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Categories
Doctor Who: Crossings Series 5

Song of Steel: Part 4

The firefight was not going well for Bowser and King K. Rool’s armies. The Cybermen were downing each and every one of them! “Shoot straight, you miserable miscreants!” ordered King K. Rool.

“Lakitus, we need air support!” shouted Bowser. Lakitus and their clouds arrived and hurled Spinies, but it did no good!

Meanwhile, the Doctor saw the situation. “This is our chance!” she said.

“We’re really leaving them to fight?” asked Peach.

“Doctor-,” said Amy.

“The sooner we use the Banandium Root against the Cybermen, the sooner this mess is settled,” replied the Doctor. “Donkey Kong, lead on!”

“This way!” urged Donkey Kong as everyone stepped into the swirling gold sphere. Inside was a ball of light with bananas orbiting it like a biblically accurate angel’s eyes.

“Hello again,” said Pauline.

“That’s the Banandium Root?” asked Mario.

“A powerful wish granting thing,” replied Donkey Kong. “It got Pauline home and gave me all the bananas I could ever want.”

“Great Banandium Root,” Pauline said to the Root, “please, grant our wishes! Make it so that anyone with evil intentions can never abuse you!”

“And if you’ll permit me to wish,” interjected the Doctor, “destroy the Cybermen! They would take over this planet and deprive it of emotions!”

“Oh, Great Banandium Root, grant our-!” Peach couldn’t get far with her wish as Bowser and King K. Rool were tossed inside as the Cyber Leader led his forces into the Banandium Root’s chamber.

“Doctor,” said the Cyber Leader.

“Cyber Leader,” replied the Doctor.

“Surrender control of the Banandium Root to us, Doctor.”

“I can’t.”

“Then we will kill Pauline.” The Cyber Leader aimed his Cyber Gun at Pauline. “Donkey Kong cannot access his Bananza forms without her.”

“Didn’t you hear me?” asked the Doctor. “I can’t even if I wanted to! This is power beyond the comprehension of the Cybermen! It can’t be merely reprogrammed!”

“You will order it to remain on this planet, then.”

“That will solve nothing! Any Cybermen would be destroyed if they set foot on this planet!”

“The Cybermen AND the planet,” remarked the Cyber Leader. “The choice is yours, Doctor.”

“…That’s cold!” hissed Amy.

“The Doctor cannot destroy any of her enemies if her friends are in the line of fire.” The Cyber Leader spoke as if it were simply reading off an essay.

“…Everyone, it’s over,” sighed the Doctor. Amy and Lurra Rus looked…to see a look of defeat on the Doctor’s face! It was so alien to them, not even her previous incarnation displayed such a face. “My battles, all my battles…I can only surrender.”

“Doctor!” protested Lurra Rus.

“You will order the Banandium Root to align with the incoming fleet,” ordered the Cyber Leader. The Doctor turned to the Banandium Root.

“Do you understand the Cyber Leader’s instructions?” she asked it. The Banandium Root flickered in understanding.

“Deploy,” ordered the Cyber Leader. The Doctor nodded to the Banandium Root and it flew out of the chamber!

“What have you done?!” wailed Peach.

“We will monitor its progress,” said the Cyber Leader. His men set up monitoring equipment and it was all on display once it was switched on.

Entering high orbit above Nokiko was a fleet of modern-day Cyber Carriers. The Cybermen aboard had received a transmission about ancient Cybermen discovering an object that would ensure the permanent survival of the Cyber Race. Aboard the flagship was the Cyber Controller. “Controller,” reported a Cyberman running scanners, “energy signature detected. Readings match with data concerning the object known as the Banandium Root.”

“Our predecessors were correct,” remarked the Cyber Controller. “Align with the-.” Alarms then blared. “Report!”

“Banandium Root has destroyed two Cyber Carriers!” replied the scanner operator. “It is destroying the entire fleet! Unable to-!” The Banandium Root tore through the flagship, detonating its power core and destroying all hands.

The destruction of the Cyber Fleet was on full display. Amy and Lurra Rus were confused…then recalled what the Doctor said. “…You could have said something!” hissed Lurra Rus.

“Not with the Cybermen around,” replied the Doctor.

“But…how-?!” spluttered Mario.

“Simple,” replied the Doctor.

“The Banandium Root was under Cyber Control!” protested the Cyber Leader. “I ordered it to align with our fleet!”

“Ah, but I already wished for it to destroy any Cybermen that would approach,” explained the Doctor. “And Pauline asked for it to be more discriminating in its ability to grant wishes.”

“The Doctor simply asked if the Root understood your orders,” continued Amy. “She didn’t say anything about it obeying you.”

“…Then you will all join the Cyber Fleet. Prepare arms.” The Cybermen were about to obey, then were savagely attacked by the Koopa/Kremling army remnants grinding gold into their chest units. As the fight raged on, Bowser stirred awake and saw that only the Cyber Leader was left.

“…Hey! Soft shells!” he growled as he swiped King K. Rool’s crown. “You missed a spot!” He then ground the crown into the Cyber Leader’s chest unit. The Cyber Leader screamed and collapsed as its chest unit exploded. After it fell, its face cover exploded, revealing the human man it used to be.

“…Bowser…thank you,” breathed the Doctor.

“…This whole thing was a waste of time!” snarled Bowser. “I heard Pauline’s wish! You’re gonna pay for making it not grant my wishes! …But not today. Koopas! We’re leaving!” Bowser stomped out of the chamber as Donkey Kong knuckled his way to King K. Rool. The reptile looked…rather still. Donkey Kong raised his hand…then slapped King K. Rool repeatedly.

“Get up, you walking suitcase!” he said. “I’m not falling for that again!” King K. Rool got away from Donkey Kong.

“You were dumb enough to fall for it twice before!” snapped King K. Rool. He turned to address his army. “Return to the surface! I’ll deal with you toothless and useless banana thieves later!” The Kremlings gulped before making their way back to the surface. When all the armies left, the Doctor and her allies breathed a huge sigh of relief.

“That,” said the Doctor, “could have been so much worse.”

“So this was what you went through when you were 13, Pauline?” asked Mario.

“Oddly enough, journeying through the Underground world helped me overcome my stage fright,” replied Pauline.

“Speaking of journeys,” interjected Amy, “want a lift back to the surface?” Pauline considered, then shook her head.

“We’ll use the Banandium Root,” she said.

“Hey, Pauline,” interjected Donkey Kong, “we just beat a major boss, there’s something we need to do. For old time’s sake.” Pauline smiled.

“Let’s get to it then!” She and Donkey Kong then flexed their arms and hopped towards one another a bit, then they danced before pounding their chests and hooting in victory!

“…Erm, Doctor, you’ve been…Doctor?” Peach looked around to see that the Doctor and her friends had vanished! “…Without so much as a goodbye!” she grumbled.

The Doctor and her friends were back in the TARDIS and had just taken off. “What was with the departure without a goodbye?” asked Lurra Rus.

“The TARDIS had finished calculating where the next chronal surge is going to take place,” replied the Doctor. “I had it calculating it when we first arrived and it fed the data into the sonic screwdriver when we arrived at the Planet Core.”

“So, where are we going?” asked Amy.

“…That’s why I had us hurry. I forgot what it said.”

“Doctor!”

“Don’t worry, I’m punching it up on the scanner,” assured the Doctor as she keyed in a few commands. The scanner then opened and displayed a sphere.

“A planet, I’m guessing,” said Lurra Rus.

“Sure is,” replied the Doctor. “Now, let’s see what planet it is, hm?” She fed the data into the scanner. Blue, green, and brown appeared on the sphere and Amy’s eyes widened. The Doctor checked the readings and she goggled in horror as well.

“…Doctor? Amy?” asked Lurra Rus. “You recognize that planet?”

“It’s Mobius!” breathed Amy. “My home!” She turned on the Doctor. “You mean the next chronal surge is taking place on Mobius and you forgot about it?!”

“I was busy with the Cybermen like you were,” replied the Doctor.

“How long have you known?”

“…Well, in strictly linear terms as the chronometer flies, I’ve known since Susan had that chat with me and the Owner.”

“When on Mobius will it take place?” asked Lurra Rus. “In Amy’s time?”

“No, somewhere in her future. Roughly…200 years from then.”

“200 years?” asked Amy. “…Silver!”

“Pardon?” asked the Doctor.

“Silver the hedgehog! He usually travels back in time to try and avert some future catastrophe!”

“…That indicates multiple attempts,” remarked the Doctor. “How on Earth can he still do that? Unless this is multiverse theory at play. …Right, time to answer some questions!” The Doctor then set the coordinates and the TARDIS whizzed off towards its destination.

Categories
Doctor Who: Crossings Series 5

Song of Steel: Part 3

“Hoo boy,” muttered Pauline. “We’d better step in.”

“Come on!” called Donkey Kong as he led the way.

“Buddy, do you have any idea who you’re talking to?!” shouted Bowser. “I’m-!”

“Not worthy of learning the Kong Bananza,” interrupted the Kong Elder. “And neither is K. Rool.”

“KING K. Rool, you appalling-!”

“Appalling ape?” interrupted Donkey Kong as everyone approached the villains and the Elder they were harassing. The Kong Elder’s face lit up.

“Now THERE’S someone who proved worthy of learning the Kong Bananza!” he said. “As well as the other four! Welcome back, DK and Pauline!”

“Oh for-! And Mario too!” complained Bowser.

“Nice to see you too, Bowser,” muttered Mario.

“Bowser, we don’t have time to argue!” urged Peach.

“Oh! Peachy!” replied Bowser, his voice attempting a sexy purr.

“Bowser, we have a bigger problem that would destroy this planet!” continued Peach. “There’s a group of people called the Cybermen that intend to sieze control of the Bananzas!”

“They do not have the full power of the Bananzas they stole, your Highness,” soothed the Kong Elder. “But they DID disrupt Donkey Kong’s connection with them by using their own frequencies.”

“Bananza: the Cyber-Remix, hm?” asked the Doctor.

“That’s exactly what it is, Doctor.” The Doctor blinked.

“…I seem to be at a disadvantage,” she remarked.

“I know of you, Doctor. Your travels in time and space, your TARDIS, they are known to me.”

“Hang on, THAT’S the Doctor?!” yelped Bowser. “The same one that had to help me during that mess with the Daleks?!”

“The same Doctor that upended my plans with the Tiki Tak Tribe?!” continued King K. Rool.

“Yes to both,” replied the Doctor, “no, I’m not explaining regeneration, I did enough of that today. Kong Elder, we need to keep the Cybermen from learning the Kong Bananza.”

“The solution is simple,” answered the Kong Elder. “DK, you remember where I store my Ancient Record, yes?”

“Yeah,” replied Donkey Kong.

“Hold on, a Bananza ceremony? Now?” asked Pauline.

“Bananza ceremony?” asked Lurra Rus.

