mending.

“…This feels nice!” said Yazmyn. She was then bopped on the head by Bethany.

“We wouldn’t have NEEDED to all be healed if you were just patient!” snarled Bethany.

“Bethany, be fair,” said her mom, Heather. “Her parents WERE as tied up as us.”

“I have to side with your daughter on this one, Mrs. Williams,” said Daichi, Ruby’s dad. “That bomb would have killed us all if those monsters pressed the detonator a little too early and they were also stronger than all of us combined.”

“Her heart WAS in the right place,” said Grace, “…it’s just that her head needs to be there as well.”

“You, button it!” snapped Yazmyn. “…Actually, no. Spill! What WERE those monsters?!”

“Footsoldiers of an interstellar empire,” replied Belinda. “The Entroopers, genetically engineered to obey Emperor Entropy without question.”

“As for who we are,” said Wilma. She and her friends then performed their introductions like they were in a Magical Girl anime! Wilma started the routine with a pose. “I, Wilma Lux, the White Empress, am the Rose of Light!” Grace then posed.

“I, Grace Grayson, the Gray Empress, am the Rose of Balance!” Belinda then finished with her pose.

“I, Belinda Umbra, the Black Empress, am the Rose of Darkness!” The three then posed together.

“Blooming wherever evil lurks so we may defeat it; we are the Cosmic Roses!” they all said together.

“…Nice routine, Your Majesties,” remarked Yazmyn.

“It’s flamboyant, I admit,” said Belinda, “but it’s necessary.”

“The Cosmic Roses,” explained Wilma, “are girls chosen by the elements of magic to defend their worlds from evil. For a while, we all defeated wicked creatures easily.”

“But we were too complacent in our victories,” continued Grace. “On our home planet of Angela, a man enslaved the creators of our universe, Old Lady Life, Madame Scythe, and Mister Resurrector. The man is called Emperor Entropy and he desires to keep all life in a state of permanent decay.”

“…How does that…?” muttered Bethany.

“Did we mention he’s insane?” asked Belinda. “Entropy is a big part of change, as you correctly guessed, Young Lady. We tried to stop him, but his Entroopers and minions were too powerful for us. We had no choice but to find new Cosmic Roses.”

“We’ve traveled to six other planets so far,” explained Wilma, “but we landed here to get away from the Entroopers. …Sadly, we were duped by Emperor Entropy’s general and his minions along with their Entroopers.”

“Why land here?” asked Hannah.

“Because Earth is supposed to be an obscure enough planet that no one would notice,” replied Grace. “But now we brought the fight to your world and we have to end this. Alone.”

“Hang on, it’s OUR planet!” protested Yazmyn. “You don’t know how it works!”

“…Yaz, you barely know how this particular STATE works,” remarked Ruby.

“Besides, we AREN’T Cosmic Roses,” reminded Bethany.

“I didn’t say Yaz’s point was wrong, just mis-worded,” said Ruby. “Wilma, Grace, Belinda, you need help in navigating our home. If your enemies want to conquer Earth, you HAVE to keep the fighting contained here. …On top of that, you saved our lives. We owe you. Maybe we can’t fight like you girls can, but we CAN help out somehow.”

“…One minute,” requested Wilma. She, Grace, and Belinda went to a different part of the warehouse to discuss their options.

“…Ruby, I hate to sound like I’m questioning you, but I have to ask,” said Bethany, “are you sure we can support them? What if those Entroopers attack again soon?”

“…We do what we can,” replied Ruby.

“Ruby,” said Daichi, “I know you and your friends are capable of many things, but you three are just 14! You shouldn’t have the burden of war on your shoulders!”

“Oto-san, war’s just been dumped into our laps,” countered Ruby. “Not through the fault of anyone here, not even the Roses over there. The only ones to blame are the Entroopers and their masters.”

“Everyone, we can’t make the decision for your daughters,” called Belinda once her conversation with Grace and Wilma was over. “That is their choice. …Even if they decide not to be on the front lines, I would know their names so I may defend them properly and at least teach them enough combat to help them and you out of sticky wickets should we not be there in time.”

“She speaks for all three of us,” said Wilma. The girls’ families discussed amongst themselves, then Daichi revealed their decision.

“Very well, Your Majesties,” he said. “We’ll accept that should our daughters accept.”

“…I’m Ruby Kobayashi,” introduced Ruby. “These are my parents, Daichi and Hannah, and my brother, Mako.”

“Hello there,” greeted Mako.

“I’m Bethany Williams,” said Bethany. “These are my folks, Robert and Heather.”

“Just call me Bob,” offered Bob.

