Categories
Doctor Who: Crossings The Specials

The Sorcerer’s Ascension: Part 2

The Doctor tapped the device against the console. “…Doctor?” asked Tysar.

“…If Davros learns secrets that are meant to stay in that universe…” muttered the Doctor.

“Doctor, who IS Davros?” asked Tysar. The Doctor arched an eyebrow.

“…I’m actually surprised to hear you say that,” she remarked. “You, of all people, heard of his creations, the Daleks.”

“…The Daleks are his creation?” asked Tysar.

“You think the Neutronic War on Skaro was between you and the Daleks?” quizzed the Doctor. “No. You Thals were just as brutal as your enemies, remember?”

“Yes, that’s why we adopted a pacifistic nature,” replied Tysar.

“Well, your enemies at the time were the Kaleds. Davros was the Chief Scientist for the Kaled Elite during that war. He saw that Kaleds can’t survive the radioactive world Skaro had become, not in their current humanoid form, so he took Kaled embryos and subjected them to experiments that mutated them and deemed them the ultimate evolution for the Kaled race. He then designed a travel machine based on his life support system and put the mutations into them, removing all pity and compassion. That’s when the Daleks came about.”

“But that war was centuries ago,” remarked Tysar. “How could this Davros cause trouble for people like the Toymaker?”

“That’s partially my fault. The Time Lords sent me back in time to try and avert the Daleks’ creation or alter them so they would be less aggressive. Davros captured me and my friends and tortured them so I would reveal how the Daleks were defeated. He must have altered his life support system somehow so he would still go on. I mean, he DID somehow survive being shot by the first Daleks. He was in stasis and, after another mess on Skaro during the Dalek-Movellan War, was revived and went on to bedevil the universe, even fighting in the Time War. I thought I saw his command ship fly into the jaws of the Nightmare Child, but a Dalek from the Cult of Skaro, Caan, saved him and brought him out of the war, despite the time lock around it. He then stole something from me that allows me to change my face when I’m about to die and now he’s back in his fully Kaled form instead of the halfway point between Kaled and Dalek.”

“So what does he want from that other universe?” pondered Tysar.

“…That’s what we need to find out and prevent,” replied the Doctor. She then pressed the yellow button. The TARDIS shuddered, not used to travelling between universes, but nothing broke.


Serpentia, a desert kingdom ruled by Ssylphiel Emerald Goldcoil. Like all the women in her family, she wore a blue rose in her hair. Her green skin shone in the sun as did the emerald scales of the snake tail replacing her legs. She was waiting at the southern gates of her citadel for her guests. The gates opened and in came a wagon with a giant tank of water that held Madame Calliope and Lukas. The wagon stopped by a waterway and opened the tank so Calliope and Lukas could better move around. The waterways used the entire citadel, even entering the main palace and going through multiple rooms. “Ssylphiel, my dear!” greeted Calliope once she and Lukas surfaced from the waterway.

“Welcome, Madame Calliope,” returned Ssylphiel. “I trust your journey was uneventful?”

“Oh, very much so, Ssylphiel,” replied Calliope. “How fares your family?”

“We’re prospering as are the people we rule. Yours?”

“Oh, we’re prospering too! As are my darlings like Lukas!” Calliope pulled Lukas closer to her.

“It’s true,” confirmed Lukas.

“I can see that,” remarked Ssylphiel.

“Well, what say we enjoy ourselves, hm?” suggested Calliope.

“Agreed,” replied Ssylphiel. The group then headed down the waterway and to the palace’s water gate.


As Ssylphiel and Calliope made their way to the castle, Bea and Coilzette were going through the castle with a redheaded Dwarf woman in a harem outfit and a rose in her hair. Her skirt and rose were green. “So, Nora,” remarked Coilzette, “I heard you dialed back your alcohol intake.”

“Aye,” replied the Dwarf, Nora. “I get a little too generous at the charity functions your daughter sets up and, well, my niece is calling me the Best Aunt Ever at the cost of 800,000 gold.”

“Good heavens!” yelped Bea. “What did you buy for-?!” She stopped herself when her ears twitched at a noise.

“…I hear it too,” replied Coilzette.

“What is that? Whooshing?” asked Nora.

“I think it went…vworp?” guessed Bea. “Anyways, it came from down there.” She pointed down the hall.

“Let’s go see,” declared Coilzette. She and Bea slithered at top speed with Nora running alongside them. They rounded a corner…and saw a blue box.

“…That does NOT match with Mama’s aesthetic,” remarked Bea. “And I didn’t get that as a gift for her or Calliope.”

“Look at the signs,” said Nora. “‘Police Public Call Box’, our police use green, though.” Bea read another sign.

“‘St. John’s Ambulance’, who’s St. John?”

“Hey, here’s the last sign,” said Coilzette. “‘Police Telephone. Free for use of Public. Advice & Assistance obtainable immediately. Officers and cars respond to all calls. Pull to open.’”

“Well, I think the instructions are pretty clear,” declared Bea. She put her hand on the door’s handle and pulled…only it didn’t open. “…Locked?” guessed Bea.

“Possibly,” replied Coilzette. Then…the doors swung inside.

“Hey, I thought the sign said ‘Pull to open’!” protested Nora.

“It did!” insisted Coilzette.

“Well, that looks like a person in our position would have to PUSH to open!”

“Maybe it’s a bit of added security?” guessed Bea.

“No, it’s just how my vehicle is built,” came a new voice from inside the box. The Doctor and Tysar then stepped out! “Though it DOES bamboozle anyone trying to get into my TARDIS.”

“INTRUDERS!” yelped Bea.

“It’s rude to point, you know!” protested the Doctor. “How about-?” She didn’t get very far as Bea wrapped her tail around Tysar and Coilzette wrapped hers around the Doctor. “OOF! Steady!”

“GUARDS!” called Nora. “WE HAVE A PAIR OF INTRUDERS!” Soldiers dressed in what looked like Ancient Egyptian and Roman armor adorned with imagery of serpents then arrived.

“What in-?!” spluttered the Guard Commander. “Who are these sand fleas?!”

“Sand fleas? That’s a new one,” remarked the Doctor.

“They managed to just appear here in that blue box!” replied Bea.

“How?!” asked a Guard.

“That’s what we’ll determine with my daughter and our guest’s help!” replied Coilzette. “Take the box to the throne room! Bea and I will bring the intruders!”

“Oh, lovely! Perhaps we can have some tea?” suggested the Doctor.

“Silence!” barked Bea as she and Coilzette slithered towards the throne room with their captives in their coils.


In the throne room, Ssylphiel, Lukas, Calliope, and a brunette human with a harem outfit like Nora’s, only her hair rose and skirt were red, were shooting the breeze. “I’m surprised Bea didn’t know that,” remarked Ssylphiel.

“I’m sure Nora’s confirming what your mother and I said is true,” mused Lukas. He then saw the harem girl rubbing her jaw. “Hey, Shannon, are you okay?”

“My tooth’s killing me,” mumbled the harem girl, Shannon.

“Well, you HAVE been hitting the sweets pretty hard,” remarked Ssylphiel.

“If you want, I can remove it for you,” offered Calliope.

“…No thank you,” replied Shannon frostily.

“As you wish. It would have been free of-.” Calliope was interrupted as Coilzette and her party entered the room. The guards set the TARDIS aside as Coilzette and Bea released the Doctor and Tysar from their coils. Ssylphiel rose from the throne.

“Mother, Bea, what is all this?!” she demanded. “Who are those two and where did that box come from?”

“The box is how these intruders got past security, Mama,” replied Bea. “We brought them here to get answers.”

“May I say, I’m terribly sorry for this shake-up,” said the Doctor. “For a minute there, it looked like we were going to be speared by your guards.”

“Whether or not I allow them to spear you is up to you, Madam!” warned Ssylphiel.

“I can assure you, we intended to land OUTSIDE your home and come in peacefully so we could talk properly,” soothed the Doctor. “One of my enemies has allied with a local tyrant here and-.”

“Serpentia has no shortage of tyrants that would destroy us,” said Ssylphiel. “Which one are you referring to?”

“I’m afraid we don’t know. We’re travelers from…well, from another universe.”

“…I’ve heard that our world isn’t the only one,” remarked Calliope. “And that the Gods had no hand in the other worlds’ creations.”

“I personally find that hard to believe,” scoffed Ssylphiel. “When Sanliel comes back, I shall-.” Shannon then groaned. “…Guards, throw our prisoners in the dungeon and find a dentist for Shannon.”

“Wait a minute!” called the Doctor. “What if I help her?”

“…Are you a traveling dentist?” asked Ssylphiel.

“Well, I have a doctorate in practically everything, my Lady,” replied the Doctor.

“Ssylphiel, I’m a businesswoman,” interjected Calliope, “and this woman is just screaming ‘charlatan’ to me!”

“That’s one of the more colorful names my enemies give me, outside of Doctor.”

“I’ll try anything,” said Shannon. “My tooth is killing me!”

“…Come forward and cure her if you can,” Ssylphiel directed the Doctor. “But I warn you, if you prove to be a charlatan as Madame Calliope suggests you are, well, even living gods like myself and my family fear the curse of ten thousand deaths!”

“…Charming,” mumbled the Doctor.

Categories
Doctor Who: Crossings The Specials

The Sorcerer’s Ascension: Part 1

Under the waves of another world, a man opened his eyes. He yawned and stretched as he took the covers off to reveal that he had a fish tail instead of legs. Yes, this was a merman! He swam over to a closet and…you’d think he was going through a lady’s closet, given that there were skirts in there. But no, they were his clothes. The merman’s name was Lukas and, years ago, he had become a femboy servant and lover for a powerful sea witch, the great Madame Calliope. He pulled out his daily clothes, put them on, and fluffed the petticoats of his skirt. He then swam over to a vanity and looked himself in the mirror. “…Not just yet, but soon,” he said to his reflection. He then teased his hair, adorned the left of his head with a fascinator hat consisting of eight blue flowers and a veil, then he put on makeup. After all that, he smiled at his reflection. “Now you look good, Lovely Lukas!” he said to his reflection. Just then, his mirror went screwy as his reflection distorted itself. “What the-? Who’s calling me?” he pondered aloud. He put his finger to the edge of the mirror and two women appeared. One looked like an anthropomorphic bunny and the other looked like a green-skinned woman. They both wore a blue rose in the right of their hair.

“Lukas, is that you?” asked the bunny woman.

“Bea!” yelped Lukas. “And my Divine Coilzette!”

“Good morning, my dear Lukas,” greeted the green-skinned woman, Coilzette Mentalia Goldcoil, the Divine Naga that ruled the lands of Coilusa. She then gave her attention to the bunny girl, Bea Cottonhop Goldcoil, Coilzette’s adopted granddaughter. “Bea, is everything all right?”

“Well, Mama and Madame Calliope share a birthday and we’re supposed to set everything up, right?” asked Bea.

“Yes,” confirmed Lukas. “You’re in charge of the banquet, your grandmother’s working on accommodations for us water-folk since the venue’s gonna be in your home citadel in Serpentia, and I’m in charge of the decorations.”

“Well, the food’s all good,” said Bea. “I’m down to the cake and I just had a few questions.”