“Um, whatever it is, better get started now!” warned Amy. “They’re right behind us!” The heavy footsteps of the Cybermen needed no explanation.

“Be right back!” yelped Donkey Kong as he knuckled away at top speed. Bowser, King K. Rool, Mario, and Amy got ready to fight.

“Doctor, you will surrender the Kong Elder to us,” demanded the Cyber Leader.

“No chance!” replied the Doctor.

“You will surrender the Kong Elder or we will take him and learn his Bananza as we’ve learned the others.”

“Not the full powered Bananza!” scoffed Pauline.

“Incorrect,” replied the Cyber Leader.

“How about I show you the full power of a Bananza?!” called Donkey Kong as he returned with a giant record with a red Kong symbol in the center. He put it onto a DJ table at the Kong Elder’s feet. The record then spun and glowed as ancient music played for a bit. Just then, domed walls grew around everyone!

“WHAT IN-?!” yelped the Doctor.

“It’s okay! We’ll be fine!” assured Donkey Kong as the immediate area went dark as the last of the dome was filled in.

“All units, activate search lights,” ordered the Cyber Leader.

“Calm down,” replied the Kong Elder. “DK, Pauline, combine your power once more and show me that you’ve still got it!” Spotlights then shone down on Donkey Kong and Pauline as they were on a stage. Their friends realized that they were now surrounded by Salvager Monkeys hooting in anticipation. “BANANZA!” roared the Kong Elder. A beat then played. Pauline snapped her fingers in time to the beat.

“…Ready, DK?” she asked.

“You know it!” replied Donkey Kong. He then pounded his chest in time to the beat and hooted.

“Time for some nostalgia!” said Pauline. She then grabbed the microphone in front of her, took a breath, then shouted “DK!” Donkey Kong then glowed…and punched hard! Music played as Donkey Kong revealed that he was now black-furred with grey exposed skin, like a normal gorilla, wore a banana headdress and bracelets, and had red eyes. Everyone, minus the Cybermen, started dancing like it was a nightclub! Pauline sang a song in a language no one recognized as the Kong Elder held his headphones to make sure the song was just right while he vibed.

“HOHO!” laughed the Kong Elder. “It’s the Kong Elder, coming at you live! I can feel it! You’ve still got it, DK and Pauline! Now, show these Cybermen the true power of the Kong Bananza!” The area changed into a strange light-filled void with metallic platforms floating and holding everyone up. Pauline hopped onto Donkey Kong’s back, still singing, and Donkey Kong wound up for a punch.

“Activate-.” The Cyber Leader couldn’t finish his order as Donkey Kong threw his punch and created an energy wave that changed the bits of terrain and the Cyber Leader’s chest unit into gold! The Cyber Leader’s chest unit exploded as he screamed and fell to the ground. A Cyberman activated a scanner.

“…Gold!” he warned.

“YEAH! How do you like them apples?!” shouted Donkey Kong.

“That’s…the full power of a Bananza?!” yelped the Doctor. “You can turn things into gold?!”

“When I want to, yes,” replied Donkey Kong.

“Deputy, we must retreat!” urged one of the Cybermen.

“No,” replied the Cyber Deputy. “We must learn the skills of a Bananza at full power.”

“All it will take for us, Deputy,” the Cyberman went on, “is for one misplaced attack! The Cyber Race cannot utilize golden weapons at this stage and the terrain will be turned against us! We must focus on the Banandium Root!”

“…Your logic is correct,” agreed the Cyber Deputy. “We must use the Banandium Root first. Retreat.” The Cybermen gave covering fire as they managed to escape. The world around everyone then returned to the Lagoon Layer and the Kong Bananza faded, turning Donkey Kong back to normal.

“We have to go after the Banandium Root!” urged Pauline. “If the Cybermen get ahold of it, the Root will grant their wishes!”

“Come on, everyone, into the TARDIS!” called the Doctor. “And that means you too, Bowser, King K. Rool!”

“Them?!” protested Peach.

“Yes, them! We’ll need their strength!” replied the Doctor. She led everyone into the TARDIS and the two villains goggled.

“…Unbelievable!” whispered King K. Rool.

“Donkey Kong, you’re sure the Banandium Root’s at the core of the planet?” asked the Doctor.

“Positive,” replied Donkey Kong.

“Right then, here we go!” The Doctor set the controls and the TARDIS took off.

The Planet Core, the layer with the most sublayers of the Underground World, the resting place of the Banandium Root, and, right now, the source of a massive army of Koopas and Kremlings! Surrounding the army was a flowing sphere of gold with a walkway allowing access. The TARDIS landed on the walkway and everyone stepped out. “Woo! Feel that power!” cheered Donkey Kong. “This is one of those areas where I can stay in a Bananza forever!”

“Really?” asked Amy.

“The gold here,” explained Pauline, “has something called bananergy, similar to Star or Moon power. Ordinarily, DK would run out of bananergy unless he scooped up enough gold.”

“Lord Bowser! King K. Rool!” called a Koopa. “We managed to secure the sinkholes, Sirs! We thought you’d be using them!”

“A good show of initiative,” replied King K. Rool, “but we secured alternate transport with the Doctor’s TARDIS.”

“And now, after all this…” said Bowser.

“THE BANANDIUM ROOT IS MINE!” shouted both villains. They then glared at one another. “…The Banandium Root is MINE!” they both protested.

“Is now REALLY the time for stabbing each other in the back?!” argued the Doctor. “The Cybermen are on their way here!”

“They don’t know about the sinkholes connecting the layers!” scoffed King K. Rool. “They’re taking the long way around and I’ll have used my wishes against them!”

“I’m the one getting my wishes granted here!” argued Bowser. “Koopas! Form up!”

“Make turtle soup out of them, you pilfering-!” King K. Rool didn’t get the chance to finish his order as a Cyber Gun fired on them all, scattering them.

“You were saying?!” said Amy. The Cyber Driller had arrived and the Cybermen opened fire. The Cyber Deputy was upgraded into the new Cyber Leader during the trip.

“Leader,” reported the new Cyber Deputy, “the highest concentration of bananergy is within that structure. Logic dictates the Banandium Root is inside. As long as our chest units are protected, we shall withstand the concentration of gold.”

“Excellent,” replied the Cyber Leader. “Proceed. Eradicate all opposition. Bananzas are no longer required.” The Cybermen increased the frequency of their shots, downing Koopas and Kremlings alike.

Categories
Doctor Who: Crossings Series 5

Song of Steel: Part 2

“So we’ve got robots to deal with?” asked Donkey Kong.

“Not robots, cyborgs,” corrected the Doctor.

“What’s that Hammer Bro doing?!” yelped Amy. The Hammer Bro threw his hammer…but it bounced off the Cyberman that was his target.

“Eradicate them,” ordered the Cyber Leader. The Cybermen pulled out their guns and fired! The Koopas and Kremlings took cover and fired back. The battle prevented the Doctor and her group from helping.

“Dang it, that’s too much!” complained Donkey Kong.

“At this rate, they might as well be using bows and arrows!” muttered the Doctor. Then…it happened. As a Cyberman advanced on them, a hammer struck it in the chest unit. The chest unit sparked and exploded, then the Cyberman screamed before collapsing.

“…But…but how?!” yelped Amy, the first attempt from a Hammer Bro still fresh in her mind.

“A Cyberman killed by a hammer?! That’s absurd!” remarked the Doctor. Her eyes then widened as she got an idea. “…Unless…” she turned the corpse over and pulled out the hammer. It was a golden one. A smile crossed the Doctor’s face. “Of course! These are later-model Cyber Neomorphs! Far more primitive than the ones we met in Earth’s 30th century!”

“What’s that mean?” asked Amy.

“The line we met,” explained the Doctor, “was the result of our universe’s Cybermen and Cybermen from another universe coming together and upgrading one another to make more advanced models. These Cybermen are from before that time, so they haven’t kept up to date on current models! The union of those two Cybermen lines removed a glaring weakness from the Cybermen of our universe, a weakness that these Cybermen still have!”

“What’s that?” asked Donkey Kong.

“Gold!” replied the Doctor. “Because of how non-corrosive it is, if you introduce gold into the breathing apparatus on the chest units, the Cybermen suffocate and either just collapse or, with these models, the chest units explode to fatal effect.”

Unbeknownst to the Doctor, a Kremling heard her explanation. “…Gold, huh?” he muttered. He then pulled out a slingshot and a gold coin. A nearby Koopa saw that.

“This is no time for games!” he protested. “We’re wasting our 1-Ups!”

“Trust me!” replied the Kremling as he loaded his slingshot. He then pulled back, aimed at a Cyberman, then fired! The gold coin sailed through the air and hit the Cyberman in the chest unit! The chest unit sparked, then the Cyberman screamed and collapsed.

“What the-?!” spluttered the Koopa.

“Gold’s their weakness!” called the Kremling. “Fire anything gold at their chests!” The tide turned…briefly.

“Leader, the enemy is using gold projectiles,” warned the Cyber Deputy.

“Engage Serpent abilities,” ordered the Cyber Leader. The Cyber Deputy transmitted the order to all Cyber forces, then the Cybermen took the combined Koopa/Kremling army by surprise! Their legs turned into serpent tails and coiled like springs! They then jumped out of the way. The Cybermen’s eyes then glowed and the Koopas and Kremlings slowed down!

“DK, did you-?!” spluttered Pauline.

“That’s the Snake Bananza!” replied Donkey Kong. “Those guys learned the Snake Bananza!”

“Knockoffs is what they are!” hissed Pauline.

“Darn right! Hop on!” directed Donkey Kong. Pauline then got onto DK’s back and held tight. Donkey Kong then charged into the fray!

“DONKEY KONG, GET BACK HERE!” protested the Doctor. Donkey Kong then pounded his chest as if to set a beat!

“SNAAAAAAAKE!” shouted Pauline. Donkey Kong hooted, then posed as Pauline sang. No one could recognize the language…and everyone stared as Donkey Kong blinked.

“…Erm, Kiddo,” said Donkey Kong. Pauline’s singing faltered.

“…You should be scaly right now,” remarked Pauline.

“That is the gorilla that had mastered all five Bananzas, Leader,” remarked a Cyberman as it turned its tail back into legs.

“Given that it is accompanied by a human female,” replied the Cyber Leader, “logic dictates that both are needed to learn the Kong Bananza. Take them. Engage Zebra abilities.”

“Uh oh!” gulped Donkey Kong.

“QUICK! IN THERE!” called the Doctor as she waved to the TARDIS.

“We can’t-!” protested Donkey Kong.

“Don’t argue, DK!” insisted Pauline. “Get in there! Hurry!” Donkey Kong then knuckled towards the TARDIS at top speed while the Cybermen were trying to intercept him. They had circled in front of him, but Donkey Kong knocked them aside and entered the TARDIS. The Doctor shut the doors behind him once everyone was inside. She then dashed towards the console and took off. Donkey Kong goggled in surprise.