“I’m Yazmyn Jacobson,” finished Yazmyn. “These are my dad’s parents, my legal guardians, Hannah and William Jacobson.”

“Or Bill, if you prefer,” said Bill.

“Two Hannahs,” remarked Wilma.

“You can use our surnames if we’re both in the same room,” said Hannah Kobayashi.

“Or Old Lady Hannah, if you want!” cackled Hannah Jacobson.

“Ruby, Bethany, Yazmyn, even if you are not chosen by the elements,” said Wilma, “we will still teach you how to defend yourselves against Entroopers. We will take care of their masters when the time comes for it.”

“But if you’re truly willing,” offered Grace, “then simply place your hands on these.” She pulled out three gems; red, blue, and yellow. “These are Transformation Seeds, created by the very elements themselves. The red gem holds the element of fire, the blue one contains water, and the yellow one wields lightning. If you feel something, like static electricity, or a fire in a fireplace, or water in a bathtub, then that element believes you are a worthy partner. It’s whether or not you get your uniform that determines if you’re a Cosmic Rose.”

“So even if we DO get powers,” summed up Ruby, “these things still want to test to see if we ARE worthy to wear uniforms like yours?”

“Exactly,” confirmed Belinda.

“…Well, I suppose we pick our favorite colors out of these first,” mused Bethany.

“Oh, that’s easy,” said Yazmyn. “Yellow’s always been mine!” She touched the yellow gem and… “HOLY-!” She pulled her hand back. “It zapped me! I mean, it didn’t hurt, but-!”

“Seriously?” asked Bethany. She touched the yellow Transformation Seed. “…I’m not getting any zap. Maybe it’s yours, Yaz?”

“Let me see,” interjected Ruby as she touched the gem. “…Nope. Yaz, you sure you felt a zap?”

“Yeah!” Yaz touched it again. “…Now it’s a constant buzz of electricity.” She fully grasped it in her hand. “…I think this is mine.”

“Well, that’s just these two left,” said Bethany as she touched the red gem. “…I’m not feeling anything. Maybe…” She then touched the blue gem. “Whoa! …It…it’s like I just took a dive into the ocean…and I don’t NEED to come up for air!”

“…Then…does that mean…?” quizzed Ruby. She reached out for the red gem. “…It’s warm!” she said when she touched it. “It’s like I’m near a fire in a fireplace!”

“Then you’re on your way to becoming Cosmic Roses!” praised Belinda.

“All right! When do we start punching bad guys?!” asked Yazmyn excitedly.

“How about tomorrow?” suggested Ruby.

“Why not now?” quizzed Mako.

“Wilma, Grace, Belinda, how long has it been since you three had a change of clothes?” Ruby asked the three original Cosmic Roses. Belinda was about to say something, then she thought about it. She then sniffed her armpit…and gagged.

“I’ve ignored too many baths!” she gasped.

“Bunk with us,” offered Bill.

“Grandpa?” asked Yazmyn.

“We’ve got nothing but room at the farm,” replied Hannah Jacobson.

“Yeah, but-!”

“A farm?!” asked Grace, looking happy. “Yes! Back to my roots!”

“Huh?” quizzed Yazmyn.

“…Aren’t you royalty?” asked Bethany.

“What?” Wilma was confused a bit, then realized where they were coming from. “Oh! No, no, no! We’re not royalty! ‘Empress’ is just the maximum rank a Cosmic Rose reaches! I, myself, was a woodworker back home!”

“I was born a farmgirl,” said Grace, “but I had a hobby in architecture.”

“And I’m a computer programmer,” finished Belinda. “Magic doesn’t really choose those that were born into power.”

“…So…magic is sentient?” asked Bethany.

“Erm…semi-sentient,” replied Wilma, a bit lamely. “Look, how about we explain more tomorrow after we’re all rested from that horrible attack this morning?”

“Sounds like a plan,” agreed Ruby. She turned to her friends. “Sorry, girls, but we’ll have to postpone today’s arcade stuff and tomorrow’s museum visit.”

Categories
Doctor Who: Crossings Series 3

A Colorful Game: Part 3

“BANZA!” called Tanya as she ran up to the group. “Doctor, wha-?!”

“He’s dead! I’m so sorry!” said the Doctor.

“You’re next, self-proclaimed Last of the Time Lords!” snarled the Toymaker.

“Hold it!” called Tanya. “Just resorting to murder? How is THAT fun?”

“The Doctor’s presence always spoils my fun!” replied the Toymaker.

“And you don’t intend to play any of her games?”

“No! The odds are always stacked against me!”