“All your mother and Calliope wanted,” interjected Coilzette, “was a sheet cake that acknowledged the two of them.”

“I got that,” replied Bea as she held up a sheet cake with a desert and underwater theme that said “Happy Birthday, Ssylphiel and Calliope” on it.

“That looks perfectly lovely,” said Lukas.

“Quite right,” agreed Coilzette. “So what’s the issue, Bea?”

“Well, the issue is, put together, Mama and Calliope have just over 10,000 years of collective life,” replied Bea.

“…Okay, what’s the issue with the cake itself?” asked Lukas.

“The issue is that there’s not enough room on the cake for 10,000 candles!” answered Bea.

“You sweet, summer child!” laughed Coilzette. “You weren’t planning on indicating their ages, were you?”

“…W-Well, yeah,” confirmed Bea, confused. “That’s what you do on a birthday cake.”

“Most of us Ageless folk don’t care for that when we hit our thirties,” explained Lukas. “Just put a fancy candle on each end of the cake so they both can blow one out.”

“…I thought the whole point of candles on a cake,” muttered Bea, “WAS to indicate how old someone was.”

“No, it was originally thought,” explained Coilzette, “that the smoke from the candles would carry your wishes and prayers up to the Gods. Humans may have popularized birthday cake candles, but we really owe this tradition to the Dwarves.”

“…Grandma, are you telling me that birthday candles are culturally appropriated?!” gulped Bea.

“Technically, yes, but since most modern-day Dwarves like Nora don’t know that bit of history, I think humans are okay grandfathering that one in.”

“…Well, that’s really all I had for the cake,” muttered Bea. “I’ll see you guys later today.”

“Looking forward to it!” cheered Coilzette.

“See you later!” bid Lukas. The call ended and a blue skinned woman with purple hair and eight black octopus tentacles instead of legs then swam into the room.

“Lukas, my lovely?” she asked. “Who were you talking to?”

“Just Bea and Coilzette, Madame Calliope,” replied Lukas. “…Is it true that the Dwarves are the actual inventors of birthday candles?”

“It’s true,” confirmed Calliope as one of her tentacles snaked its way over to Lukas and started coiling him. “So, a little issue with the cake, then?”

“The cake itself is lovely, Bea just wanted the issue with the candles settled.”

“Ah yes, she was a member of the Ageing Folk.” By now, Calliope had pulled Lukas close to her. “…Well, you look delightful as usual.”

“Thanks to you, Mistress,” replied Lukas as he hugged Calliope. Calliope kissed the top of his head lovingly.

“What say we head to Serpentia, then? For all our differences, a good meal in Ssylphiel’s palace is something we all can agree on.”

“Quite true, Mistress,” agreed Lukas. The two then headed off to say their goodbyes to the rest of Calliope’s staff.


In another dimension of swirling energy, a blue London Police Box spun through the energy, its lamp flashing. Inside the box…the laws of interior geometry were torn up as it was bigger on the inside! It was a spacious room with a central hexagonal control console with a cylinder going up and down. A woman with African features worked on the console. She wore a burgundy rose-themed outfit, complete with a rose headband. Her gloved fingers drummed one of the console panels as she growled to herself in frustration. “Come on! Come on! Where are you?!” she snarled.

“No chronal surge, Doctor?” asked another woman’s voice. The speaker stepped into the console room, brushing her platinum blonde hair.

“I don’t get it, Tysar!” replied the pilot of the machine, the Time Lord known as the Doctor. “The TARDIS has her sensors at capacity and so does Gallifrey! Where’s the next chronal surge?!”

“Doctor, there’s always a lull between them,” replied Tysar, a Thal from New Davius.

“And we need to take advantage of it!” retorted the Doctor. She checked the TARDIS’s instrument’s again. “…Still nothing! I-!” A green flash then appeared. “…What-?”

“Doctor, isn’t that the button Grand Zeno gave you?” asked Tysar.

“It is,” replied the Doctor as she grabbed the source of the flash, a circular device with a green button on one side, a yellow button on the other, and purple material making up the circumference. The green button was flashing. “This thing is only supposed to flash when Grand Zeno or one of his staff has a mission that requires mortals to solve. …Welp, in for a penny and all that!” The Doctor pressed the green button. A new flash of light then appeared and then faded away to reveal a woman in a blue dress with blue costume fairy wings and blue hair. The Doctor goggled in horror as she remembered that woman!

“Excellent!” praised the woman. “So you’re not too busy, Doctor?”

“Doctor, who is that?” asked Tysar.

“Tysar, get out of the console room!” hissed the Doctor.

“Oh, come, come, Doctor!” replied the blue woman. “There’s no need to fret. As you promised, Grand Zeno is a much better playmate than you or any mortals.”

“…Doctor, who IS that woman?” insisted Tysar. “Why are you so afraid of her?”

“…That’s the Celestial Toymaker,” answered the Doctor. “Her sick games result in you being her prisoner forever!”

“Not these days, Doctor,” replied the Toymaker. “I’m afraid the Grouping has caused considerable damage to not only your universe, but to the multiverse at large. And it’s spawned new universes outside of Zeno’s ideas.”

“So you want me to help you destroy them, is that it?” asked the Doctor.

“Hardly!” scoffed the Toymaker. “I easily convinced Zeno that such an act meant new games to play! No, this is something else. Someone intends to take advantage of this problem.”

“There are quite a number of people that would jump at the chance for multiversal travel. You’ll have to narrow it down.”

“Let’s just say that this particular person would cause trouble somehow if he continued putting his newfound knowledge of multiversal travel to his own ill purposes, trouble that has given Grand Zeno and I pause.”

“You’re afraid of this person?” The console room darkened for a brief moment, making the Toymaker look scarier than she usually does. It brightened up later when the Toymaker sighed.

“…Yes, we are,” she admitted. “Doctor, this person would seek the eradication of all things, from us gods to mortals.”

“Oh, come on!” argued the Doctor. “Who could possibly worry you-?!”

“Davros!” The console room went silent, even the TARDIS stopped making its usual noises at the mention of Davros’ name.

“…Davros?” the Doctor asked in confirmation. The Toymaker nodded. “…What is he doing that has you so worried?”

“He’s already learned about multiverse theory,” replied the Toymaker. “I’m sure you recall his reality bomb. It really would have worked against us had you not stopped him in time. As for the current crisis about him, we foresee a time where he will have destroyed all other life in the multiverse.”

“That’s always been his aim. Go on.”

“After your last encounter with him, he used his DARDIS to flee and gather allies, then he altered his craft to go between universes and go after one who went to a foreign universe during the Time War.”

“Is he in that universe now?” asked the Doctor.

“He’s made an alliance with a local tyrant,” replied the Toymaker. “Right now, what he seeks is in the hands of that tyrant’s enemies. So I want you, Doctor, to send Davros and his allies back to their correct universe.”

“…All right, I’ll do it,” declared the Doctor. “Just one thing, give my TARDIS a means to get there and back.”

“Doctor, you forget,” chuckled the Toymaker. “The yellow button will get you there and the rim of the device will get you back once your mission is complete. I’ve already put the coordinates into the yellow button, so press it when you’re ready. Good luck.” The Toymaker then vanished.

Categories
Doctor Who: Crossings Series 6

The Warrior’s Cell: Part 4

“…Y-You mean, everything the Doctor and Kirby said…is true?!” stammered Whis, his world crumbling around him.

“Yes,” replied Grand Zeno matter-of-factly. “I’ve long learned that there’s no such thing as a perfect being and who would want that? You look at the history of all the universes, and you’ll find that only tyrants say that and I don’t wanna be a tyrant. I’ve made mistakes and I learned from them. You’d be wise to learn from yours, Whis, not just cover them up in our usual indifference to mortals.”

“DONE!” called the Doctor. Everyone gave their attention to her and Kirby.

“All done!” confirmed Kirby. He then spotted Grand Zeno. “Oh! Hi!” The Doctor looked up and goggled.

“G-Grand Zeno?!” she yelped. “S-Sir, this matter with Cell is just a mortal trifle-!”

“I know,” replied Grand Zeno. “I’m gonna be going anyways. Beerus and Whis just needed to know that what you and Kirby said about me was right.” The Doctor smiled.

“Very kind of you to say, Grand Zeno,” she said.

“Oh, before I go, Doctor,” Grand Zeno handed the Doctor a button.

“Hey! You can visit him too!” called Goku.

“No, Goku, this is different to the button I gave you,” corrected Grand Zeno. “It’s only for emergencies that the rest of the gods and I think require a mortal touch, and the Grouping is one such mess. It only works in your TARDIS, Doctor. Press the green button when it flashes to get the briefing of whatever trouble we need your help with and press the yellow button to get to the spot where that trouble started. Squeeze the border of the device to teleport you back into this universe wherever you started once the trouble is over and you’re back in your TARDIS.”

“You of all people are asking for my help?” asked the Doctor. “The Grouping MUST be bad, then.”

“In the meantime, if you’re really done with your machine,” said Grand Zeno, “you’d better get on with it. I’ll see you around, Doctor!” He then vanished, leaving Whis and Beerus very shaken.

“…Well, it came from your highest superior, you two,” remarked the Doctor. “Perfection is best left for tyrants to flail around for. …Speaking of tyrants, we need to get to Cell.”

“I got a lock on him!” called Goku. “He’s outside of South City! Everyone, grab ahold!”

“Oh no, you don’t, Kakarot!” protested Vegeta. “I’m not doing that instant-!”

“Come on, Vegeta! We can’t always rely on Whis!” argued Goku.

“Goku, what is Vegeta talking about?” asked the Doctor.

“My Instant Transmission technique,” replied Goku.

“…That’s a Yardrat technique! How did you-?!”

“It’s a long story,” interrupted Goku. “Let’s just go. Everyone, get close!” Everyone gathered near to Goku and put a hand on him. Goku then put his pointer and middle finger onto his forehead and concentrated. In just a matter of milliseconds…the group vanished!


Cell was charging up an attack, ready to cause terror to summon Goku, when the group appeared. “Ah! So you just came running at the sound of potential terror!” laughed Cell. “Well, better be ready, Son Goku!” Cell fired, then Kirby leapt into the attack’s path and inhaled it. He then changed from Time Lord Kirby to Fighter Kirby.

“POYO!” he challenged.

“…Is that gonna be a thing these days?” muttered Cell. He then saw Goku adopt a familiar stance.

“Ka…me…ha…me…HAAAAAA!” shouted Goku as he thrust his hands forward and fired the Kamehameha Wave at Cell. Cell batted it aside.

“Goku, you DO remember that your DNA is a part of me, right?” asked Cell.

“RISING BREAK!” called Kirby as he delivered an uppercut to Cell’s jaw. Cell let himself get knocked into the air, planning on frying the pink menace, then he saw Goku put himself against the sun and put his hands to his head.

“SOLAR FLARE!” shouted Goku. A bright light filled Cell’s eyes and blinded him. Kirby took advantage of Cell’s blindness.

“VULCAN JAB!” Kirby jabbed Cell in the stomach, winding him. Cell collapsed to the ground.

“H-How-?!” he gasped.

“SPIN KICK!” shouted Kirby. He spun around and delivered multiple roundhouse kicks to Cell’s face.