“It’s…It’s…bigger on the inside!” he gasped.

“That’s right, you never went inside on Kong Island, did you?” recalled the Doctor.

“You’ve redecorated,” said Mario. “…I like it!”

“Wh-what is-?!” spluttered Donkey Kong.

“It’s the TARDIS,” replied the Doctor. “Anywhere…and anywhen! …But right now, we have bigger problems. Namely, how the Cybermen got those powers.”

“They must have taken the Underground Elders somehow,” said Pauline.

“Underground Elders?” asked Amy.

“I can’t say as I’ve heard of them,” remarked Mario.

“They’re the leaders of five different underground animal tribes,” explained Donkey Kong. “There’s the Snakes, the Elephants, the Ostriches, the Zebras, and a whole tribe of Kongs. They live in different layers of the Underground World and can make their own sunlight.”

“When I was a little girl,” continued Pauline, “I was kidnapped by the president of the once biggest mining company, Void Co. His name was Void Kong and he was obsessed with finding something called the Great Banandium Root at the Planet Core to wish for infinite gold and he didn’t care how many lives he ruined.”

“King K. Rool had tried a similar plan earlier and was trapped by the Banandium Root, but we accidentally released him and he hijacked Void Kong’s plan,” Donkey Kong went on. “But the whole journey resulted in Pauline returning here via the Banandium Root.”

“So the core of this planet isn’t made of molten earth,” remarked the Doctor. “Very interesting. What IS it made of if people can survive in it? …Discussion for another time. Right now, I need to know, what are these Bananzas the Cybermen mentioned?”

“Short term transformations for DK that are usually activated by my singing,” said Pauline. “…But something went wrong. I’m pretty sure I sang the lyrics to the Snake Bananza song right.”

“Maybe the Cybermen are blocking your access to them,” remarked the Doctor. “Counter-frequency, perhaps? Questions, questions.”

“Doctor, maybe we should check on the Elders,” suggested Donkey Kong.

“…If the Cybermen captured them…” mused the Doctor as a look of worry crossed her face.

“Doctor, the Cybermen said they needed Donkey Kong and Pauline to learn the Kong Bananza,” recalled Lurra Rus.

“Then maybe the Kong Elder can help us!” said Pauline.

“Where is the Kong Elder?” asked the Doctor.

“In the Lagoon Layer,” replied Donkey Kong. “Sublayers…100 to 102. He’s specifically at Sublayer 101.”

“Right,” declared the Doctor. “Off we go!” She set the coordinates and the TARDIS took off.

The Cybermen forced the Koopa/Kremling army into a retreat as the TARDIS dematerialized. “Prediction of the Doctor’s movements,” ordered the Cyber Leader.

“She has most likely been briefed on Bananzas,” replied the Cyber Deputy. “She will attempt to reach the Kong Elder.”

“We must reach the Lagoon Layer,” declared the Cyber Leader. “We must learn the Kong Bananza and use the Banandium Root for the survival of the Cyber-race of this time. The Doctor must not interfere. Return to the Cyber Driller and set course for Sublayer 101.”

“Yes, Leader,” obliged the Cyber Deputy.

“I shall begin transmission of our progress,” said a Cyberman as they all entered the Cyber Driller.

“No,” replied the Cyber Leader. “We will run the risk of transmitting incomplete data if you do. Maintain communications silence with any Cyber Factions until we have learned all the Bananzas and obtained the Banandium Root.”

The Lagoon Layer, a peaceful, water-filled area with yellow grass, green and blue primates, and scrap metal used to make structures, inhabited by blue and green furred primates that fish for scrap, quite literally. The TARDIS arrived and the local Salvager Monkeys backed up from the sudden blue box that just appeared. The Doctor led everyone out and the Salvager Monkeys’ faces lit up when they saw Donkey Kong and Pauline. “DK! PAULINE!” said the lead Salvager Monkey. “Welcome back! It’s been way too long! …Those guys, on the other hand!”

“What about us?” asked Peach.

“DK and Pauline are welcome, outsiders like you-!”

“Your xenophobia is misplaced, sir,” replied the Doctor.

“These guys are with us,” explained Donkey Kong.

“We need to speak to the Kong Elder,” said Pauline. “Creatures called Cybermen are after him and the secrets of the Kong Bananza!”

“Oh for-! He’s already harassed by that lizard king and that turtle with the spiky shell!” grumbled the lead Salvager Monkey. “He doesn’t need these Cyber whatsits!” Mario and Donkey Kong could make a pretty good guess at who the aforementioned Lizard King and Spiky-shelled Turtle were.

“We can prevent his secrets from being stolen,” offered Pauline. “Is he still at the Elder’s Court?”

“Naturally,” replied the lead Salvager Monkey.

“Then that’s where we’re going!” declared Donkey Kong. “All of us! This way!” Donkey Kong led everyone down to a container ship that had run aground years ago with a bridge connecting it to the landmass they were on. They crossed the bridge to find a massive gorilla with red headphones, a headdress made of bananas, banana bracelets, and a banana beard arguing with King K. Rool and Bowser!

“And this situation has become more complicated,” sighed the Doctor.

Categories
Doctor Who: Crossings Series 5

Song of Steel: Part 1

The hustle and bustle of the city can’t be beat for some people. On another planet, far off in our future, that idea is no exception. A brunette woman wearing a stunning red suit with a floppy brimmed hat was the mayor of one such city! The woman breathed deeply as she took in the sounds of her city, the Big Banana itself, New Donk City! Modeled after New York City of the old homeworld of Earth, New Donk City was filled with taxis, humans, and the Crazy Cap home store! The mayor, Pauline, then heard a taxi getting closer. She looked to her left to see a taxi pull up. The taxi’s passengers then got out. One was a short, fat man with a moustache, blue overalls, and a red shirt and cap with the letter M on it. The other was a tall blonde woman in a pink skirt, a white blouse, and a floppy brimmed hat. “Mario! Peach!” greeted Pauline.

“Pauline! Great to see you again!” called the blonde woman, Princess Peach.

“It’s been way too long!” the short man, the famous hero of the Mushroom Kingdom, Mario, chimed in. The three of them hugged each other.

“I’m so glad we could find time in our busy schedules to do this!” said Pauline once the hug broke off. “So, where shall we start?”

“You’re the mayor,” replied Mario. “You decide!”

“Mario’s right! This IS your…hang on…” Peach trailed off.

“Peach? Is…hang on, is that-?!” yelped Mario.

“The TARDIS?!” asked Pauline. It was, indeed, the TARDIS. It fully materialized on the sidewalk where Mario, Peach, and Pauline stood. The doors opened and Amy stepped out first.

“This place looks…” she muttered.

“AMY!” called Mario and his group. Amy looked up to see them!

“MARIO! PEACH! PAULINE!” The hedgehog girl hugged them all!

“Still travelling with the Doctor, hm?” asked Mario.

“Oh yeah! …But I’m afraid this isn’t a social call.”

“It isn’t?” asked Peach once the hug broke off. At that moment, the Doctor and Lurra Rus stepped out.

“Hey, Doctor! Lurra! Look where we are!” called Amy. The Doctor looked ahead to see Mario, Peach, and Pauline.

“Ah! Back on Nokiko!” realized the Doctor.

“…Amy, did you call that woman…the Doctor?” asked Peach. Amy explained regeneration to Peach, something she felt she did a lot after New York.

“…You’re seriously the Doctor?” Mario asked the Doctor.

“The same one that helped you lot deal with the Daleks,” confirmed the Doctor. “With Luigi, Daisy, and Rosalina, if I recall. They duplicated Luigi and Amy as part of their war against a sect of humanized Daleks.”

“Okay, I’m convinced,” replied Mario. “Welcome back, Doctor!”

“Yes, welcome to New Donk City, the Big Banana!” greeted Pauline. “And your friend is…?”

“I’m Lurra Rus,” replied Lurra Rus.

“Nice to meet you. What brings you here, if not a social call?”

“We’re tracking something called the Grouping,” explained the Doctor.

“I…accidentally started it,” said Amy.

“What makes you-?” Pauline couldn’t finish her question as passersby warned her to look out. Pauline looked up…and a big, hairy thing landed near her, scattering everyone on impact. The hairy thing groaned, then howled in pain as Pauline landed on his back.

“Why my back?!” protested the hairy thing. “Why always my back?!” The hairy thing turned out to be a brown-furred gorilla with a red tie with the letters DK in yellow on it.

“Sorry about that, Sir,” apologized Pauline. “I…no way!” The gorilla turned, then yelped in surprise.

“PAULINE?!” he said.

“DK!” cheered Pauline.

“Donkey Kong?” asked Mario. The gorilla, Donkey Kong, looked over.

“Mario!” he growled. “You realize I’m blaming YOU for this!”

“Blaming him?” asked the Doctor. “For what?”

“…I’m sorry, who are-?”

“Hey, DK!” called Amy.

“AMY! Good to see you again! And you, Lurra Rus! …Where’s the Doctor? I assume you’re still travelling with her?”

“Right there, apparently,” replied Pauline. “She can change her body, from what Amy said.”

“Hello, Donkey Kong!” greeted the Doctor. “Now, my original question?”

“Oh, yeah! Bowser’s teamed up with King K. Rool for some odd reason and I bet it has something to do with Mario!”

“ME?!” protested Mario. “I didn’t do anything to either of them! …At least, not recently!”

“Oh yeah?!” challenged Donkey Kong. “Then why did they boast about destroying us both when I was fired out of that cannon?!”

“Hold on, I rather think we need some context here!” called the Doctor. “What happened?”

“…All right, all right,” sighed Donkey Kong as he calmed down. “I was chilling on Kong Island, having some bananas, then all of a sudden, King K. Rool’s ship, the Gangplank Galleon, fired on the island. I swam over there and jumped aboard, then got attacked by Hammer Bros instead of Kremlings. Then King K. Rool and Bowser stepped out of the Captain’s cabin, made the ship fly, and then stuffed me into a cannon all while boasting that they’ll destroy us.”

“And destroy you we shall, you mumbling, moronic mammal!” called a voice from the sky.

“Oh no,” groaned the Doctor. “And all while a chronal surge happened!” Everyone looked up to see a fleet of sailing vessels with propellers instead of masts.

“Bowser’s air fleet!” gulped Peach. Amy readied her hammer as Mario got into a fighting stance while Donkey Kong thumped his chest and hooted. Koopas and Kremlings then leapt from the ships and attacked! Peach and Pauline stayed well out of the way, since they weren’t combat capable at the moment. The Doctor and Lurra Rus joined Peach and Pauline as Mario, Amy, and Donkey Kong fought back.

“This is absurd!” grumbled the Doctor. “I can’t fix the chronal surge in this state!”

“Chronal surge?” asked Pauline.

“An energy wave washing over time and space and plucking people or things out of their native point in space-time and putting them into a new one in either their past or future,” explained Lurra Rus. “There’s a series of them happening in an event the Time Lords call the Grouping.”