“So you know her as an opponent,” mused Tanya. “…What about me?”

“…What about you?” asked the Toymaker.

“Tanya, NO!” protested the Doctor.

“I challenge you to Liar’s Dice!” Tanya proclaimed to the Toymaker. A wicked grin crossed the face of the Embodiment of Play.

“Name your terms,” said the Toymaker. “I’ll see if I accept then.”

“If and when you win, this whole universe becomes your playroom instantly and you can do with the Doctor as you wish,” replied Tanya. “If and when I win, you leave us mortals and semi-immortals alone and find playmates more your level cosmically speaking.”

“…Sounds fair. Two out of three rounds?” suggested the Toymaker.

“Agreed.”

“Then I accept! Stookies!” The Toymaker tossed her riding unicorn to a Stookie. More Stookies then brought out a table, some chairs, ten six-sided dice, and two cups.

“Tanya, you’re making a very dangerous gamble!” argued the Doctor.

“This HAS to end today one way or another!” replied Tanya as she placed five dice into her cup. The Toymaker sat opposite Tanya and did the same. The two women then shook their cups, then slammed them upside down. They then peeked under their cups. “…You first,” offered Tanya. “I laid down the rules, it’s only fair.”

“Your funeral,” chuckled the Toymaker. “Two fours.”

“Three fours,” said Tayna.

“Four fours.”

“…Four fives.” The Toymaker smirked at Tanya’s call.

“Five fives.”

“Liar!” declared Tanya. The two then revealed their dice…and there were only two fives, all on the Toymaker’s side!

“…Now that WAS a good bluff!” praised the Toymaker. “Shall we break, then play round 2?”

“Perhaps you can answer a question,” remarked Tanya. “Why go after the Universal Morphing Grid?”

“To get to the Morphing Masters, the ultimate opponents,” replied the Toymaker. “They would make the games fun!”

“They won’t play your games, Toymaker,” said the Doctor. “They’re neutral.”

“They provided all Ranger teams their powers, Doctor,” chuckled the Toymaker. “Whether it be through the Nexus Prism or Power Eggs, they’re the source. …Though, I must admit, I’m curious, Tanya.”

“What’s that?” asked Tanya.

“You’re the Red Ranger. …How come you haven’t morphed recently? …Unless…aha! A lock-down! And given the retina-scan technology used, your own retina-print was disabled! Now…whose eyes are the master print?”

“…Beat me in this round and you’ll find out,” replied Tanya as she put her dice in the cup.

“Very well,” replied the Toymaker as she put her dice in her cup. The two shook their cups, then slammed them onto the table. The two then peeked under their respective cups.

“Your turn this time,” said the Toymaker.

“…Two threes,” called Tanya.

“Three threes,” replied the Toymaker.

“Four threes.”

“Five threes.”

“…Five sixes!” called Tanya.

“Liar!” cackled the Toymaker. They revealed their dice…and there was only one six on Tanya’s side. “A deal’s a deal,” chuckled the Toymaker. “Whose eyes are the master print?”

“…Amy Rose of Mobius,” sighed Tanya.

“Stookies, go collect her,” ordered the Toymaker. The Stookies bowed and took off.

“Rangers, go assist her and Albert!” Tanya ordered her team. The Rangers quickly took off.

“Not going to make it easy for them?” taunted the Toymaker.

“Even without their Ranger powers,” replied Tanya, “my team is more than a match for your Stookies! …Last round.”

“I hope you’re prepared to be a new addition to my Power Rangers collection!” cackled the Toymaker as she and Tanya put the dice in their cups and shook them. “Your call.” The two women then slammed their cups down and checked their dice.

“…Two twos,” called Tanya.

“Three twos,” replied the Toymaker.

“Four twos.”

“Five twos.”

“Six twos.” The Toymaker blinked in surprise.

“…Seven twos.”

“Eight twos!” The Toymaker decided to try something.

“…Nine twos.”

“LIAR!” called Tanya. The Toymaker revealed her cup…and only had one two. Tanya smirked, then revealed her FIVE twos!

“WHAT?!” shouted the Toymaker.

“What, did you use the wrong dice for yourself?” asked Tanya.

“No, she didn’t,” chuckled the Doctor. “She HAS to play fair, otherwise it’s no fun for anyone. …I have to admit, that was a risky gamble. But congratulations, Tanya, you’re the first human I know of that has bested the Toymaker!”

“…Like I said,” muttered the Toymaker, “a deal’s a deal. Rita, we’re leaving.”

“Oh no! Not until I claim MY prize!” cackled Rita.

“…Come again?” asked the Toymaker.