“And for good measure!” called Goku. He then slammed his elbow into Cell’s gut, winding him again.

“NOW!” called the Doctor. Goku and Kirby broke off as the Doctor switched the machine on. An energy cage surrounded Cell. “Now, let’s see if I can actually send him back unlike what happened on Earth last time.” She pressed a few buttons. “Let’s see…aha! So, he came from then! Let’s send him back there!” She then flicked a switch. “Erasing his recent memories and…” Cell and the energy cage then vanished. “And there we go! Whis, could you double-check things?”

“Very well, Doctor,” replied Whis. He looked into his staff. “…Well, looks like time unfolded as it’s supposed to. Cell’s still in Hell.”

“In that case, Kirby, you ready?” “Kirby knew what the Doctor was driving at.

“Poyo!” he agreed.

“What’s going on?” asked Goku.

“A victory dance!” replied the Doctor. “Just follow along with Kirby!” She pulled Goku into the group and the two of them danced along with Kirby.

“HAI!” Kirby called at the end of the dance.

“That was actually fun!” chuckled Goku. “I gotta do a victory dance sometimes!”

“And look more ridiculous than you do right now, Kakarot?” scoffed Vegeta.

“Oh, don’t be such a sourpuss, Vegeta!” complained Goku. His stomach then growled. “…Hey, before we send Kirby back, maybe we could get some food in us?”

“Poyo,” agreed Kirby as his own tummy grumbled.

“I’ll take us back,” offered Whis.


After Whis took them all back to Capsule Corp, everyone was eating well. The Saiyans were in an impromptu eating contest with Kirby when they discovered how much he could eat! “How much do you want to bet they’ll lose?” Beerus asked Whis.

“That’s too easy of a bet to make, Lord Beerus,” remarked Whis. The Saiyans finally stopped.

“Phew! That hit the spot!” said Goku. “What do you think, Vegeta? …V-Vegeta?”

“Kakarot, LOOK!” yelped Vegeta as he pointed at Kirby. Goku goggled in surprise at seeing Kirby still going! By now, everyone was looking at the little pink puffball.

“…He just ate 57 Saiyan-sized full-course meals!” gulped Bulma.

“I lost count at 40,” replied the Doctor. Kirby finished his meal and sighed.

“…Poyo?” he asked the Capsule Corp waiter as he held out his bowl. Everyone yelped.

“Kirby, I think you’ve had enough!” gulped Tysar. Kirby looked at the bowl, then nodded. He then pulled out the dessert menu.

“Poyo!” he said. Everyone yelped again.


After the banquet, Goku and Vegeta joined with Beerus and Whis. “So long!” called Goku. “We’re doing some training!”

“Be careful, you two, all right?!” called Bulma.

“Kirby,” said Whis, attracting Kirby’s attention. Kirby looked at the Angel. “…Keep up the good work, will you? The universe needs some joy these days.”

“Poyo!” replied Kirby with a smile. Whis then transported himself, his master, and the Saiyans away from the planet.

“And then there was you, Kirby,” mused the Doctor. “I’ve disabled the memory-wipe, since you only traveled a few seconds into the past instead of years into the future and space-travel isn’t unusual for you. You’ll be able to remember your adventures here.” She fixed up the machine she and Kirby built and switched it on.

“It was fun having you, Kirby!” cheered Bulma. “See you later!”

“Poyo!” bid Kirby as the machine took him back.

“…And now there’s us,” said the Doctor. “That’s these chronal surges fixed up.”

“Doctor, you sure you don’t want to stay a bit longer?” asked Bulma.

“I can’t, Dr. Briefs,” replied the Doctor. “Tysar needs to get back to New Davius, and I need to continue fixing up the Grouping.”

“Just keep us informed if any chronal surges take anyone, okay?” asked Tysar.

“Will do,” promised Bulma. “Of course, that’s if I don’t wish on the Dragonballs to fix that.”

“I don’t think Shenron can undo the Grouping, but you’re welcome to try,” remarked the Doctor. She and Tysar returned to the TARDIS, and it took off.

“Bye, Doctor!” called Bulma. That was when the waiter arrived.

“The bill for that banquet, Ma’am,” he said.

“Oh, yeah, that. Let’s…” Bulma paled when she saw how much money it cost. “…That’s…triple…my usual…food budget!” she whimpered.


“I had heard Saiyans can eat a lot,” remarked Tysar, “but I didn’t think they ate that much.”

“Well, it’s a bit to do with biology,” replied the Doctor. “The Saiyans can burn through calories faster than most humanoid species. The food on the planet of Vegeta was rich in calories, so the normal human portions would have filled their bellies if they used their ingriedients. Sadly, those ingriedients died along with the planet and species.”

“I heard about the Vegeta Catastrophe,” said Tysar.

“If you heard it was a catastrophe, then you didn’t get the full story,” corrected the Doctor. “Those in the know call it the Saiyan Genocide.”

“…Daleks?”

“No, but that WOULD be their MO. No, this was the result of an Ice-jin mutant called Frieza.” As the Doctor explained, the TARDIS spun through the Time Vortex, probing for the next chronal surge.

Categories
Doctor Who: Crossings Series 6

The Warrior’s Cell: Part 3

“YOU GAVE THAT THING THE ABILITIES OF A TIME LORD?!” protested Beerus.

“And granted him speech, by the look of it!” remarked Whis in terror.

“What are you two so afraid of?!” demanded Vegeta.

“We can discuss that later, Prince Vegeta,” replied Kirby. “Right now, we have a problem.”

“Yes, Cell’s appearance in this time and how we can’t kill him or it would cause a bigger mess than the Grouping,” remarked Beerus.

“I’m surprised the Grouping’s not a myth,” remarked Vegeta.

“Oh, it’s real, Vegeta,” replied the Doctor. “It was a chronal surge that took Cell out of his time and put him here and did the same for Kirby.”

“And we gotta stop it!” declared Goku.

“And how do we do that, Kakarot?” asked Vegeta. “You know Beerus and Whis’ views on time travel! Just look at what they did to Bulma’s time machine!”

“We’ll discuss their hypocrisy later,” said the Doctor.

“Excuse me?!” snarled Beerus.

“Like I said, later,” insisted the Doctor. “Right now, Kirby and I need to work on sending Cell back as he’s the most dangerous.”

“Agreed,” said Kirby.

“Now, let’s pool our experiences,” directed the Doctor.

“Telepathically?” asked Kirby.

“Seems the best way.”

“…All right. Contact.”

“Contact.” As the Doctor and Kirby had their telepathic conference, Beerus snarled.

“Hypocrisy?!” he ranted. “Of all the disrespectful-!”

“Well, you didn’t really destroy HER time machine, Beerus,” remarked Goku.

“Watch it, Goku, or I’ll destroy you!” warned Beerus as he summoned a ball of purple and black energy. Goku wisely backed off.

“Besides, Grand Zeno has ordered that Gallifrey is untouchable, as is the society of Time Lords,” remarked Whis.

“All right!” declared the Doctor once she and Kirby were finished.

“We have an idea,” explained Kirby, “but we’ll need Bulma’s notes on her time machine.”

“What?!” yelped Bulma. “Are you trying to get me in trouble with Beerus and Whis here?!”

“You kept notes on that thing?” asked Beerus menacingly.

“They’ll be properly destroyed when we’re done, Lord Beerus,” assured Kirby. “Now, come on, Dr. Briefs. Let’s get those notes.”

“Right, come on,” said Bulma. She led Kirby to the lab. Whis and Beerus shuddered once Kirby left.

“Beastly thing!” gulped Whis.

“What’s your problem with him?” asked Goku.

“They’re afraid of what he represents,” replied the Doctor.

“I fear nothing, Doctor!” snarled Beerus.

“That’s a lie, you fear the ultimate truth that even someone like Grand Zeno is capable of a mistake and Kirby is living proof of that.”

“BLASPHEMY!” shouted Whis.

“Truth,” retorted the Doctor. “Why else would Grand Zeno look for new experiences?”

“She’s right, you know,” said Kirby as he and Bulma returned with the notes. “Now, I made sure Bulma purged every single paper relating to time travel from her computers and backups, but we need to keep these physical copies until the machine the Doctor and I will build is complete. Let’s get to work, Doctor.”

“Right.” The Doctor and Kirby got to work.


It was taking a long time and Goku and Vegeta amused themselves with sparring. The shockwaves and noises of their blows and banter caught the Doctor’s attention. “Goodness,” she said. “The Saiyan desire for dominance comes to the fore when those two play.”

“They haven’t fully gotten along,” remarked Whis. “Now, Doctor…”

“Make it quick, Whis,” directed the Doctor. “Kirby and I are busy.”

“It’s about what you said about Grand Zeno,” explained Whis. “You seriously believe even the Omni-king is imperfect like you mortals?”

“The Omni-king I heard about,” explained the Doctor, “at least during the childhood I remember, always sought new playmates because he wanted to learn about how his creations functioned. That was sometime after he destroyed six universes because of his sour mood. …But he can’t do that if his attendants are so…clinical.”

“I’ll have you know that my father is the Grand Minister,” warned Whis.

“A being that needs to improve,” remarked Kirby. “ALL beings need to improve.”

“Then why devour them before they get the chance?” asked Whis coldly.

“You’re talking as if the void my stomach is connected to acts like Hakai energy or something,” said Kirby. Whis arched an eyebrow. “…Ah, so that’s why you feared me.”

“But Fecto Elfilis-,” muttered Whis.

“He’s being subjected to an emotion he forgot about…joy. He’ll come back when he relearns it, as will all my previous enemies. Some of them take multiple attempts while others, like Susie or Magalor, rediscover that for themselves.”

“You’re saying they’re coming back?” asked Whis.

“As better versions of themselves,” confirmed Kirby. “Ask any Waddle-Dee and they’ll tell you how they came back. Gods seem to forget what makes life fun and happy, focusing too much on cosmic threats and doom and gloom. But there’s more to life than that. Heck, look at Beerus, he’s become friends with the Saiyans and I’ll bet you, deep down, he enjoys it because it reminds him what his job is supposed to be about.”

“…I suppose that IS true, but myself-.”

“You’ve become friends with Bulma, haven’t you?” asked the Doctor.

“…W-Well, yes, but-.”

“Then you’ve personally been made better,” said the Doctor. “A person is defined by more than enemies or allies. There’s something stronger than that…friends. I had to learn how to make friends outside of my family during my first incarnation and Susan proved to be the best teacher in that regard. She helped me along in eventually becoming friends with Ian and Barbara. I know, I know, their lives are brief compared to mine, but the way I see it, having worthwhile friends despite brief lives makes my own life all the more fulfilling. It looks like the same could be said for you, but your indoctrination has been holding you back.”

“B-But-!” Whis was floundering. Never, in all his existence, had he been challenged like this!

“Whis,” said Kirby, “life’s better with friends, otherwise there’s no point to existence. Now, if you’ll excuse us, the Doctor and I need to finish this thing.” Kirby and the Doctor resumed their work. Whis…just stood there for a while, then had to walk away. What they said had managed to set what he learned on its ear.