“Nobody’s gone missing from what I can tell,” said Peach.

“We were trying to stay ahead,” explained the Doctor, “but I overshot the target. Navigational systems need a complete overhaul!”

The fight still raged on, but Mario, Amy, and Donkey Kong were starting to tire out. “I can’t believe this!” complained Donkey Kong. “This is how I go out?!”

“Come on, DK!” retorted Amy. “Show some positivity!”

“I AM being positive! I’m positive we’re gonna get a permanent game over!”

“Not while I’m breathing!” replied Mario. That was when the earth shook. “H-hey! What’s going on?!”

“Something’s digging its way up here!” yelped Amy.

“The Banandium Root?” muttered Donkey Kong. Something then erupted from the ground. It was metallic and had a huge rotary drill on the front like one would see on an oil rig. The vehicle then tilted to its side and opened a ramp.

“What on earth-?!” yelped Peach.

“We better check on them!” suggested Pauline. Lurra Rus then spotted the Doctor’s worried face.

“…Doctor?” she asked.

“…They’ve been buried for millions of years,” whispered the Doctor. “So they were caught up in the chronal surge! Oh no!”

“Doctor, what’s wrong?” asked Pauline.

“Come on! We’ve got to get our friends away from that mining ship!” declared the Doctor as she broke cover. “AMY! AMY, GET AWAY FROM THERE!” Amy whirled around and saw the Doctor.

“Come on!” she called to Mario and Donkey Kong. The three of them rejoined their friends as the Koopas and Kremlings surrounded the mining ship.

“Doctor, what’s wrong?” asked Mario. “They saved our lives!”

“Don’t thank them yet,” directed the Doctor grimly. “We might live to regret it.”

“Why? Do you know that ship?” asked Amy.

“…A Cyber Driller,” replied the Doctor.

“Cyber-? …No!” Amy goggled in horror as she realized the implications. A door opened from the side of the Cyber Driller and out stomped silver humanoids with metal helmets and a handle on each side of their head going up from the ear, turning ninety degrees, and joining on the top of the head. Their leader’s handles were painted black. Amy then called out to the Koopas and Kremlings. “GET AWAY FROM THEM! THEY’RE DANGEROUS!”

“Bite me, Pinky!” retorted a Boomerang Bro. “We can handle these robots!” They all readied their weapons!

“They’re gonna be slaughtered!” gasped Amy.

“There’s nothing we can do, Amy,” replied the Doctor. “And I think we just found who got caught up in the chronal surge.”

“Them,” realized Amy. “…They seem…different to the ones I met.”

“Yes, they do seem to take their design cues from their Neomorph cousins,” remarked the Doctor.

“Doctor, Amy, what ARE they?” asked Lurra Rus. The leader of the handle-headed creatures had locked eyes with the Doctor and ran bio-scans as the Doctor revealed who they were.

“…Cybermen!” she hissed.

“So, Doctor,” remarked the Cyber Leader, “a new appearance. Otherwise, our predictions about you tracking the chronal surge that took us is entirely accurate.”

Categories
Doctor Who: Crossings Series 3

Rise of the Machine: Part 7

“That was the last death the Daleks will ever bring!” promised Rosalina.

“You have no means to destroy us,” replied the Luigi Duplicate.

“We are made of a stronger Dalekanium Alloy that cannot be destroyed by heat,” agreed the Amy Duplicate.

“…Metalert, is it?” mused the Doctor.

“That’s all I need to know!” said Rosalina. “MARIO! LUIGI!” She then made two Ice Flowers appear. The Mario Bros grabbed the Ice Flowers, their clothes then adopted icy color palettes, and they fired a combined stream of ice at the Duplicates. As the Duplicates were encased, fear crossed their faces as they uselessly reported the malfunctions.

“Gyroscopic circuits: impaired!” yelped Luigi’s Duplicate. “Balance: impaired! Temperatures below safe engineering tolerances!”

“Cold cutting through!” wailed Amy’s Duplicate. “Strength draining away!”

“EVERYBODY DOWN!” shouted Omega. Everyone dove for the ground as the Duplicates screamed electronic screams before exploding violently! After a while, everyone looked up to see the Duplicates’ heads being the only evidence they ever existed.

“…Now THAT’S something I don’t want to have to do too often!” shuddered the Doctor.

“No kidding!” agreed Amy.

“I hate to add a wrinkle,” remarked Daisy, “but the Daleks only made ONE copy each of Amy and Luigi, right?”

“Daisy!” yelped Luigi in disbelief.

“Of course,” assured the Doctor as she booped their noses.

“Cut that out!” protested Amy as she swatted the Doctor’s hand away while Luigi looked embarrassed.

“These two are warm. Daleks never get that right,” chuckled the Doctor. She then saw Omega looking sadly at Phi’s remains.

“…Our last words…and they were hostile,” mumbled Omega. The Doctor put a reassuring hand on Omega’s dome.

“…I’m sorry, Omega,” she said. “The best way we can honor him is to complete the mission. …And I think I have an idea. Amy, Luigi, I’ll need your help.” Amy and Luigi arched an eyebrow in confusion.

“No signal from Duplicates!” reported the Dalek Communications Officer.

“Report on life signs near Deep Hibernation Unit!” ordered the Dalek Supreme.

“Insufficient data!” replied another Dalek.

“Alert! Alert!” warned a third Dalek. “Transmat in progress! Three figures! Time Lord genetic structure confirmed! They are arriving on the bridge!”

“All Daleks, prime weapons!” The Doctor, Amy, and Luigi appeared. Amy and Luigi had blank expressions while the Doctor looked downcast.

“The Doctor has been recaptured,” reported Amy.

“Your transponders have stopped transmitting!” barked the Dalek Supreme. “Why are you using voice synthesis?”

“We sustained damage,” replied Luigi.

“Doctor! You will be returned to Skaro for interrogation by the Emperor!” revealed the Dalek Supreme.

“Yes,” sighed the Doctor. ‘You’ve finally defeated me.”

“Where are the other prisoners?” demanded the Dalek Supreme.

“Destroyed,” reported Amy. “It was unavoidable.”

“Prepare missiles! We will destroy this planet! Doctor, you will assist!”

“I obey,” mumbled the Doctor.

“Duplicates will ensure that the Doctor does not betray us!”

“We obey,” replied Amy and Luigi. The three then began their tasks. Amy and Luigi handed over the components the Doctor asked for. The Doctor then used the components to wire the positronic brain into the Dalek Computer Systems.

“Alert! Alert!” warned a Dalek. “Unknown software has been installed on all Dalek systems! Comet Observatory Occupation Force affected!”

“Doctor, explain yourself!” barked the Dalek Supreme.

“Don’t worry, the software is harmless,” replied the Doctor. “Better targeting systems, that’s all.”

“Our targeting systems have already been updated to superior Dalek standards! Uninstall-! …Wait! The Duplicates are registering incorrectly!” A Science Dalek then entered the bridge.

“Chief Scientist, reporting!” it said.

“The Doctor has installed software while still under the watch of the Duplicates! Why are they not-?”

“Biological signatures detected!” warned the Chief Scientist. “These are not the Duplicates!”

“Darn right, we’re not!” replied Amy as she summoned her hammer.

“EXTERMINATE THEM!” shouted the Dalek Supreme.

“I wouldn’t advise that!” warned the Doctor.

“YOUR ADVICE IS UNWARRANTED!” shouted another Dalek currently connected to the ship through its plunger. The Doctor switched on the brain just before the Dalek disconnected. “YOU WILL B-BE EEEEEeeeee…!” All Daleks looked at the lone one.

“Are you experiencing a systems malfunction?” asked the Dalek Supreme.

“…I…I…I cannot…cannot…tolerate…all…all…must…be…exterminated!” The affected Dalek then aimed its gunstick on its fellows! “All…must be…exterminated!”

“FACTOR INFECTION! FACTOR INFECTION!” warned the Chief Scientist. “ALERT! ALERT! MOVE AWAY FROM THIS UNIT!”

“Explain!” ordered the Dalek Supreme.

“MOVE AWAY!” insisted the Chief Scientist. “THIS UNIT MUST BE EXTERMINATED!”

“Unacceptable!” replied the Dalek Supreme. “This unit requires stu-!”

“SILENCE! SILENCE!” shouted the Chief Scientist. The Dalek Supreme was taken aback at this! “THERE MUST BE NO ALTERATIONS TO THE DALEK FACTOR! THIS CREATURE MUST BE-!”

“Creature?! That is one of our own!”

“NO! NO! IT IS NO LONGER A DALEK! FACTOR INFECTION!”

“This must be studied at-!”

“THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE! THE EMPEROR HIMSELF OVERSAW THE INITIAL EXPERIMENTS I CONDUCTED! WE BOTH AGREED THAT ALL DALEKS WITH THE DALEK FACTOR NEGATIVELY ENHANCED MUST BE EXTERMINATED TO PREVENT INFECTION!” Another Dalek then started twitching.

“Must…kill…all…must…die…must…exterminate! Exterminate!”

“FACTOR INFECTION! EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE!” That was when Dalek fired on Dalek all across the bridge!

“Time to go!” yelped the Doctor. She, Amy, and Luigi dodged Dalek laser fire as they made their way to the transmat. They then vanished as the Dalek Supreme was twitching thanks to Factor Infection.

“E…E…Exterminate! EXTERMINATEEXTERMINATEEXTERMINATE!”

The Doctor and her group arrived back in the ziggurat. “Omega, fire on the transmat!” ordered the Doctor as she quickly keyed in a computer command.

“Got it!” replied Omega as he fired.

“Everyone out! Now!” called the Doctor. Everyone dove out of the ziggurat.

“What did you do?! Self-destruct?!” asked Mario.

“Three…two…one…!” Smoke billowed out of the ziggurat and Omega’s cell as the tech there self-destructed. Rosalina then used her magic to call on her Lumas.

“Comet Observatory, please respond!” she said.

“Polari, reporting!” replied a voice. “The Daleks went on a rampage against one another and killed themselves in the process. The Dalek Ship has also exploded, no survivors. We’ve got a mess to clean up.”

“…Doctor, I may need your help,” said Omega. “Us humanized Daleks have a policy of clearing all battlefields of Dalek technology so the natives don’t utilize it.”

“Not a bad policy, all things considered,” mused the Doctor.

“I’ll help as well,” offered Rosalina.

“Not me!” grunted Bowser. “I’ve had enough of Daleks already! Besides, I’ve got to take Wario and Waluigi to the Dark Lands to stand trial. They stole from me a week ago!”

“…Very well, do what you must,” said the Doctor.

The cleanup operations took a while. During that time, Omega constructed a casket for Phi’s body. He intended to take it back home with him to New Dalazar, the capital world for his sect of Humanized Daleks. He also shared his techniques on how to dispose of Dalek technology, as well as getting ideas from the Doctor. Once everything was disposed of, a small scout ship arrived at the Comet Observatory. Omega looked back and waved his manipulator arm at the crowd before entering the ship. The ship then left quickly. “…I suppose it was for the best, really,” mused the Doctor. “Leaving such technology behind would result in cultural contamination.”