“You lost twice! I only lost once! I win!” replied Rita.

“…Toymaker, what did you say to Rita?” asked the Doctor.

“I said that if she won two games against me, she’d claim the Master Morpher,” explained the Toymaker.

“Those weren’t your EXACT words!” replied Rita. “Your exact words were if one witnesses the other lose two times, then they may claim their prize! Well, you lost twice!”

“What?! You can’t claim the Master Morpher on those grounds!” protested the Toymaker.

“I can and I will!” Rita held her hand out, then a golden buckle device appeared with a circular slot in the center. “Oh, I’ve waited a long time for this! I’d say it’s time! Specifically, It’s Morphing Time!” Rita put a gold coin into the buckle, then thrust it forward. “Dragonzord! Green Ranger Power!” The buckle opened slightly, then green light surrounded Rita. The light faded and Rita was now wearing a green Power Ranger suit!

“That suit is Tommy Oliver’s!” snarled Tanya. “Give me that Morpher!”

“Try and take it, kid!” cackled Rita. She then pulled out a dagger and attacked! Tanya and her Ranger team tried to stop her, but it was no good! “Oooooh, the power! I should have put this thing on YEARS ago!” cackled Rita.

“Hoo boy!” muttered the Doctor. “Tanya, hold her off as best you can! Toymaker, you’re with me!”

“Wha-?!” spluttered the Toymaker as the Doctor grabbed her hand and pulled her along. “UNHAND ME, TIMELESS CHILD!” demanded the Toymaker. The Doctor still has a habit of not listening to authority.

Amy, Albert, and Maiden were still keeping an eye on the battlefield. “This is absurd!” grumbled Albert. “I know I’m the tech support, but I need to be there for my friends!” Just then, the Doctor and the Toymaker burst into the room.

“INTRUDER ALERT!” warned Maiden.

“Belay that!” replied the Doctor. “She’s not the enemy here!”

“Doctor, you HAVE seen what she’s done to New Earth, yes?!” argued Albert.

“Well, she’s not doing it anymore,” answered the Doctor.

“Your red friend, Tanya,” explained the Toymaker, “she defeated me in a game of Liar’s Dice. According to her terms, I have to limit my playtime to opponents more my cosmic level!”

“It’s the truth,” confirmed the Doctor. “But we have another problem. Seems she also lost a game to Rita.”

“What?!” asked Amy. “What did Rita win?”

“The Master Morpher,” replied the Doctor. “She’s currently wearing the original Green Power Ranger suit and that’s very likely to come with the weapons and Zord usually associated with the original Green Ranger.”

“The Original Dragonzord?!” gulped Albert. “We need our own Zords!”

“Exactly, so I need your help restoring your suits, weapons, and Zords,” explained the Doctor.

“The Master Morpher gives Rita all the Ranger forms Tommy Oliver had,” said Maiden.

“Well, therein lies the devil in the details of my deal with the Toymaker,” answered the Doctor.

“What deal?” asked the Toymaker. “You made no deal with me.”

“Well, here are my terms. Once the Zords combine and defeat the original Dragonzord, I’d like you to turn the Master Morpher into a toy. Useful only to make lights and sounds when you use it.”

“…And what would I get in return for doing as you ask, Timeless Child?”

“The path to an opponent I know is your cosmic level. Are you familiar with Grand Zeno?” The Toymaker’s eyes went wide.

“The Omni-king himself?!” she asked. “You can take me to his palace?”

“I can’t, but I know someone who can,” replied the Doctor. “Turn the Master Morpher into a toy and I’ll tell you who to look for and where he is in time and space. He’ll be able to get you to Grand Zeno’s palace.”

“…I’ll hold you to that promise, Doctor,” warned the Toymaker.

“Very good, but…” the Doctor then checked the instruments, “there’s still the matter of actually BEATING Rita.”

Rita was still holding her own against the currently depowered Rangers, cackling all the while. “And I thought all this power would give me a headache! Turns out it CURED me of a walking rainbow of one!”

“We’re not dead, Rita!” retorted Tanya as she spat out a tooth.

“True,” conceded Rita, “so I’ll just need more power. …In fact, I need Dragonzord power!” She then put the hilt of her dagger to her helmet’s lips and pressed three buttons on the handle as if it were a flute. A melody played and the earth shook.

“Oh no!” gulped Tanya. A mecha styled like an 80’s t-rex but with draconic features then rose from the earth! The Dragonzord had risen!

Categories
Cosmic Roses Random Art Pieces

Green Dame Rose

Categories
Cosmic Roses Random Art Pieces

Orange Dame Rose