Beerus overheard the whole conversation. He pondered his next move and realized that what he had in mind would be so easy. He looked up to the sky to see Goku and Vegeta sparring as they were wont to do. “…Hmmm. …He DOES have that button,” the God of Destruction said to himself. “…Yes, I think that will do.” He then cupped his hands to his mouth. “HEY! GOKU! VEGETA! QUIT FIGHTING AND COME DOWN HERE!” Goku and Vegeta looked down…and promptly punched each other in the jaw, making them plummet down to earth. Beerus pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance. The two Saiyans then approached Beerus.

“What’s up, Beerus?” asked Goku.

“Is it about Cell?” quizzed Vegeta.

“Goku, you still have that button Grand Zeno gave to you?” asked Beerus.

“Yeah, why?” replied Goku.

“I need to ask him something. Could you use it?”

“What could you possibly need to ask him personally, Lord Beerus?” asked Vegeta.

“That will be revealed in time,” replied Beerus. “Now, Goku, if you please.”

“It must be important if you of all people want to talk to him,” remarked Goku as he pulled out a purple circular device with a blue button on one side and a red button on the other. Goku pressed the blue button and a being the size of a child appeared. He wore light purple and white robes with gold trim, had blue skin, and his head had purple areas on each side, framing his childish face. Right now, the being was confused.

“Huh?” he asked. “What’s going on?” He looked at Goku and brightened up. “Oh! Hi Goku!”

“Hi Zenny!” replied Goku, using the being’s nickname.

“Did you want to play?” asked the being, Grand Zeno. “Because, for once, I can’t play. There’s something called the Grouping going on.”

“Actually, Lord Beerus wanted to ask you something,” answered Goku. Beerus bowed low to Grand Zeno.

“My apologies for distracting you from whatever work you were doing in response to the Grouping the Doctor is engaged with,” said Beerus.

“The Doctor? You mean the Time Lord known as the Doctor?” asked Grand Zeno. “So they’re working on the Grouping? Good.”

“Grand Zeno, the Grouping has brought the Devourer here and-.”

“Why do you call Kirby the Devourer?” asked Grand Zeno.

“…His appetite precedes him, my Lord. He’s recently gained a Copy Ability based on the Time Lords and got the ability to speak and I overheard a conversation between him, Whis, and the Doctor.”

“What was the conversation about?” Beerus then told Grand Zeno everything.

“…Bit bold of the Doctor and Kirby to say all that to an Angel,” remarked Vegeta.

“…Whis, could you come here for a second?” called Grand Zeno.

“Oh! My Lord Zeno! My apologies!” chuckled Whis as he approached. “How are you doing today?”

“Whis, it sounds like you were hit hard with the truth of the Doctor and Kirby’s words,” replied Grand Zeno. …Time stood still for Whis at that revelation.

Categories
Doctor Who: Crossings Series 6

The Warrior’s Cell: Part 2

The group arrived at an open area near the city. “Sorry, my Lord,” said Whis, “what were you-?”

“YOU BROUGHT KIRBY!” shouted Beerus. Whis goggled when he realized his mistake.

“Oh dear!” he gulped.

“I can’t fathom how a member of an extradimensional species,” remarked the Doctor, “can be afraid of Kirby.” Before Whis could protest, the Doctor turned to Goku. “Goku, you can sense energy, yes?”

“Yeah, and he’s right ahead of us!” warned Goku, a determined look crossing his face. And he was. The Doctor arched an eyebrow, her scientific curiosity at the forefront.

“Most intriguing,” she muttered about the figure ahead of them. “Exo-skeletal structure, vague cross between a humanoid and an insect…and a stinger as well, hidden under the wings-.”

“A perfect creature,” remarked the figure, the bio-android, Cell!

“That’s relative,” dismissed the Doctor as she examined the horn-like crown. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were the result of the Daleks’ mutant phase.”

“You shouldn’t be here, Cell!” snarled Goku as he got into a fighting stance.

“Oh, come on, Goku,” chuckled Cell. “I can go where I wish.”

“Yeah, well it didn’t get you far now, did it?!” taunted Bulma. “This is Age 782 and-!”

“BULMA, ZIP IT!” shouted Tysar as she clamped her hand over Bulma’s mouth.

“Thank you, Tysar,” called the Doctor.

“Age 782?” asked Cell. “Wait a minute, I came from that era! Why isn’t Earth a bunch of ruins and-?! …No! No, I’m not-!”

“You are, insect,” replied Beerus as he stepped forward with the usual swagger of a god. “But I’m halfway tempted to just destroy you right here and now.”

“Insect?! You say that so derogatorily to the Perfect Being?!” snarled Cell.

“Trust me, you’re as imperfect as a human.” Beerus raised his hand. “Hakai.”

“BEERUS, NO-!” called the Doctor. Then…painful feedback ripped up Beerus’ arm.

“What in-?!” spluttered the God of Destruction. “How-?!”

“His death IS set in stone, my Lord,” reminded Whis. “Hakai can’t be used on someone who is fated to die.”

“DEATH?! IMPOSSIBLE!” shouted Cell.

“Whis, you-!” The Doctor ran her hand down her face in frustration.

“Welp, cat’s out of the bag,” remarked Bulma. “Yeah, Cell, you died in Age 767, at the hands of Gohan. He destroyed everything, right down to your nucleus. We used the Dragonballs to wish everyone back, and that included Androids 17 and 18.”

“Gohan is a coward who hates fighting!” argued Cell. “I couldn’t possibly die to him!”

“Well, believe it or not, your acceptance doesn’t matter,” said the Doctor. “Your memory of this time will be wiped and you’ll be returned to your proper point in time.”

“I don’t think so, Madam!” Cell conjured energy in his fingertips. “MAKANKŌSAPPŌ!”

“EVERYBODY OUT OF HERE!” shouted Goku. Cell fired a beam of energy with a spiral around it. Everyone except Kirby leapt out of the way. Kirby simply opened his mouth and inhaled the attack. Cell goggled at the scene in front of him. Kirby swallowed the attack and leapt into the air, spinning for a bit before a red ribbon with a star on it appeared and tied itself into a headband for Kirby. Kirby then punched the air in front of him and assumed a fighting stance.

“And the Copy Abilities come into play!” complained Beerus as Whis looked into his staff.

“It looks like, on his native Popstar, that form’s called Fighter Kirby,” remarked the angel.

“Fighter Kirby?!” asked Goku excitedly.

“Now look what you’ve done, Whis!” grumbled Beerus.

“Oh dear,” sighed Whis as he realized his mistake.

“Goku, save your fighting instincts for Cell,” directed the Doctor.

“Is he always looking for a fight?” Tysar whispered to the Doctor.

“It’s Saiyan nature AND nurture,” sighed the Doctor.

“Oh, a Saiyan. Yeah, that makes sense.” Tysar nodded as she recalled what Thal Intelligence said about Saiyans.

“You’re seriously throwing a pink puffball at me?” scoffed Cell.

“Did you not see him swallow your attack?!” protested Beerus.

“I’ll take him on!” insisted Cell as he threw a punch at Kirby…only for Kriby to roll out of the way.

“RISING BREAK!” called Kirby as he delivered an energy charged uppercut to Cell’s jaw. Cell was sent flying, much to his surprise. He caught himself in the air and goggled.

“Okay, time! Time out!” he called. “How is that pink puffball capable of that level of strength?!”

“I’d rather not explain,” replied the Doctor. “Whis, we need to retreat. He’s the exact opposite of cooperative.”

“Yes, I quite agree,” remarked Whis. The Doctor then grabbed Kirby. “Oh no! Not this time!” insisted Whis.

“Whis, get over your cowardice of Kirby and get us out of here!” snapped the Doctor.

“See here-!” protested Whis.

“Ka…me…” said Cell. Everyone looked back to see that he had stretched his arms out and cupped his hands. He then pulled the hands to the right of his waist. “Ha…me…”

“WHIS! NOW!” called Goku. Whis surrounded everyone, even Kirby, in a bubble.

“HAAAAAAAA!” Cell thrust out his hands and fired a huge stream of energy. Thankfully, the bubble vanished in time. Cell growled to himself. “So that’s a thing! …Well, I’d better fix things and not waste time on the Cell Games in this new era!


The group ended up in another part of the plains outside the city. “Not exactly ideal, but the best we can do, given the circumstances,” muttered the Doctor.

“Poyo?” asked Kirby.

“Right, we’d better fill you in, Kirby,” said the Doctor. “You see, you were taken out of your time and place, just like Cell. You came from this world’s future while Cell came from the past. We’re trying to send Cell back and wipe his mind so history can proceed as normal. With you, we don’t need to wipe your mind. …And Whis and his ‘Master’, Beerus, seem to be afraid of you, for some reason.”

“Ask Kirby about Nightmare! Dark Matter! Zero!” insisted Beerus.

“Or Dark Mind! Dark Nebula! Star Dream!” continued Whis.

“Void Termina! Fecto Elfilis! Galactic Nova!” finished Beerus.

“All of those had rather wicked ambitions, right?” asked the Doctor. “I know Fecto Elfilis did. …Kirby, did you really beat Fecto Elfilis?” Kirby nodded. “Ooh, I’d like the details!”

“Doctor, do we really have time to do that?” asked Tysar. “We still need to figure out how to deal with Cell.”

“…I should have something to help in that regard,” mused the Doctor. “But I’d need another Time Lord to help and they’re all on Gallifrey trying to help with the Grouping.”

“Then Rassilon was successful?” asked Whis.

“She asked for my help, but yes. …Wait a minute…” The Doctor then snapped her fingers. “I need to get back to the TARDIS!”

“Doctor?” asked Tysar.

“Trust me, there’s something in there we can use to solve this situation!”

“Right then, back to Capsule Corp,” said Beerus. “Whis-.”

“Good heavens, my lord! I’m not a taxi service!” complained Whis.

“Whis, please!” insisted the Doctor.

“Oh, very well. But when we fight Cell, it’s going to be Goku bringing us there.” Whis made his bubble and everyone vanished.


At Capsule Corp, a short, black-haired man with his hair pulled up to the sky and wearing blue spandex and white armor was looking around the place. “Earth Woman, where are you?!” he demanded. He arrived at the balcony and saw the TARDIS. “…What’s Bulma bought now?!” growled the man. Whis’ bubble then appeared and everyone arrived. “There you are!” snapped the man when he saw Bulma. The Doctor goggled when she saw the man.

“That’s impossible!” she whispered. “Y-You perished along with your planet, King Vegeta!”

“…You know of my people, then?” asked the man. “I’m not my father. I’m Prince Vegeta.”

“Ah, yes, the crown prince,” realized the Doctor.

“Bulma, what’s with the blue box?!” Vegeta demanded.

“That’s not mine,” replied Bulma. “That’s the Doctor’s.” She pointed out the Doctor.

“A doctor, huh?” scoffed Vegeta.

“Not A doctor, Prince,” corrected Whis. “THE Doctor. From Gallifrey.”

“WHAT?!” Vegeta goggled in surprise.

“You know about the Time Kings, Vegeta?” asked Goku.

“It’s Time LORD, Kakarot!” snapped Vegeta.

“Thank you, your Highness,” said the Doctor. “One second! Er, could someone fill Vegeta in on the current crisis?” She dashed into the TARDIS. As she searched for…whatever it was she was searching for, everyone filled Vegeta in.