“On top of reminding everyone how dangerous a normal Dalek is,” shuddered Peach.

“…So, Amy,” said Mario, “will we see you again in the next Smash Tournament?”

“Naturally!” replied Amy. “We gotta go, everyone.”

“It’s been nice meeting you all!” called the Doctor as she and Amy entered the TARDIS. The TARDIS then took off.

“Arrivederci, Doctor!” called the Super Mario Bros.

As the Doctor worked the console, her face was creased with worry. “…Doctor?” asked Amy.

“There were temporal spies among the Skaro Daleks’ ranks,” replied the Doctor as she moved over to the panel with orange controls. She placed her hands on the spheres and shut her eyes.

“What are you doing?” asked Amy.

“TARDIS telepathic circuits,” said the Doctor. “I’m sending a message to Rassilon on Gallifrey. She needs to know that our home is being watched by Daleks.” Amy wisely waited until the Doctor was finished. The Doctor then opened her eyes after a minute and sighed with relief. “Good. She’s reconstructed the transduction barriers.”

“Some sort of defense shield?” asked Amy.

“Planetary defense shields that keep Gallifrey slightly out of phase with the rest of the universe,” explained the Doctor. “The Daleks won’t like that.”

“What if they intercepted your warning?”

“The Daleks own telepathic circuits aren’t up to scratch. Oddly enough, it’s their innate hatred of non-Daleks that interferes with their own psychic abilities.”

“…What about the Humanized Daleks?” asked Amy.

“Oh, they’re well on their way to becoming a greater force to be reckoned with,” replied the Doctor. “They’ve got just enough of the Human Factor to ensure that.”

“Will this fight end the war between them and the Skaro Daleks?”

“Oh, I doubt it. It might have set the Skaro Daleks back a bit, maybe a thousand years. I don’t know. I’ll have to look it up.”

“In another book you borrowed from Rosalina’s library?” snarked Amy. The Doctor winced.

“Actually…I’ve been banned from her library,” she admitted lamely.

“Well, too bad for you!” Amy held up a book from Rosalina’s library. “And I’m bringing back during the next Smash Tournament!” She stuck her tongue out playfully as she headed off to her room to read.

“…Lucky!” grumbled the Doctor as she continued working the controls.

Categories
Doctor Who: Crossings Series 3

Rise of the Machine: Part 6

The airship had made it to a safe location with everyone outside the sick bay. Pauline fiddled with her hat, waiting for news about Daisy and the Hammer Bro’s condition. The Doctor and a medical Koopa stepped outside.

“…The bad news is that the Dalek that shot Hammer Bro Johnson,” sighed the Doctor, “killed him in a way that took all his lives thanks to what I translated. …The good news is that the blinded Dalek couldn’t calibrate for Daisy’s extra lives, so she’s woken up. All that told me is that a Dalek has to see its target for it to properly calibrate its gunstick.”

“I guess I have a condolence letter to write,” muttered Bowser. “…He’ll be avenged.”

“We have to play this smart,” said Amy. “The Daleks are clever and it’s more than likely they’re going to figure that blind weakness out.”

“Not likely,” replied Phi. “The eyestalk has to be carefully constructed and integrated with our real eye. We have no choice but to keep that weakness.”

“I guess you’re volunteering to be the test subject!” snarled Bowser as he punched his hand, ready to pulverize Phi!

“Lord Bowser, I understand your anger,” interjected the Doctor, “but Phi isn’t the enemy here. Nor is Dalek Omega.”

“His buddies killed one of my soldiers!” growled Bowser. “I made Johnson my son’s godfather!”

“They’re not my buddies, they’re my enemies!” insisted Phi.

“Look, pointing the finger isn’t going to help, Bowser,” said the Doctor. “Phi, you said Dalek Omega was here. What was he doing that got him locked up?”

“Amplification of the Dalek Factor,” answered Phi.

“…Amplification? What…oooohhhh.”

“Doctor?” asked Peach.

“I told you all how I implanted the Human Factor in a faction of Daleks, yes?” asked the Doctor.

“That’s right,” replied Amy, just as lost as Peach.

“What’s the Human Factor?” asked Bowser.

“It’s the distillation of the essence of what separates humans from Daleks,” explained the Doctor. “It’s marked by inquisitiveness, questioning, exploration of their world beyond propaganda.”

“Meanwhile, the Dalek Factor,” supplied Phi, “is marked by blind obedience and destruction of all that is non-Dalek.”

“The Dalek Emperor,” continued the Doctor, “wanted me to spread the Dalek Factor throughout the human race. I turned the tables and introduced the Human Factor into several Daleks. …But if a Dalek already imbued with the Dalek Factor got a further taste of it…no wonder the Emperor’s locked Omega up. That kind of research…yikes!”

“What, would a Dalek with an enhanced Dalek Factor be more murder happy?” asked Bowser.

“That’s the theory,” replied the Doctor.

“…I was joking!”

“We’re not,” remarked Phi. “It’s a last resort that the Skaro Daleks don’t want us to have.”

“…It seems we’ll need to use it on the Daleks invading here,” muttered the Doctor.

“How can we do that without putting the Dalek Factor into Phi or Omega?” asked Amy.

“…Why did you have to say that?” asked Phi. “Now I’m REALLY worried about that plan!”

“Dalek Supreme on Nokiko to Emperor on Skaro!” said the Dalek Supreme as it was patched through to the Emperor.

“Report!” boomed the Emperor.

“We have obtained the means to exterminate the local indigenous life!” reported the Dalek Supreme. “The Doctor has escaped as a result of the guard being a False Dalek under Omega’s rule!”

“Is the False Dalek Leader still under heavy guard?” asked the Emperor.

“Yes! But all probable outcomes indicate that the Doctor and her companions will free him!”

“Where is Omega imprisoned?”

“Inside the Birabuto Kingdom of Sarasaland! The heat will be a deterrent for organic life!”

“Unacceptable!” boomed the Emperor, surprising the Dalek Supreme. “The Daleks there are using normal Dalekanium shells, are they not?”

“Correct!” replied the Dalek Supreme.

“Then they will be cooked inside their casings!”

“Forgive the contradiction, but the duplicates have a Metalert endoskeleton! They will be more efficient in defeating the Doctor!”

“Agreed!” said the Emperor. “Proceed!”

“I obey!” replied the Dalek Supreme.

Daisy had recovered and was filled in on the plan once she was checked over. “And here we are again, back at the ziggurat,” muttered Amy. The Doctor was checking over the systems for any signs of Omega.

“Cramped!” muttered Bowser.

“It WAS meant for a Scout Dalek and whatever prisoners it could get,” remarked Phi.

“Why did you insist on going in first?” asked Daisy.

“Because my casing is made of Dalekanium,” replied Phi. “The desert’s heat would cook me inside my casing. If the casing was made of Metalert, I’d be okay.”

“I think I heard about Metalert,” remarked the Doctor. “That’s what Dalek ships are made of, yes?”

“Yep! Discovered by a Dalek Scientist during our early years, it can resist extreme heat, acid, and mercury! …Though it IS vulnerable to extreme cold like liquid oxygen. Supposedly, there was a famous Dalek during the Time War that had a Metalert casing, some Black Dalek that had a name. …Sug…Seg…Sud…”

“Sec!” said the Doctor. “Dalek Sec of the Cult of Skaro!”

“…You actually MET the Cult of Skaro?” asked Phi. The ziggurat then shook. “Whoa! What’s with the earthquake?!”

“Aha! Something else the ziggurat was meant for!” chuckled the Doctor. The Mario Bros looked outside to see a smaller ziggurat rising to the surface.

“Doctor, how many of those are there?!” gulped Luigi.

“Just that one,” replied the Doctor. “And it’s meant to hold a prisoner.” A shaded ceiling extended from the main ziggurat to the smaller one as the door to the smaller one opened. Out glided a Dalek with the capital Greek letter Omega around its eyestalk.

“…Oooggg,” groaned the Dalek.

“Elder Omega!” whispered Phi.

“…Ph…Phi?” asked Omega.

“Is it really you?” asked the Doctor. “Omega?”

“…Doctor!” realized Omega. “Still alive, Savior!”

“Savior?” asked Amy. “I didn’t realize you became a god for Humanized Daleks.”

“I don’t really like that title,” remarked the Doctor. “…And after that mess that got Omega’s brother, Alpha, killed, I…hang on, Omega, do you know about Alpha?”

“That he and his colony were tricked by Kata-Phobus into being its telepathic food source, so they all self-destructed? Yes, Doctor, I know. And I know of your involvement in that incident. Beta told me everything last time you visited him and explained why you had to break your promise to Alpha. …While I don’t like that you did that, Alpha shouldn’t have held those colonists as hostage and, ultimately, a greater danger was what took Alpha’s life, not you. Do not blame yourself for Alpha’s death. He died defending others from a threat that would have killed them and the colonists.”

“…Thank you, Omega. …But Beta learned about it a year after the incident, that was centuries ago. When did you learn about it?”

“An hour before my imprisonment. All thanks to Phi over there!” Phi twitched.

“…Phi, is there something you wish to share with the class?” asked Bowser.

“I…Well, I…” stammered Phi.

“You intercepted Beta’s message about the conversation he had with the Doctor!” snarled Omega.

“What?! Why?!” asked the Doctor.

“To spare him the pain!” replied Phi.

“That was my brother! I needed to know!” snapped Omega.

“Dalek Phi, what you did was augment his pain!” snarled the Doctor.

“Doctor, Elder, I-!”

“That’s enough!” snapped Amy. “Phi, what you did was cowardly, but we’ll discuss that later! Omega, do you still have that Dalek Factor plan in place?”

“I take it the Doctor gave you all the specifics?” asked Omega. Everyone confirmed it. “Well, I do.” Omega opened his casing and pulled out a small device. “This shielded positronic brain contains the Dalek Factor. It must be installed on the bridge of the Dalek ship. The Skaro Daleks already fear it as it is.”

“Why?” asked Bowser. “If it makes them deadlier-.”

“The cost is too high for the Skaro Daleks,” replied the Doctor. “On top of their predilection for purity-.” She stopped when she heard the transmat.

“Who-?!” asked Pauline. That’s when Luigi’s Duplicate grabbed her by the throat.

“PAULINE!” shouted Mario. Amy’s Duplicate then threw Mario aside before leveling a laser pistol at Pauline.

“Too late, Doctor,” said the Amy Duplicate.

“Almost, Doctor, but not quite,” taunted the Luigi Duplicate.

“Let her go!” demanded the Doctor.

“And lose our advantage?” purred the Amy Duplicate. “Humanoids do not react well to the effects of Dalek gunsticks. …Obey our instructions, or Mayor Pauline is exterminated.”