“…I always thought the Grouping was a myth,” remarked Vegeta, “but if it really IS happening…”

“That’s how the Devourer got here,” shuddered Beerus as he pointed at Kirby. Whis took a step to the side.

“…Is he related to Majin Buu?” asked Vegeta.

“I don’t think so,” replied the Doctor as she came out, carrying a Time Lord Collar.

“…Erm, Doctor, what’s that uncomfortable thing supposed to do?” asked Whis.

“It’s not for me,” replied the Doctor. “Kirby, if you please?”

“Poyo!” replied Kirby as he gave up the Fighter Copy Ability. He then swallowed the collar, spun in the air, then the collar appeared on his shoulders, a skull cap fitted onto his head, and robes came out of the collar. “TIME LORD KIRBY!” called Kirby.

Categories
Doctor Who: Crossings Series 6

The Warrior’s Cell: Part 1

It was a warm, sunny day in West City. People were going about their business as usual. Over in a large, dome shaped building, a group of people were relaxing and eating on a balcony. One of the people, a man with spiky, black hair, was chowing down with no signs of stopping. Given that his biology required a lot of calories, it was no surprise. The owner of the building, a blue-haired woman, was off to the side with a blue-skinned man with white hair. “I’m surprised you could find some time in your schedule to visit, Whis,” remarked the blue-haired woman.

“Well, Lady Bulma,” sighed the blue-skinned man, Whis, “when you serve someone like Lord Beerus,” he indicated the humanoid, purple, hairless cat with an Egyptian motif in his clothes that was napping in the sun, “you tend to have a lot of free time. Then again, a visit to your world is ALWAYS delightful when you invite us.”

“Yeah, barring any threats,” muttered the blue-haired woman, Dr. Bulma Briefs.

“I don’t know, you and your friends seem to handle them quite well.”


Meanwhile, Beerus lazily reached for something…only to realize that what he was reaching for wasn’t there. “Hm?” He lazily opened an eye. His eyes bugged out when it hit him. “HEY! WAIT A MINUTE! WHERE’S MY CASHEW PORK?!” he demanded.

“Oops! Sorry!” replied the black-haired man childishly.

“You glutton, Goku!” snarled Beerus. “That was my naptime snack! I ought to destroy you for this!”

“Oh, come on!” complained Goku. “That’s not fair! It was just so good!”

“Keep talking, let’s see how far-!” Beerus’ ear twitched. “…On second thought, there’s something that requires investigation. Whis!”

“I hear it too, my Lord,” replied Whis.

“Isn’t that the TARDIS?” asked Bulma.

“Well, with Gallifrey having come back, it’s certainly A TARDIS,” said Whis.

“Hey! Over there!” called Goku as the Doctor’s TARDIS materialized.

“What’s going on here?” mused Beerus as something more interesting than food held his attention for the moment. “Why are they coming here?”

“Well, we can always ask,” replied Whis. The TARDIS doors opened and the Doctor and Tysar stepped out.

“You took off after those readings like the Daleks were chasing us, Doctor,” said Tysar. “What’s wrong?”

“Two chronal surges centered around here according to Gallifrey, that’s what,” replied the Doctor. “That means the Grouping’s starting to get worse.”

“Ah! Lady Doctor!” greeted Whis. The Doctor looked up and goggled.

“Whis!” returned the Doctor. “And Lord Beerus! Good to see you again!” She then spotted Goku and Bulma. “And you, Goku and Bulma!”

“…I don’t think we met before,” remarked Goku.

“I KNOW we never met before,” said Bulma. “Where’s the Doctor?”

“That IS the Doctor,” said Beerus.

“Huh?!” yelped Goku and Bulma.

“Don’t you remember?” asked the Doctor. “That whole business with Frieza wanting to make a wish on the Dragon Balls but you and Amy made your own wishes, Bulma?”

“Good grief, it IS you!” called Bulma. “But how?! You’re completely different!”

“Time Lords tend to change their physical makeup when they’re about to die somehow,” replied Whis. “Now, Lady Doctor…what’s this about the Grouping? Surely it already happened?”

“…I’m afraid there’s a new one and…I’m partially to blame,” replied the Doctor. “You see, Amy was encouraged by her future to come with me, then a whole thing surrounding the TARDIS happened on Gallifrey, resulting in the TARDIS’ heart bi-generating so the old heart becomes the new Eye of Harmony-.”

“And that released its stabilization over the paradox surrounding Amy,” finished Whis, “resulting in chronal surges. I see you have a Thal with you. Does that mean Amy told her past to go with you?”

“Yes, and she’s on Mobius. Her return there is another thing that I really don’t have time to explain. I’m trying to send people back to their native times like Tysar here.”

“Hello,” said Tysar. “Turns out the frequency of chronal surges is happening faster. I got plucked from New Davius and landed in Gotham, then we had to save Martin Luther King Jr.”

“Hm, that IS a worry,” remarked Whis. He then summoned his staff out of thin air and peered into it. “Hm, You’re right, two chronal surges are on approach. One is centered around this planet, the other…I’m not too sure I-.” That was when the chronal surges washed over everyone.

“Oh heavens!” gulped the Doctor.

“They arrived at the same time,” shuddered Whis. “It really IS getting worse!”

“Doctor, what does that mean?!” asked Tysar.

“Time is unravelling,” replied the Doctor. “All we’re doing is treating the symptoms when we should be finding the cause.”

“I’m afraid I can’t help you much there,” sighed Whis as he peered into his staff again. “While that paradox surrounding Amy was the seed, I don’t think it’s your TARDIS’ old heart becoming the new Eye of Harmony that’s the source.”

“We’ll discuss those theories later,” said the Doctor. “Right now, we need to find who was taken or brought here and bring them back to their original points in space/time.”

“Now that, I CAN help you there,” smiled Whis. “It looks like no one from the present was taken. It looks like one chronal surge took someone from the past and put them here while the other surge took someone from just a few seconds in the future to right here. …It looks like that last one-.”

“Poyo?” asked a childish voice.

“Hm?” Beerus looked down at his feet…then yowled in terror and scrambled up to a higher place!

“Lord Beerus, why are you acting-?” Whis trailed off when he saw what Beerus was freaking out over. It was a pink ball with a face, stumps for arms, and big feet!

“Kirby?!” yelped the Doctor.

“LORD BEERUS, MOVE OVER!” Whis shrieked in terror as he tried to join his master.

“NO! FIND YOUR OWN BUTT SHELTER!” shouted Beerus in a panic. Everyone just stared at the God and Angel scrambling to get away from Kirby.

“…Lord Beerus, Whis, what on Earth is wrong with you?” asked the Doctor. “Kirby’s got an appetite, yes, but-.”

“Don’t you know that thing’s reputation, Doctor?!” yelped Whis girlishly.

“Doctor?” asked Kirby as he tilted his face in confusion.

“Yes, Kirby, it’s me,” replied the Doctor. “Remember when we fought the Weeping Angels on Popstar? You sucked up Rassilon’s regeneration energy and became Time Lord Kirby. And we won against the Angels too.”

“Doctor!” cheered Kirby happily as he leapt into the Doctor’s arms.

“It’s good to see you too, Kirby!” replied the Doctor happily.

“Doctor, you’re friends with a Star Warrior?” asked Tysar.

“Oh, you know about them?” quizzed the Doctor. “I met Kirby when I was on a quest for the Key to Time. I remember Kirby being a hungry boy.”

“Doctor, that pink menace eats and eats and eats! Even gods have been consumed by him!” protested Beerus. “My Hakai technique won’t do any good!”

“For your own safety, please get away from him and let me send him back!” urged Whis.

“Oh, come now!” dismissed the Doctor as she set Kirby down. “He’s not dangerous to his friends and he’s made many friends!”

“Hold on, Beerus,” said Goku, “he’s scary to you and Whis?”

“Goku, you’re not thinking of fighting that horror, are you?!” argued Whis. “Even Grand Zeno wouldn’t dare!”

“Whis, you’re just exciting Goku!” snarled Beerus.

“I wouldn’t bother picking a fight, Goku,” said the Doctor. “Kirby’s not a fighter by nature.”

“Aw!” complained Goku. “But I wanna know how strong he is!” Kirby then saw the food and gurgled happily. He then opened his mouth and inhaled! The food flew into his mouth and Kirby only stopped when it was all gone! Bulma and Goku goggled in surprise.

“That was enough to feed ten Saiyans!” yelped Bulma.

“He’s called the Devourer among us gods and angels for a reason!” called Beerus. “Now let Whis get rid of him and-!”

“Absolutely not!” defended the Doctor. “We might need him to help out with the other fellow that got caught up in the chronal surge.”

“Doctor, that’s no longer your call to make!” replied Whis. “Now move aside so-!”

“Hang on!” interrupted Goku as he looked to the north. “Something’s just popped up.”

“Oh? And what’s that?” asked Beerus. “What’s more important than getting rid of a menace?!”

“…IT’S CELL!” yelped Goku.

“What?! Cell?!” Bulma’s eyes widened in fear. “But how?!”

“Might I ask who this Cell person is?” asked the Doctor.

“A Bio-android with the DNA of Goku and all his friends!” explained Bulma. “Designed by a Red Ribbon army scientist to kill Goku!”

“But my son, Gohan, killed him years ago!” said Goku.

“Whis, can you-?” asked Bulma.

“Let me have a little looksee,” replied Whis as he looked into his staff. “…Oh my! It IS that Cell monster your son killed, Goku! It looks like he ended up in the ruins of that arena he made.”

“We gotta get there now!” urged Goku.

“And send him back to when he’s supposed to die,” remarked Beerus. “Whis-!”

“Yes, I know, Lord Beerus,” sighed Whis. He raised his staff, surrounded everyone in a green bubble, then everyone vanished.

“WAIT! YOU BROUGHT THE PINK-!” Beerus’ warning came too little, too late.

Categories
Doctor Who: Crossings Series 6

Let Freedom Ring: Part 4

Chojin Bird-Man Castle was sighted in Gotham Bay. The Coast Guard did what they could, but the fortress deployed a red, umbrella styled shield in front and spun it to kick up the water. Inside the fortress, the Penguin cackled. “Believe it or not, Gotham,” he said, “this penguin moves just as fast on land as it does at sea…and it’s got one hell of a bite! You were all fools and just like the state of Kai in Feudal Japan, I’ve played you all like a harp from Hell!”


Back with the Doctor and her group, the Master was still in the throes of a heart attack. “Tysar, help me get his shirt off!” directed the Doctor. “Batman, Winston, I need three AED pads and something that can generate electricity!”

“Three AED pads?” asked Winston as he got the pads and attached cables. “That’s how many a Time Lord needs?”

“Both hearts need to be reset simultaneously!” replied the Doctor as she and Tysar tore the Master’s shirt off.

“Would the Shock Batarang work?” asked Batman as he pulled out said Batarang.

“Gimme!” Batman handed the Doctor the Batarang and Winston handed over the pads. The Doctor then wired the pads to the Batarang, then placed one of the pads on each side of the Master’s chest while the third and final was applied to the top just above the vessels bridging his two hearts. “Now, Batman, monitor for a double pulse.” The Doctor switched the Batarang on. “Clear!” She pressed the button and delivered the shock. The Master went silent and still. For a few tense seconds, everyone was praying the Doctor didn’t kill her patient. …The Master then shot up, screaming and scaring everyone but Batman into screaming. He stopped screaming, then sighed.

“…Hello, Rightie!” he said.

“Both hearts are beating,” reported Batman.

“Now…” The Master tore the pads off. “Time to pluck a penguin’s feathers!”

“Master, there IS a way to beat him, yes?” asked the Doctor with a smirk.

“…Don’t say it!” hissed the Master.

“Well, it seems to me…”

“If you say it, I WILL use the TCE on-!”

“We’ll need to work together,” finished the Doctor. The Master snarled, then sighed in defeat.

“…We need to disconnect the Quake Engine component from Chojin-jo’s main control room,” he said. “And the most vulnerable point is when it assumes battle mode.”

“Battle mode?” asked the Doctor.

“Chojin-jo’s Wind Forest Fire Mountain transformation,” explained Batman.

“…A little over the top. We’ll need to trick the Penguin into engaging it. But we follow Batman’s no kill rule.”

“Doctor-!” argued the Master.

“We’re guests in Batman’s city and temporary Bat Family members. We follow HIS rules.”

“…All right, what’s the plan?”


Chojin Bird-Man Castle marched closer to the shores of Gotham, ready to trample it. Inside the control room, the Penguin cackled as various Emperor Penguins squawked. “That’s right, my fine-feathered friends!” squawked the Penguin. “Gotham will be all ours! Then the Eastern Seaboard, then the rest of the continent, then the whole damn hemisphere, then-!” The computers flashed alarms. “Huh? What’s…GIANT FLY TRAPS?! IVY! Fine then, time to do some weeding! CHOJIN BIRD-MAN CASTLE: WIND FOREST FIRE MOUNTAIN TRANSFORMATION!


“Where did those plants come from?!” demanded the Doctor as giant fly traps grew while Chojin-jo rearranged itself into a battle configuration that looked like the Penguin, complete with a top hat, monocle, and hidden guns behind the umbrella shield.

“Those aren’t real plants,” remarked Batman. “Someone activated holograms. Who-?”

“Excuse me!” called Dr. King as he and Alfred arrived.

“What are YOU doing here?!” protested the Doctor.

“I’m sorry, Doctor, I wanted to help,” replied Dr. King.

“Don’t be too hard on him, Doctor,” said Alfred. “He overheard the plan and activated the holo-emitters based on Poison Ivy’s plants.”

“…I appreciate the help, Dr. King,” said the Doctor. “But I’d advise you to go back to Wayne Manor. If the boy you’re possessing dies, you fade away from history and the United States can’t have that.”

“…I understand, Doctor,” said Dr. King.


Back in Chojin Bird-Man Castle’s control room, the Penguin saw what was going on. “Holograms! Batman, you idiot! You really think that’s gonna stop me?!”

“No, but this will!” replied Batman from the ceiling. A kunai then buried itself into the controls!

“WHAT?! NO!” shouted the Penguin. He snarled as Batman landed. The Penguin then activated his concealed sword from his umbrella and attacked with Batman keeping out of reach.


While the fight was going on, the Doctor, Tysar, Winston, and the Master entered the engine room. There, the power convertor for the Quake Engine rested. “That’s it!” called the Master.

“All right, start disconnecting,” directed the Doctor. As they started yanking wires, Tysar spotted a big one coming from the power convertor.

“Now if that isn’t a main power line…” she smiled and yanked it out! The fortress then juddered as the lights went off!

“Good eye, Tysar!” praised the Doctor.

“Doctor, outside!” called Winston. “The fortress stopped!” Winston was right. The legs of the fortress had stopped before they could reach the shore.


“The Power Convertor!” squawked the Penguin. He snarled at Batman. “You distracted me, didn’t you?!”

“Wasn’t all that much of a challenge,” replied Batman. The Penguin then leapt from the control room’s window and flew down to the engine room where he saw Tysar teasingly holding the main power wire.

“Lookie here!” she chuckled. “A local flightless bird getting too close to the sun!”

“Learned about the wildlife of Earth, did you?!” snarled the Penguin.

“Move aside!” commanded the Master as he shoved Tysar aside.

“Master, what are you doing?!” yelped the Doctor.

“Cutting a problem down to size!” replied the Master. “One shrunken penguin, coming-!” The Master then realized his pocket was empty. “…Wh…Where’s the-?!”

“Looking for this?!” cackled the Penguin as he held up a black rod with a sphere on the end of it.

“My Tissue Compression Eliminator!” gasped the Master in sheer outrage that a mere human stole HIS weapon. “How-?!”

“You dropped it during your heart attack!” cackled the Penguin. “Now let’s see how it works!” He activated the device, aiming it at the Master…but nothing happened. “…Oh, because, of course, you made it so this thing can’t be turned against you!” snarled the Penguin. He then smashed it to the floor.

“A pity, hm?” chuckled the Master. “But there’s something to be said about taking heads the old-fashioned way!” He grabbed a foil and swung it, but the Penguin blocked with his concealed sword and the two dueled.

“Come on!” called Batman as he grabbed the power converter. As the two villains dueled, everyone made their way to safety.


The Gotham News explained that the duel between the Penguin and the Master ended in a stalemate, resulting in the Penguin being impeached as Mayor of Gotham and both him and the Master being transported to Arkham Asylum. Within the Batcave, the Doctor was altering the Quake Engine’s power convertor. “And there we go!” said the Doctor. “All done!” Alfred then entered the Batcave.

“I just received a call from Lucius Fox,” he said with a smile. “He remembers Dr. King and his contributions to the continuing Civil Rights Movement. So do all those who temporarily forgot him.”

“Thank goodness for that,” remarked Dr. King. “…That means my young self’s time is up at least in this part of history.”

“Trust me, it will take a major catastrophe to utterly erase you from history,” chuckled the Doctor.

“Let me just…” Dr. King’s young self then closed his eyes and collapsed as his ghost left. Dr. King’s ghost looked as he did seconds before his assassination.

“That’s the face of a Civil Rights leader I know!” remarked Winston. The Doctor then keyed in a command. The power convertor glowed, then it and the young Martin Luther King Jr. vanished while his ghost remained.

“And that, as they say, is that,” sighed the Doctor.

“It’s a pity some Americans would rather forget about Dr. King,” sighed Winston.

“As long as people still practice compassion,” replied the Doctor, “I don’t see him fading away from history any time soon. Dr. King, I can’t say when, but that dream where humans let freedom ring WILL come true. There WILL be a time where everyone can say ‘Free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty, we’re free at last’!” Dr. King smiled.

“That’s good to know, Doctor,” he said. “Now, I better get back to Coretta. See you all on the other side!” His ghost faded away, but his memory remained.

“…Well, with all that,” said the Doctor, “I think it’s time I take Tysar home. This point is deep in her people’s past, you know.”

“Tysar, stay safe with the Doctor, hm?” said Batman.

“As long as you keep Gotham safe,” replied Tysar. She and the Doctor then entered the TARDIS and it dematerialized.


“So, you understand what I’m currently doing?” asked the Doctor. “I don’t know if I can take you directly back.”

“…I don’t think the direct way back will be necessary,” replied Tysar.

“You understand it’s dangerous, yes? There’s a temporal catastrophe going on and certain time-travelling races will capitalize on it. Especially the Daleks.”

“We Thals may be pacifists, but we don’t run from our problems. Not anymore.” The Doctor smiled.

“Welcome aboard, Tysar!” The Doctor set the controls and the TARDIS whizzed off to track the next chronal surge!

Categories
Doctor Who: Crossings Series 6

Let Freedom Ring: Part 3

“…How…do you lose…a TARDIS?!” asked the Doctor.

“You tell me!” replied the Master.

“So you’re stuck in one point in space/time,” remarked Batman. He then smirked. “Just like us humans.”

“Wipe that smirk off your face, Batman! It doesn’t suit you!” hissed the Master.

“So you need the Quake Engine to restore your time travel capabilities,” said the Doctor. She then looked at the Penguin. “What about your angle, Mayor Cobblepot?”

“Do you know how the Quake Engine works?” asked the Penguin.

“Can’t say as I do.”

“Batman, you tell her. You were caught up in its effects along with us.”

“The Quake Engine,” began Batman, “treats time like origami, folding it into various shapes.”

“What?!” gasped the Doctor. “That’s dangerous! One mistake and you tear time like an amateur origami artist tears paper!”

“The Quake Engine can also be used to rewrite parts of history,” continued Batman. “After my adventure in Japan, Ra’s Al Ghul got ahold of it and used it to try and eliminate all but the strongest of humanity, rewriting the Justice League’s history so they would become Yakuza members. Because we existed outside of time for a brief moment, we could access the Quake Engine and refold history back into its proper shape. I thought we took it apart.”

“You did,” replied the Penguin, “but you know me, Batman. I have a nose for information!”

“So your thugs attacked one of the vaults hiding a part of the Quake Engine!”

“And they pulled off the operation beautifully!”

“I then blundered here and found the Penguin working on the Quake Engine,” explained the Master, “and offered my help in helping him turn history into its coherent state in return for locating my TARDIS.”

“Mayor Cobblepot, you have to stop this!” warned the Doctor.

“Nice try, but a lady’s tears won’t move me!” dismissed the Penguin.

“I don’t know what the Master has planned, but this ISN’T about recovering his TARDIS in the long run!”

“Doctor, you’ve entertained the Mayor and I with your theories long enough,” said the Master. “…Now, my Laser Screwdriver? You DID take it while Batman explained the Quake Engine.”

“…Oh well,” sighed the Doctor as she handed over a rod with three laser emitters on one end. “Can’t blame a Time Lady for trying.”

“Doctor, that trick hasn’t worked on me since the days of the Academy!”

“I think we’ve heard enough!” snapped the Penguin. “Batman, you and your friends can leave!”

“Come on, everyone,” said the Doctor. “I think we heard enough.” She and her friends then left.

“Right then,” grumbled the Master. “Now, if Young Martin can return with the power supply, that would be splendid!”

“…I didn’t see him when I brought those guys here,” remarked the Penguin. He pressed a comms button. “Security, someone find that boy.”

“Sir, he left a minute ago,” replied the guard.

“WHAT?!” shouted the Penguin and the Master.


Back in the Batmobile, the Doctor, Winston, Batman, and Tysar were discussing what they learned. “Why would the Master want a coherent past if he’s planning on ruling all of time and space?” muttered Winston. “And why would they WANT to preserve Martin Luther’s history?”

“The Master isn’t exactly a civil rights activist,” remarked the Doctor. “Questions, questions.”

“Perhaps I can provide some answers?” asked the voice of a young boy! Batman turned towards an empty alley and stopped the Batmobile. Everyone turned to see Young Martin in the Batmobile with them!

“What are you doing here?!” yelped Tysar. “It’s not safe!”

“It’s safer than staying with those two,” replied Young Martin. “And I know what they’re up to. They both plan to be the sole ruler of time and space.”

“Because, of course, they don’t trust each other,” sighed the Doctor. “But that doesn’t explain why…Winston, something on your person is beeping.”