“We have the means to read how many lives she has left,” chuckled the Luigi Duplicate. “You had 42 1-Ups recently, did you not, Your Honor?” Pauline gasped for air.

“I’ll shoot!” threatened Omega.

“And kill her?” chuckled Amy’s Duplicate.

“…Power your gunstick down, Omega,” sighed the Doctor.

“Surrender the Dalek Factor Positronic Brain,” ordered Luigi’s Duplicate. “We cannot risk the Dalek Factor being enhanced.”

“BELAY THAT!” shouted Phi as he raised his gunstick. “I have a mission to complete!”

“You will do as your Elder had done and power down your wea-!” Amy’s Duplicate couldn’t complete her order as Phi shot her and Luigi’s Duplicate in the face. Luigi’s Duplicate dropped Pauline and the real Luigi and Mario got her to safety.

“Thank you!” panted Pauline. Then, like sci-fi horror villains, the Amy and Luigi Duplicates turned to reveal the hole blown in their external skin covering, showing off their inner workings. They locked onto Phi, grabbing him!

“Inferior, emotionally-driven False Daleks against superior Dalek technology,” said Amy’s Duplicate. “Foolish hatchling.”

“False Daleks,” scoffed Luigi’s Duplicate. “So fragile. All I have to do…is punch through…” he did so, “and you die like so!” He then tore Phi out of his casing violently. Phi spasmed in pain before shutting down completely and was tossed aside like trash.

“PHI!” wailed Omega.

Categories
Doctor Who: Crossings Series 3

Rise of the Machine: Part 5

In the Dark Lands, the domain of Bowser, a castle with a Bowser motif loomed over the fiery landscape with Koopas, Goombas, Shy Guys, and all various soldiers of the Koopa Kingdom patrolling for enemies. Inside the castle’s throne room, Bowser looked out the window, surveying his kingdom. “…Still as awesome as ever,” he purred to himself.

“Your Watchfulness!” called Kamek’s voice as he came into the throne room.

“You’re a bit early for your audience with me, Kamek,” remarked Bowser. “There IS such a thing as being TOO early.”

“Apologies, my Liege,” replied Kamek, “but I finished my research on these Dalek creatures!”

“So?”

“They’re the most ruthless life form in existence! They’re sure to overcome our 1-Up mushrooms and betray us!”

“Stay ahead of the game, Kamek, that’s how we keep them under our-.”

“Forgive the interruption, Your Cunningness, but there’s more! The Daleks failed to report the abduction of Princess Peach and our spies have evidence that they already kidnapped her, the Mario Bro-!”

“WHAT?!” roared Bowser. “I ORDERED THEM TO REPORT WHEN THEY GOT PEACH! READY THE FLEET! WE’RE VOICING OUR COMPLAINTS TO THE DALEKS PERSONALLY!”

A Dalek glided up to the Dalek Supreme. “Science Division reports that the Doctor has begun her work in decoding all coded research!” it said.

“Excellent!” replied the Dalek Supreme. “Ensure that she works with all due speed!”

“I obey!” That was when an alarm sounded. The Dalek Security Chief checked its console.

“Alert! Alert! Alien prisoners at liberty! Dalek assigned to guard them is leading the way!” it warned.

“Explain!” barked the Supreme.

“Identity discovered! It is Phi of the False Daleks! We have been infiltrated!”

“Order security squadron to intercept and exterminate Phi before he summons Elder Omega!” ordered the Dalek Supreme. “The prisoners must be recaptured! Their health is unimportant!”

“I obey!”

Alarms rang throughout the ship. “What’s cooking?” asked Wario.

“…Your heads and my tentacles!” gulped Phi. “That’s a general alarm!”

“They know we’re out!” realized Luigi.

“Prisoners and False Dalek sighted!” called a Dalek to its compatriots. “Prisoners are to be kept alive! Damage is authorized! The False Dalek must be exterminated! Crush all resistance!” The Daleks opened fire!

“Get back!” yelped Phi. He then fired at the ceiling.

“Watch where you’re shooting!” protested Amy as she backed away from the rubble.

“That should make things a little more difficult to navigate for them!” remarked Phi. “Come on! We have to get to the ship’s lab!”

“Look, I’ve been silent for a while, but-!” argued Amy.

“The Doctor can confirm that I’m a humanized Dalek! Now come on!” Phi led the way as the Daleks tried blasting their way through.

The Doctor was busy decoding with two Daleks watching her. “…Aren’t you Science Daleks?” she asked. “Don’t you want to get stuck into the decoding business?”

“That is for the Dalek Intelligence Division, not us!” replied one of the Daleks. If the Doctor didn’t know better, she could swear that Dalek scoffed at the idea of doing something only a Dalek from the Intelligence Division would do.

“Have it your own way,” she muttered. She then heard Dalek weapons fire outside the room.

“We will investigate!” the other Dalek said to its companion. The door then opened and Phi came in, gunstick blazing and destroying the two Daleks!

“WATCH YOUR FIRE, YOU TRIGGER-HAPPY-! Oh, never mind!” The Doctor looked back to see the damage. Both Science Daleks were destroyed with only their travel skirts barely intact. “I see you all made a new friend in Phi,” remarked the Doctor.

“Doctor, do you know this Dalek?” asked Amy.

“Dalek Phi is one of the early Daleks I humanized,” explained the Doctor. “During my second incarnation, I was roped into the Daleks’ scheme to distill something called the Human Factor. The Daleks were going to use that research to identify the Dalek Factor so they could turn humans into Daleks mentally. I turned the tables by initially adding the Human Factor into three Daleks, naming them Alpha, Beta, and Omega. Other Daleks were tricked into having the Human Factor instilled in them and it sparked a civil war in the Dalek Emperor’s Throne Room. The Humanized Daleks fled Skaro and established colonies elsewhere.”

“I chose to follow Elder Omega,” continued Phi.

“So Omega’s the leader in this war between you lot and the Skaro Daleks,” mused the Doctor.

“And he’s been captured, Doctor,” explained Phi. “He’s somewhere in this sector of space.” That’s when the alarm changed pitch and the lights changed colors. “…Oh no!” groaned Phi.

“What’s wrong?” asked Peach.

“That’s the Air Attack Warning!” replied Phi. He then stuck his plunger onto a sphere on a computer console. “If I can just find out who-!” The computer beeped angrily. “…Infernal cheek! They locked me out!”

“Let me see what I can do,” said the Doctor. She started messing with the computer console.

“…Aha! Got it!” called Phi. “It’s…it’s Bowser! Oh no! He ordered us to report if we kidnapped Peach! He’s calling the Dalek Supreme!”

“We have to get him to turn around!” urged Peach.

“He’s talking to the Dalek Supreme!” revealed Phi. “Hang on! I’m putting the call through my casing’s external speakers!” It took a few seconds, so the call was only patched through when Bowser was busy shouting at the Dalek Supreme.

“-you to report Peach’s capture to me, did I not?!” roared Bowser.

“Your desire for someone who rebuffs your advances is irrelevant!” retorted the Dalek Supreme. “You will obey Dalek commands or you will be exterminated!”

“Yeah, right!” scoffed Bowser. “You can’t permanently kill us, remember?!”

“We have the means to counter 1-Up mushrooms! Do not force us to demonstrate!”

“You’re lying!”

“Patch me through!” the Doctor hissed at Phi.

“What?!” yelped Phi.

“Don’t argue, just do it!” urged the Doctor. Inside his casing, blinked, then shrugged a pair of his tentacles before patching the Doctor through.

“Lord Bowser, the Dalek Supreme ISN’T lying!” warned the Doctor.

“Doctor!” barked the Dalek Supreme.

“Bowser, I beg of you!” urged the Doctor. “I translated the notes on how 1-Up mushrooms gives a person extra lives! They most likely have applied that knowledge and made updates to their casings! If you board this ship, it will be a massacre!”

“Oh, it’s gonna be a massacre, all right!” boasted Bowser. “We outnumber them three to one!”

“The Doctor was right to warn you!” taunted the Dalek Supreme. “Our firepower is superior! Your inferior weapons will not harm us! I repeat, surrender or be exterminated!”

“Me and my minions don’t know the meaning of ‘surrender’!”

“Then the Daleks will educate you on that word’s meaning before you die! Raise communications barrier!” The call ended.

“Hoo boy! We better get to the docking port!” gulped the Doctor. “Phi, can you assist the Koopas?”

“Can do, Doctor!” replied Phi.

“We’re joining in the fight!” declared Amy.

“You can’t-!” countered the Doctor.

“Doctor, you’re risking your neck to save us!” interrupted Peach. “We have to help!”

“If you want to get past Dalek shields,” explained Phi, “aim for the eyestalk on the top of the dome. That’s the weakest point.”

“It’s true, but watch out for the Blind Dalek Freakout,” warned Amy.

“The what?” asked Mario.

“You’ll see,” warned Amy and Phi together.

Bowser’s minions boarded the ship with reckless abandon. “SCRAP THEM ALL! PEACH IS MINE!” ordered Bowser as he flashed his claws.

“ALL HAIL BOWSER!” replied his men.

“Sir! Daleks inbound!” warned a Hammer Bro.

“EXTERMINATE BOARDING PARTY!” shouted a Dalek. “LEAVE NO SURVIVORS! EXTERMINATE!” The Daleks rounded the corner and fired wildly. Bowser and his men retaliated. Then…it happened. One of the Hammer Bros aimed his hammer at a Dalek.

“That’s it! A nice, fat target!” he said.

“Target acquired!” announced a Dalek. “1-Up counter initialized! Calibrating weapon! EXTERMINATE!” The Dalek fired on the Hammer Bro. He briefly turned into an x-ray of himself and screamed in agony before the Dalek ceased fire. The Hammer Bro collapsed with a look of pain and fear on his face. A medical Koopa then checked him over and goggled in fear.

“…H…How?! He ate enough 1-Ups to get 99 extra lives!” gulped the Medical Koopa.

“He’s dead?!” gasped Bowser.

“1-Up Counter and Calibration 99% effective!” reported the Dalek that killed the Hammer Bro.

“All Daleks, activate 1-Up countermeasures!” ordered the Dalek Battle Commander. “Exterminate them! Exterminate them all! EXTERMINATE!”

“BACK TO THE SHIP!” ordered Bowser as he got between his men and the Daleks. “EVERYONE, BACK TO THE SHIP!”

“HOLD THAT GANGPLANK!” called the Doctor’s voice. Amy clobbered a few Daleks out of the way as Phi shot them, tearing through their casings.

“Do not let them escape!” ordered the Dalek Battle Commander At that moment, Peach whacked the Battle Commander’s eyestalk off with her cast-iron pan! “MY VISION IS IMPARED! I CANNOT SEE!” it shrieked as it fired. Unfortunately, Daisy was hit!

“DAISY!” shouted Luigi as he grabbed her.