“Huh?” Winston listened to the beeping. “…That’s my PKE Meter,” he said. He pulled out the device and the arms of the PKE meter flashed and moved to a near vertical position when the device was waved over Young Martin. “What the-?! The living shouldn’t have a PKE reading! …Unless…” The Doctor and Winston goggled.

“…He didn’t, did he?!” whispered the Doctor.

“What is it, Doctor?” asked Tysar.

“…That would explain why the temporal degradation is so slow,” muttered the Doctor.

“I met him once before on the job,” said Winston. “Let me compare notes.” He pulled out a notebook and looked between the numbers on the PKE meter and the numbers in the book. “…It is! Martin Luther King’s ghost is possessing his younger self!”

“What?!” asked Batman.

“A pleasure to see you again, Dr. Zeddemore,” greeted Martin Luther King Jr, America’s greatest Civil Rights hero!

“So, the mind of your younger self is asleep!” realized the Doctor. “You’re keeping him from learning too much of the future!”

“That’s the idea, Doctor,” confirmed Martin Luther King Jr. “When people started forgetting and I saw my younger body outside the Gotham courthouse, I had to try something. But it seems as if my possessing my younger self has consequences.”

“Yes, but it slowed down the rate of people forgetting you, Dr. King,” said the Doctor. “We need to bring your younger self back to when you jumped out of your house’s second story.”

“Interesting that I was plucked out of time at a low end of my life.”

“The Grouping doesn’t really have much in the way of rhyme or reason.”

“The Grouping?” asked Tysar.

“Those chronal surges are happening all across time and space,” said the Doctor. She then snapped her fingers as she remembered something. “Batman, you and the Justice League are going to meet my past self, but it will happen in your future. You need to remember to tell my past self about the Grouping.”

“Got it,” replied Batman.

“Doctor, I know what the Quake Engine is being used for,” said Martin Luther King Jr. “The Penguin mentioned something about a bird man castle and how he intends to use the Quake Engine to power it.”

“Chojin-jo?! He’s rebuilt it?!” asked Batman.

“Chojin-jo being?” asked Tysar.

“It’s the Penguin’s robotic fortress, also called Chojin Bird-Man Castle, from when the Quake Engine was first used so the Gotham Villains could take over Feudal Japan!”

“But that would mean starting the Industrial Revolution too early for Japan!” yelped the Doctor.

“We fixed that, thank goodness,” replied Batman. “But if the Penguin’s getting his old castle working-!”

“He’ll rule not only Gotham, but the entire eastern seaboard of the United States,” finished the Doctor. “We have to find Chojin Bird Man Castle! Dr. King, do you know where-?!”

“The main factory’s in the underground pumps station,” explained Martin Luther King Jr.

“That’s Killer Croc’s old lair,” remarked Batman. “The pumps are supposed to keep Gotham Bay from flooding.”

“Apropos that a man that themes himself after an aquatic bird should choose that for his base,” said the Doctor.


In the underground pumps station, the Penguin and the Master were putting the finishing touches on Chojin Bird-Man Castle. “And there we go!” laughed the Master as he made the last connection. “All done!”

“Perfect!” cackled the Penguin.

“Hold it!” called Batman’s voice.

“Penguin! Master! Drop this nonsense now!” shouted the Doctor.

“No!” snarled the Master. “Not while I’m so close! You won’t stop me this time, Doctor! Hand over Young Dr. King and I’ll return him to his native time, then come back and rule over this planet!”

“Bit of a complication in returning him,” replied the Doctor. “In any event, you can’t launch this contraption! It’ll fold the Time Vortex into five dimensions instead of the usual four!”

“I’ve come too close! You’ll not ruin my plans this time, Doctor!” The Master grabbed a fencing foil and swung at the Doctor. The Doctor grabbed another and the two dueled. The Doctor noticed a tray of sushi with chopsticks nearby and dueled the Master long enough to disarm him and point her foil’s tip at his left-hand heart. She then grabbed the chopsticks and used them to pick up a sushi roll.

“I still find that violent exercise makes me rather hungry. Do you?” The Doctor ate the sushi roll with a grin.

“Smile all you want, Doctor!” snarled the Master. “It’s still launch capable! One voice command is all that’s necessary.”

“Don’t you dare!” warned the Doctor.

“Oh, I’ll more than dare! Chojin-jo! HASSHIN!” …Nothing happened. “…Chojin-jo…hasshin!” The Master tried again. “…Oh for-! CHOJIN-JO! HASSHIN!” The Master then felt a sharp pain in his right-hand heart. The Doctor saw it in his eyes, he was NOT faking it! He clutched the heart like one does when they’re having a heart attack!

“What in-?!” The Doctor felt for his heartbeat. “…No electrical signal?! How-?!”

“A little something I picked up in the Orient!” cackled the Penguin. “You really think I’d let an alien like the Master or you, Doctor, control MY history?!”

“You paranoid little-!” snarled the Master through his heart attack. “WE HAD A DEAL!”

“And now I have a better one, what with me learning how to stop the electrical signals to a heart! Thanks for leaving your Laser Screwdriver out! Now…time to feather the nest I built! FLY, CHOJIN BIRD-MAN CASTLE! SPREAD YOUR WINGS!” The fortress then moved as the Penguin used his umbrella to fly up to the control room!

Categories
Doctor Who: Crossings Series 6

Let Freedom Ring: Part 2

The Doctor and Tysar were brought to the Batcave and brought up to speed on their investigation of Martin Luther King Jr’s disappearance from history. “I’m actually surprised,” muttered the Doctor as she looked up something on the Batcomputer. “It hasn’t been THAT long since his assassination. I’d have…Nichelle Nichols.”

“What about her?” asked Bruce.

“SHE didn’t know about Dr. King.”

“That’s impossible! He’s the reason she stayed on as Uhura when Star Trek was being broadcasted!”

“I wonder if…aha! Found it!”

“Found what, Doctor?” asked Winston as he arrived.

“Another chronal surge! An energy wave that plucks someone from one point in space/time and drops them off in another, either in the past or the future.”

“Then Dr. King was taken by a chronal surge like me?” asked Tysar.

“It seems that way, but the probabilities of him going back into his time are still in effect,” replied the Doctor. “If I had forgotten him, it would have been too late and I doubt Lucius Fox would be the man he is today.”

“Then, for Lucius’ sake, we need to find Dr. King,” declared Bruce. “Where and when is he is the big question.”

“I’m going to allow the Batcomputer to temporarily use the TARDIS computers to calculate where and when he was taken,” said the Doctor as she worked. The computer beeped and Circular Gallifreyan appeared. “Aha! Access granted! Now let’s see…hm, as a funny little man once said…oh my word!”

“Doctor?” asked Winston.

“I’ve found when he was taken!” explained the Doctor. “In his history, he just jumped out of the second story window of his house!”

“Which attempt?” asked Winston. “There were two points he did that, both of which were the result of him blaming himself for someone else’s death.”

“Looks like…after his brother, A.D, slid down the banister and knocked their sister, Jennie, unconscious. Calculating his temporal path now…oh no!”

“What?” asked Bruce.

“He’s…he’s in Gotham right now! In the Mayor’s house!”

“Great, a kid riddled with guilt finds himself in a 21st century city. He’ll believe he’s in Hell! And if he’s in the Mayor’s house, he’s definitely gonna be scared out of his mind!”

“Especially with Mr. Cobblepot as the current Mayor,” remarked Alfred as he revealed himself with a set of tea.

“…Did you say Cobblepot, Alfred?” asked the Doctor. “As in…Oswald Cobblepot? The Penguin?!”

“The very same. Tea, Doctor?”

“…Please,” sighed the Doctor as she put her head in her hands. “What kind of election fraud-?!”

“I already checked,” replied Bruce. “There WASN’T any election fraud. Gotham elected the Penguin of their own free will.”

“I don’t know if that makes the situation better or worse! …Come to think of it, I don’t know as you looking into the election results-.”

“Perhaps we should table that for now, Doctor,” said Winston. “We need to save Little Martin Luther Jr. and figure out if the Penguin has any plans for him.”

“Not a bad idea,” agreed Bruce.

“…Right then, Bruce, suit up,” declared the Doctor. “We need to speak to Mayor Cobblepot tonight!”


In the Mayor’s home, a short, beak-nosed man was getting ready for bed. He took off his monocle, then lit up a cigar as he looked out the window and saw Gotham. “…Look at me now, Wayne!” he cackled to himself, his laugh sounding like an Emperor Penguin. “Your family never could achieve THIS kind of power! I’ll run Gotham-!” He was interrupted by a buzzer. “…What now?!” complained Mayor Oswald Cobblepot, the Penguin. He pressed a button on his intercom. “What is it?!” he demanded.

“A Mr. Batman and his retinue here to see you, your Honor,” replied his security guard. “They just arrived at the front gate.”

“What?!” squawked the Penguin in surprise. “He’s never been THIS bold before! …Color me intrigued! Send them up!”

“Very well, your Honor.”


Batman, the Doctor, Tysar, and Winston left the Batmobile and Batman locked it. They were escorted to the Mayor’s Office where the Penguin, dressed in his tuxedo, top hat, monocle, and umbrella, waited for them. “…Leave us,” the Penguin ordered the guard. The guard hesitated.

“I won’t hurt him,” promised Batman.

“He’s right,” said the Penguin. “Rather gauche for Batman to go after someone in their own home.” The guard nodded, then headed off. “…So, Batman, just waltzing up to the front door. That’s not like you. Unless…your plan requires…delicacy?”

“We believe you have someone here,” replied Batman. “A little boy, African American, accent from Atlanta, Georgia.”

“Ah, so the kid’s important to you, huh?” chuckled the Penguin.

“Important to all of time and space, if you can believe it,” replied the Doctor.

“Who are you?” asked the Penguin.

“I’m usually known as the Doctor, although my enemies have given me some rather…colorful names.”

“Doctor of what?”

“Well, a little of everything, really,” replied the Doctor. “Let’s just say we’re working a case, a rather open and shut case of Martin Luther King Jr. being taken out of time.”

“…You mean with people forgetting him?” asked the Penguin. “You’re saying you figured out he was removed from history altogether?”

“Not yet, or I wouldn’t remember him. There’s something keeping him from being forgotten, but it’s being whittled away, and I believe the boy you have in your…care is connected.” The Penguin said nothing. “…You’re not dismissing my suggestions as utter nonsense.”

“Penguin, why wouldn’t you say anything?” asked Batman.

“Because the boy appeared during one of my experiments with time travel,” revealed the Penguin.

“Time travel? How’s that?” asked the Doctor.

“Come with me,” directed the Penguin. He led the group out of his office.


In another room, a man was working on a machine. He keyed in something on a computer, then the machine sparked. “Drat!” grumbled the man. “Young man, I need another power supply. Get one from the stores, please.” The young boy nodded silently and walked off. “…Why we’re keeping him here, I have no idea. I need stable history to work with.” The door opened. “That was quick,” remarked the man before he looked up and saw the Penguin with his guest. “Oh! Your Honor! …And Batman, I see.” The Doctor saw the man and her face darkened.

“…You know that man personally?” asked Tysar.

“During the election of 2028,” explained the Doctor, “HE masqueraded as an American politician that became one of the two main candidates for President. …Unless that hasn’t happened to you yet?”