“COME ON, BRO!” called Mario.

“LET THEM ONBOARD! LET THEM ONBOARD!” Bowser ordered his men. The group boarded the airship and Daisy was taken to the medical ward. The airship escaped with the Dalek ship in hot pursuit.

Categories
Doctor Who: Crossings Series 3

Rise of the Machine: Part 4

The Doctor and her team were escorted to the cell. They met with Amy and her team there. “QUIT SHOVING!” argued Mario.

“Inside the cell! MOVE!” ordered the Dalek Escort.

“All right, all right!” snapped the Doctor. The instant all the prisoners were inside, the Dalek Escort activated the force-field keeping them inside.

“…I’m sorry, Doctor,” mumbled Amy.

“Don’t be silly, Amy,” soothed the Doctor. “I could hardly stand by and let them shoot you.” She looked to Wario and Waluigi. “I see you recovered from whatever made you pass out. I don’t believe we’ve been properly introduced. I’m the Doctor.”

“Wario,” replied Wario. “And this is Waluigi.”

“What were you doing in Sarasaland?” asked Daisy.

“A little…archaeology,” answered Wario with a greedy grin.

“Money,” grumbled the Doctor. “It’s always about money.”

“Money makes the world go round, Doctor!” snapped Wario.

“Not on my home planet, it doesn’t,” retorted the Doctor. “And it doesn’t make Skaro go round.”

“Skaro being…?” asked Waluigi.

“The Daleks’ home planet. Speaking of Skaro…GUARD! I want to speak to the Supreme!”

“Not yet,” replied the Guard. Everyone goggled at that. It didn’t speak in a barking tone like a Dalek usually does!

“…Erm, is something…?” asked the Doctor.

“Not yet, Doctor,” insisted the Guard. “Right now, my mission takes priority. This planet has something that will make the Daleks more powerful than ever and I have to stop it.”

“Stop it?” asked Amy. “That doesn’t make sense.”

“All will be revealed in due time,” said the Guard. It then looked down the corridor. “The Supreme’s coming.” It resumed its watch.

“I will speak with the prisoners!” barked the Dalek Supreme when it arrived. The Guard moved aside. “Doctor, you will assist us in harnessing the inherent stellar power the inhabitants of this people utilize!”

“Why would you need that?” asked the Doctor. “You have enough firepower to reduce this planet to rubble.”

“Not while 1-Up mushrooms exist here, Doctor,” replied Amy. “They can’t fully exterminate anyone.”

“1-Up mushrooms?” asked the Doctor.

“They’re green mushrooms that bring someone back to life after suffering fatal injuries,” replied Pauline.

“On top of that, we can breathe in space,” commented Mario.

“Too many chances for survival, as you can see, Doctor!” said the Dalek Supreme.

“All of those abilities come from the stellar power this sector of the universe and its people use, is that what your scientists discovered?” asked the Doctor.

“Correct!” confirmed the Dalek Supreme. “We shall master this power!”

“And put it to helping the other races, I hope against hope?”

“Daleks are the superior species! It is our destiny to destroy and enslave all inferiors! IT IS OUR RIGHT!”

“RIGHT?!” shouted the Doctor. “TO DESTROY INDISCRIMINATELY?! TO TAKE WHAT OTHERS HAVE LABORED OVER FOR CENTURIES?! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT AT ALL!”

“YOU WILL SHOW MORE RESPECT TO THE DALEKS!” The Dalek Supreme swiveled its eyestalk to the guard. “I must report to Skaro about our success! You will keep them here until I summon for the Doctor!”

“I obey!” replied the guard. The Dalek Supreme glided away.

“He’s counting his troops before they’re fully integrated with their casings,” muttered the Doctor.

“Doctor, how much research on 1-Ups do you think they stole?” asked Amy.

“That’s probably why they need me,” muttered the Doctor.

“That’s exactly why they need you, Doctor,” remarked the guard. “Their scientific division can’t fully make heads or tails of the notes, so they need you, much as it chafes them, to translate the notes.”

“…Are you sure you’re a Dalek?” the Doctor asked the guard.

“Not in the traditional sense,” said the guard. It rotated so that the Doctor could see its backside. On one of its back slats was the Greek letter Phi. The Doctor goggled as she quickly put two and two together.

“…You’re a-!”

“SSHSHSHSH!” hissed the guard. “Not yet! The other Daleks don’t know!”

“Doctor, what-?!” asked Pauline.

“I’ll explain later!” replied the Doctor.

On the bridge, the Dalek Supreme stood before the main screen. “Dalek Supreme on Colony Nokiko to Emperor on Skaro!” it said. A machine with a Dalek creature floating in a nutrient tank surrounded by large panels studded with sensor globes and a giant Dalek dome with lights and an eyestalk appeared. This was the Emperor Dalek in his stationary casing deep within the heart of the Dalek Capital City on Skaro.

“Report!” boomed the Emperor.

“The Doctor has been captured! Her TARDIS is in our possession!” reported the Dalek Supreme.

“Excellent! Status of 1-Up Mushroom research!”

“Research proceeds at unacceptable rate thanks to coding from inferior life forms! The Doctor will assist in decoding the research! Her companion has not consumed a 1-Up mushroom, so she will be used as a hostage to ensure the Doctor’s cooperation!”

“All is proceeding as planned! Status of the False Dalek Fleet!”

“False Dalek Fleet still maintaining its hold on several worlds! No incursion into this sector of space detected, but sensor sweeps are being conducted!”

“The use of 1-Up mushrooms will give us the power needed to finally crush the Daleks that profess that the Human Factor has cured them!” boomed the Emperor. “We shall use the power within the Power Stars, Power Moons, and Shine Sprites to utterly crush them! Bring the Doctor to me so I may tell her what is expected of her personally!”

“I obey!” replied the Dalek Supreme.

“Oooh! The pain!” wailed Wario, pulling that tired old routine. “Guard! Get help!” The guard shook its dome from side to side, as if in boredom.

“Put a sock in it, Wario!” complained Mario. “That’s the dumbest routine ever!”

“The Daleks usually kill the sick anyways,” muttered the Doctor. Just then, Amy and Luigi’s duplicates arrived.

“Doctor,” said Amy’s duplicate, “you will come with us.”

“Teatime already?” asked the Doctor.

“Move out of the cell!” ordered the guard as it lowered the forcefield and brandished its gunstick at everyone else.

“Where are you taking her?!” demanded Amy.

“We need her scientific knowledge,” replied Luigi’s duplicate. The Doctor stepped out of the cell and the duplicates led her away.

“…The more I see our twins, Amy,” shuddered Luigi, “the less I like us.”

“The less I like us too,” muttered Amy.

“All right, that’s enough,” said the guard as he lowered the force-field. “We have to cause some chaos here. You coming?”

The Doctor was brought to the bridge. The Dalek Emperor was still on the screen. “Doctor!” greeted the Emperor.

“Upgraded your throne, Your Majesty?” teased the Doctor.

“You will not mock the Emperor!” barked the Dalek Supreme.

“Her words are of no consequence!” replied the Emperor.

“So, tell me, Emperor,” said the Doctor, “why are you lot here?”

“We are engaged in a conflict with a faction of False Daleks!” explained the Emperor. “They took advantage of the aftermath of our conflict with Octus’ Daleks to strike Skaro and now we are at war with them!”

“And where did this faction of Renegade Daleks come from?”

“From YOU, Doctor!” That puzzled the Doctor.

“From me? I’m not Davros,” she said.

“In your early conflicts with us, you failed to distill the Dalek Factor, did you not?” asked the Emperor.

“Oh, I see!” recalled the Doctor. “You’re fighting and losing against Daleks with the Human Factor!”

“THAT IS A LIE!!” shouted the Emperor as he thrashed in his nutrient tank, practically frothing with rage.

“Do not lie!” barked the Dalek Supreme.

“Do not lie!” agreed the Communications Dalek.

“Do not lie!” supplied a Drone Dalek.

“We are making a series of strategic withdrawals,” explained the Emperor, “to selected strongpoints! We shall use this planet as a launch point of our final assault against the Humanized Daleks!”

“Emperor,” said the Doctor, “that’s the hollow rhetoric of a defeated dictator and I don’t much like your face either.”

“Your mockery will cease, Doctor, with this planet in time!” snapped the Emperor.

“What exactly do you need me for?”

“The knowledge concerning 1-Up mushrooms as well as Power Stars, Power Moons, and Shine Sprites is heavily coded! You will assist us in decoding the knowledge for our scientific division! You will then apply that knowledge so that only we can use the fungus as well as the Power Stars, Power Moons, and Shine Sprites!”

“And if I refuse, what will you do?” asked the Doctor. “Exterminate me? My friends?”

“Gallifrey is being rebuilt, correct?” asked the Emperor. The Doctor’s eyes bugged out.

“…How did you know?” she asked.

“The Time Lord known to us as the Master was not careful with broadcasting your quest for the Key to Time! We know you harbored Rassilon! We know she would rebuild Gallifrey if the mission was a success! Our temporal spies observed where and when Gallifrey was brought to! If you do not cooperate, then we shall make the destruction of the Time Lords total! We shall become the new Lords of Time!”

“WE SHALL BECOME THE NEW LORDS OF TIME!” cheered all the Daleks. “WE SHALL BECOME THE NEW LORDS OF TIME!”

“…Very well,” sighed the Doctor, hating that she had to prolong Gallifrey’s eventual agony.

Categories
Doctor Who: Crossings Series 3

Rise of the Machine: Part 3

The Doctor and her group arrived in Sarasaland once again, this time with better heat protection. “Right, I want to investigate this ziggurat that appeared out of nowhere,” declared the Doctor.

“What for?” asked Rosalina.

“Because this feels similar to the Daleks’ infiltration of Kar-Charrat,” explained the Doctor.

“Kar-Charrat? Did they discover the library there?”

“Yes, and it was lost in the confusion.”

“Blasted Daleks!” hissed Rosalina.

“Oh, blasted librarians too,” remarked the Doctor. “They kidnapped the native aquatic life-form and wiped their minds to become part of their new wetworks store.”

“What?! Elgen would-?!”

“He did, so I had to free them by allowing the library to be destroyed.” At that moment, they arrived at the ziggurat Amy and her group found. “Aha!”

“Doctor, it’s open!” yelped Mario.

“…From the inside,” remarked Rosalina.

“I noticed that,” said the Doctor. Her ears caught a familiar sound. “And THAT’S the pulsing noise you hear in all Dalek installations.”

“But it looks so old!” remarked Pauline.

“The Daleks have time corridor technology,” replied the Doctor. “It’s more than likely that they sent this thing and its occupant to the distant past.”

“Occupant?” asked Mario.

“This is actually a Dalek Deep Hibernation Unit. It’s designed to put a Dalek into a form of stasis for long-term missions. Usually waiting for a time-sensitive person to be discovered.”

“But what about the Dalek in my city?” asked Pauline.