“Hang on, you’re THAT Doctor?” asked the Penguin.

“Oh good! You know who that man really is!” said the Doctor. “Saves me the long, boring explanation for you at least.”

“DOCTOR!” snarled the man.

“Hello again, Master!” chuckled the Doctor. “So, what will happen in Batman’s future HAS already happened to you, hm?”

“What are you doing, Cobblepot?!” the Master demanded. “Bringing her here?! Do you know how dangerous she is?!”

“Never mind him, let’s talk about you,” said the Doctor. “Why are you still slumming around with American politicians, even small time ones like the Penguin? And…is that a time displacement machine?!”

“It’s a machine of Gorilla Grodd’s design called the Quake Engine, Doctor,” explained the Master. “And we need to use it to bring a boy back after a chronal surge took him.”

“Is this what you’re looking for?” asked the boy as he arrived.

“Yes, that’s it, young man!” said the Master. The Doctor then pointed her sonic screwdriver at the boy.

“…What is that?” asked Winston.

“The Sonic Screwdriver, Winston!” replied the Doctor. “A multi-tool of my design!” She checked the readings and goggled. “…Erm, young man, could you leave us for a second?” asked the Doctor. The boy looked at the Master and the Penguin.

“…You can go,” said the Master. The boy nodded and headed off. Once the door shut, the Master grinned. “Figured it out, Doctor?” he asked.

“That was him?” asked Batman. “Young Martin Luther King Jr?”

“The very same,” confirmed the Doctor. “But what’s your angle in sending him back, Master?”

“The preservation of Earth’s history, naturally,” replied the Master. “Even I can venerate Dr. King. He IS the greatest Civil Rights activist Earth ever produced.”

“I can’t believe I’m hearing you say something I actually agree with,” hissed the Doctor. “But you’re no scholar of civil rights!”

“I have many strengths, Doctor.”

“Why use the Quake Engine?” asked Batman.

“And how much did you tell Young Martin about our time?” asked Winston.

“One of the Quake Engine’s components,” said the Master, “was held in a vault in the Penguin’s lair and I told Young Martin nothing. I can’t exactly command Earth if one shred of its history is unstable!”

“So that’s the ultimate reason why you want the Quake Engine!” declared the Doctor. “The Grouping is making time bend away from your will!”

“…Oh no, you figured me out.” Sarcasm was thick in the Master’s voice. “Now, if you don’t mind, I have a Quake Engine to fix up!”

“You could have just used your TARDIS to send him back,” remarked the Doctor.

“A brilliant idea, Doctor! Except I lost my TARDIS after my presidential campaign!”

Categories
Doctor Who: Crossings Series 6

Let Freedom Ring: Part 1

In a mansion on the edge of a city, the butler was finishing up a phone call. “…I see. …Very well, Mr. Fox. Mister Wayne will contact you shortly. …Goodbye, sir.” He hung up the phone and sighed. “…To lose Lucius Fox, of all people…” his thoughts were interrupted by a bookcase sliding to the left automatically, revealing a concealed staircase. The butler’s employer walked up the stairs and into the main mansion. “Good evening, Master Bruce,” greeted the butler. “I hadn’t expected you to use that entrance until after your evening patrol.”

“I needed to use the Batcomputer to double-check that reading I needed help with,” explained the butler’s employer, Gotham’s richest man, Bruce Wayne. “Who were you talking to, Alfred?”

“To Mr. Fox. I’m sorry to report that we’ve lost him.” Bruce’s eyes widened.

“…Nothing?” he asked.

“Not a trace,” sighed Alfred sadly. “He didn’t recognize the standard quotes at all.”

“It’s getting worse!” growled Bruce.

“First Master Grayson, then Miss Kyle, now Lucius,” recalled Alfred. “How can one forget a man like Martin Luther King Jr.?”

“I’m hoping a specialist I called can shed some light,” remarked Bruce.

“A specialist, Sir?” The buzzer then rang. Alfred answered it. “Wayne Manor. How may we assist?”

“Winston Zeddemore here,” replied the person at the door. “I heard there was a theory that a ghost was involved in the good Reverend’s disappearance from national memory?” Alfred looked at Bruce in surprise.

“He’s a bit early, but we need speed, Alfred. …He knows about my night life.”

“…Come right in, Dr. Zeddemore,” bid Alfred as he pressed the button that opened the gate. He and Bruce then headed to the front door and let Winston in.

“Welcome to Wayne Manor, Dr. Zeddemore,” greeted Bruce as he and Winston shook hands.

“Please, just call me Winston,” replied Winston. “So, the famous Batman wants my help, huh?”


At the outermost edge of Bruce’s property, a blonde woman in strange clothes pulled out a recorder. “Personal Log entry 7Z. Earth date, seventh month, twenty-second day, two thousand twenty-seventh year. Local civilization, Gotham, United States of America. Lieutenant Tysar reporting. Yet again, I’ve been skulking around like the criminals that run rampant throughout Gotham, stealing food to survive. …I’m starting to hate hot dogs, but they’re the nearest thing I can get right now. …Sorry, it’s just…it’s been at least three Earth years since I was taken from New Davius. I…I really miss home. …No real new thing, other than a famous Earth figure disappearing from public…huh?” Tysar stopped recording as she heard a noise. It sounded like something going Vworp repeatedly, then it ended in a thud. “…Log entry addendum: I think I heard a peculiar noise that no Earth machine makes. I’m going to investigate.” Tysar packed her supplies and wandered along the edge of the property for a few yards…then she saw it. It was a blue box with windows and signs. Tysar gasped in disbelief. “…You…you haven’t-! …Have you?!” Tysar rushed to the door, then stopped, hesitating. “…Log entry addendum: I think…either the loneliness of being stranded on Earth starting the second quarter of its 21st century is getting to me…or I may be saved! …I’m looking at a vehicle of historical significance for our people! It’s a blue box that locals would call a Police Box from London in the 1960’s. Our people would know it as a vehicle that brought four people to our ancestors in the time of their greatest need on the ancestral homeworld. …If this is real, I’m going to attempt to enter it.” Tysar stopped recording and read the sign. The letters were English, but somehow they were translated into characters and words she understood so she could read that one had to pull to open the doors. She hesitated…then pushed the doors. They swung inside and Tysar gasped. “…It’s real! …I don’t believe it! The TARDIS! …It’s real! …And I can go home!” Happy tears welled up in her eyes as she stepped inside the box.


Tysar looked around the interior as it defied geometry! The inside was bigger than the outside! There was a hexagonal control console in the center with a glass cylinder in the center of the console. “…Log entry addendum!” Tysar said as she began recording again. “It’s real! The TARDIS! It’s real! …I can see a path to home, after three years of losing hope! …I’ve entered the TARDIS, but the Doctor is nowhere to be seen. …Hang on, there’s a display saying something. I’m going to read it.” The display read “Decontamination complete. Awaiting pilot recovery.” Tysar blinked. “…Pilot recovery?” she muttered. “What happened here?” The display then changed.

“Non-Gallifreyan detected. Spatio/temporal origin not of local time zone or planet.”

“…N-No, I’m not,” confirmed Tysar. “Look, what required decontamination?” The display changed.

“Pilot was infected with artificial virus of Skarosian origin. Cure has been synthesized and introduced into air supply and all traces of virus have been purged.”

“Skarosian virus?” asked Tysar in horror. “The Doctor just came from an encounter with my people’s greatest enemy?! Where-?!” The display changed.

“Proceed to Zero Room where pilot is being healed. Path will be indicated. Pilot requires reviving.” Lights then lit up on the floor.

“…Right, I’ll do what I can!” Tysar followed the lights deeper into the TARDIS and found herself outside a room. She entered the room and saw a woman with African features sleeping in mid-air! The woman wore a burgundy outfit with a rose-hemmed skirt and a headband with a large rose on the left side, but her outfit wasn’t important. “…This is your pilot?” asked Tysar. “…This is…the Doctor?” The woman then groaned.

“Oogh, Amy!” said the woman groggily. “I warned you about your hammer!” The woman’s eyes fluttered open. “…The…the Zero Room? …Oh…oh yes, Amy…and Lurra…the disease! I-!” The woman then saw Tysar. “…Am…I seeing things?” asked the woman.

“No, I can assure you that I’m real,” said Tysar. “Your ship landed on Earth and-.”

“Landed?” Memories then stirred in the woman’s mind. “…Yes…yes, I programmed the TARDIS to land when…when all traces of a disease were eliminated. I had accidentally contracted it and…wait, if the TARDIS landed and you’re here…then it worked!” The woman then floated in a fashion that put her upright. Her feet then touched the floor. “I think some introductions are in order. Who are you?”

“…Lieutenant Tysar, New Davius Scientific Survey Corps!” replied Tysar. “Current status: stranded on Earth in its 21st century! Local civilization name: Gotham!

“New Davius?” The woman’s eyes widened. “You’re a Thal! But you lot shouldn’t-! …Did an energy wave grab you from wherever you were and plop you here in…Gotham, you said? American city?”

“Erm, yes, to all those questions,” answered Tysar. “And you…?” The woman took off her glove and held her wrist out. Tysar checked the woman’s pulse…and her eyes widened. “…A double pulse!” she whispered. “…You really ARE the Doctor!”

“And I’ve been tracking those energy waves,” explained the Doctor as she put her glove back on. “They’re called chronal surges and they have a tendency to take people out of their native time and space and put them into new ones, either in the past or in the future. So…looks like I need to bring you back to New Davius.”

“I’d like that, yes,” said Tysar.

“First things first,” declared the Doctor, “let’s see if there are any chronal surges here, hm?” With that, the Doctor hurried to the console room with Tysar behind her.


While Tysar got acquainted with the Doctor, Alfred checked the grounds, having heard the TARDIS’ arrival. “I’m SURE I’ve gone senile, Sir,” remarked Alfred over the comms. “It sounded similar to when the Doctor’s vehicle vanished, but…”

“If you have the presence of mind to say you’re senile,” replied Bruce, “there’s a good chance you’re not.”

“I appreciate the vote of confidence, Sir.” Alfred then goggled. “…Sir, the TARDIS IS on the edge of your property.”

“See if you can make contact with-.” The doors opened and the Doctor and Tysar came out with the Doctor looking worried.

“This is impossible,” she muttered. “He can’t just vanish from time like-!” She then saw Alfred. “…Alfred Pennyworth!” she said with a smile.

“A new companion for the Doctor?” asked Alfred.

“Try again,” replied the Doctor as she presented her wrist. Alfred then felt her pulse.

“…Sir, has Superman ever said anything about Time Lords changing faces?” Alfred asked over the comms.

“He said it was a survival mechanism, according to the Kryptonian Archives,” replied Bruce. “Why? Is the Doctor different?”

“If you want further proof,” said the Doctor, “I offered you the chance to come on a trip after Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn’s disastrous mess with the Krynoid, but you said you had a vacation all lined up.”

“Master Bruce, the Doctor HAS changed her face,” confirmed Alfred. “And far be it for me to tell you what to do, but I believe she may help us and Dr. Zeddemore in this caper.”

“Dr. Zeddemore?” asked the Doctor. “Then Martin Luther King Jr’s ghost is gone as well?”