“I have a theory, but I need to get inside,” replied the Doctor. “Come on!” The group entered the ziggurat. Rosalina whistled in amazement at all the equipment inside.

“Look at all this!” she said. “Hibernation equipment, nutrient feed, a short-range transmat! They packed a lot in here!” The Doctor checked the computers monitoring everything and pulled up mission logs.

“Aha!” she said. “Pauline, Mario, that Dalek spotted in New Donk City? It’s the same one as the occupant here! It used short-term time corridor technology to send itself and the equipment into Sarasaland’s far distant past to pick up a time sensitive for some reason.” She then found audio files and played them. The files were recordings of the arrival and departure noises of a TARDIS! “Aha! They were waiting for me! Now why would they need me, hm? And how would they lure me into their clutches?”

“…Doctor, what’s that pod?” asked Mario.

“Pod?” asked the Doctor. She looked to see Mario pointing at some sort of pod with a clear lid. She checked the files on that machine and gasped in horror. “A Dalek Duplication Pod! Oh no!”

“Doctor?” Rosalina sounded concerned now.

“It’s Amy and Luigi!” explained the Doctor. “I arrogantly assumed that the Daleks would be after me! But it’s Amy and Luigi! They’re Dalek Duplicates!”

“The Observatory!” realized Rosalina. She then tried to make contact. “Polari! Do not let Amy and Luigi near any computer systems! They are Dalek Duplicates! …Polari?! Polari, respond!” Nothing came. “…We’re too late!”

On the Observatory, Wario and Waluigi groaned as they woke up. Wario spoke in angry German before he sat up. “Who hit me?!” he demanded. “What was the number of that truck?!”

“Stop shouting!” complained Waluigi. “I’ve got a splitting headache!” He then looked at his surroundings. “…Hey, isn’t this that space chick’s home?”

“Hey, yeah, you’re right!” replied Wario. “…All this technology! …All that money!” His eyes were filled with greed!

“And it’s back to brass tacks,” muttered Waluigi. He then spotted someone in the doorway. “…Hey, look! It’s Greenie!” he laughed.

“Greenie? Luigi?!” yelped Wario. He turned around, then started laughing. “So, dumping that weed, huh? Dating the space babe?”

“You will follow me,” replied “Luigi” in uncharacteristic coldness.

“…I’m sorry, you seem to have forgotten THESE guns!” laughed Wario as he flexed. “Luigi” then pulled Wario’s arm behind his back and caused the fat Mario clone considerable pain.

“You will obey all instructions or you will suffer,” ordered “Luigi”.

“Hey! You can’t do that!” snarled Waluigi like a bully that had the tables turned.

“You will obey his instructions!” barked a Dalek that glided up to them. “Obey! Obey! OBEY!” Luigi frog-marched Wario to the observation deck with Waluigi herded there by the Dalek. The Dalek Supreme and “Amy” were overseeing the operation as Daleks swarmed the Observatory like locusts, herding the Lumas to the Terrace and surrounding the TARDIS.

“These two,” reported “Luigi” as he threw Wario at the Dalek Supreme’s travel skirt bumper, “were part of an expedition in Sarasaland. Their purpose is unexplained.”

“The Scout Dalek in the Hibernation Unit,” recalled “Amy”, “reported two intruders. We simply used them as part of the bait that lured the Doctor to Sarasaland. They were identified by Mario as Wario and Waluigi.”

“You will explain your purpose here!” the Dalek Supreme barked at the Wario Bros.

“We were recovering from that shot your friend gave us!” snapped Waluigi. “Those heroes let their bleeding hearts bring us here!”

“You will explain your purpose in Sarasaland!” continued the Dalek Supreme.

“Oh, we were looking to get a good tan and hot babes!” replied Wario, somewhat untruthfully.

“Answer the question,” ordered “Amy”. She slapped Wario hard, sending him skidding across the deck. “You will answer questions truthfully or you will suffer.”

“You’re not Sonic’s fangirl!” snarled Wario. “And I’ll bet that’s not the real Luigi!”

“These androids are products of superior Dalek duplication technology!” said the Dalek Supreme. “You will answer all questions directly and truthfully! What was your purpose in Sarasaland?!” Wario sighed as he ran out of options.

“We heard about the ziggurat and went to steal it so we could sell it,” he answered.

“Truthful response detected!” reported a Drone Dalek.

“How many are you?” continued the Dalek Supreme.

“Four,” answered Wario. “Me, Waluigi, and Dr. Crygor and Mona, my two employees. …They fled to get me help after your buddy knocked us out.”

“Truthful response detected!” reported the same Drone Dalek.

“These two are no threat to Dalek operations,” remarked Luigi’s duplicate. “They are valueless.”

“I must disagree,” replied Amy’s duplicate. “They may be used by Science Division to test the upper limits of a 1-Up mushroom’s resurrection abilities.”

“In due course!” said the Dalek Supreme. “There is another project that requires the Doctor’s cooperation! Your basis comes from a world that does not have 1-Up mushrooms! She will be the main catalyst to ensure the Doctor’s cooperation! Bring the Doctor’s companion here!”

“I obey,” replied Amy’s duplicate. She headed off to obey.

“Alert! Alert!” called a Dalek. “Our Deep Hibernation Unit is attempting to contact this observatory!”

“It is the Doctor! Allow her to communicate!” ordered the Dalek Supreme.

“I obey!”

“Doctor, what ARE you doing?!” asked Pauline as the Doctor kicked the opened and scavenged control console.

“Modifying the computer!” replied the Doctor.

“With your feet?” quizzed Mario.

“There ARE a few universal truths, Mario,” chuckled Rosalina as she remembered her own maintenance of the Observatory. “One of them is that every computer needs a good kicking when you’re modifying it.”

“Hello, hello, hello!” the Doctor said into a communications channel. “Come in, please! Come in, Comet Observatory!” An image of the Dalek Supreme then filled the screen. “Ah, the Dalek Supreme himself! We should be honored, everyone. This planet is very high on the Dalek Emperor’s list of priorities. The Dalek Supreme’s doing his own dirty work.”

“I will speak only to the Doctor!” barked the Dalek Supreme.

“This is she,” replied the Doctor. “I call upon you to leave this planet and never return!”

“Terms unacceptable!” dismissed the Dalek Supreme. “These are the Daleks’ terms! You will surrender to us immediately! We have your TARDIS and your companions! The one identified as Amy Rose has not consumed any of the fungus known as 1-Up Mushrooms! If you do not surrender, she will be exterminated!” To prove its point, the Dalek Supreme moved aside to reveal Amy on her knees with her hands bound behind her and held in place by her duplicate as well as Luigi’s. The Dalek Supreme aimed its gunstick at Amy.

“Don’t listen to it, Doctor! Get away!” begged Amy.

“You have five rels to comply!” warned the Dalek Supreme. “Five!”

“Doctor, she’ll be killed!” Mario hissed in worry.

“Four!”

“It could be a bluff!” replied Rosalina. “It could be another duplicate!”

“Three!”

“What would they need another duplicate of Amy for?” muttered the Doctor. “…We’d best do as they say.”

“Two!”

“Can we trust them?!” asked Pauline.

“We can trust them to kill her if we don’t comply,” replied the Doctor.

“One!”

“We surrender!” called the Doctor.

“NO!” wailed Amy.

“You and your companions will step onto the transmat!” ordered the Dalek Supreme. “You will be brought to the ship! You are now a prisoner of the Daleks!”

“It seems that way,” sighed the Doctor. “Come on, everyone.” She brought everyone onto the transmat and they vanished.

“End communications channel!” the Dalek Supreme ordered the Dalek Communications Officer.

“I obey!” it replied. The screen switched off. The Dalek Supreme swiveled its eyestalk to the duplicates.

“Return the Doctor’s companion to the ship! She will serve as Science Division’s control group when they start their experiments!”

“We obey,” replied the duplicates as they roughly forced Amy to stand.

Categories
Doctor Who: Crossings Series 3

Rise of the Machine: Part 2

“Daleks,” muttered the Doctor. “Will I never be rid of them?! I went through an entire incarnation without fighting them!”

“You know what that robot is?” asked Pauline.

“Pauline, that thing is no mere robot,” corrected Rosalina. “It’s a life-form inside a tank that has only one goal in life; the extermination of all non-Daleks.

“They come from Skaro, a planet a few galaxies over,” said the Doctor. “…I really shouldn’t have let Amy and her group go down there. Rosalina, we need to find them.”

“This way,” directed Rosalina. “The Launch Star is still aimed at Sarasaland.” The group entered the Launch Star and spun. The group was launched towards Sarasaland as Amy’s group was.

Amy groaned as she woke up in her cell. Her leg was full of pins and needles. She tested whether or not she could stand on it and slowly walked around the cell. “Okay…now where…?” Memories flooded back. A silver Dalek paralyzed her, her friends brought her into the ziggurat, then they were teleported…where?

“Has your mobility been restored?” asked the Silver Dalek as it approached her cell.

“No thanks to you!” snapped Amy. “What do you need me alive for? Trying to use me as bait?”

“Your survival is necessary for the duplication process!” replied the Dalek. Amy got a better look at the Dalek. It didn’t have the slats around its midsection, its fender at the base of its travel skirt was huge, it had a pincer claw instead of a plunger, and it had a dish on the back of its midsection.

“What kind of Dalek are you? A scout model of some kind?”

“My mission is infiltration and reconnaissance!” replied the Dalek. “Your duplication is necessary for the mission to succeed!”

“You cloned me?” guessed Amy. “The Doctor can see through any copy.”

“Cloning was not necessary! Machines built in yours and Luigi’s respective images sufficed! And your duplicates need only a short time to complete their phase of the mission!”

“What are you talking about?” By now, Amy was worried. “What mission?! What have you done?!”

“You will be brought to the bridge!” barked the Scout Dalek as it used its pincer claw to pull a lever and deactivate the cell’s force field. “Exit the cell and move ahead of me! Move! MOVE!”

“I obey,” said Amy mockingly.

The Doctor and her group trekked through the sands of Sarasaland. “Oof! Good thing I brought my hat!” said Pauline.

“What are you talking about?” asked Rosalina as she floated over the sand. “The temperature’s fine.”

“Easy for YOU to say!” grumbled Mario. “You have magic going 24/7!”

“Doctor, shouldn’t we find cover?” asked Pauline. “Maybe wait until nightfall?”

“Nightfall would be too late!” retorted the Doctor. “If the Daleks are on this planet-!”

“Doctor, surely you exagge-!” Pauline was cut short when she saw Amy and Luigi passed out next to two men, one fat one in yellow, the other a skinny one in purple.

“Wario! Waluigi!” called Mario. He then spotted his brother. “LUIGI!” he yelped as he rushed up to Luigi.

“Amy! Are you all right?!” asked the Doctor as she checked the poor hedgehog over.

“D…Doctor!” gasped Amy.

“Amy, was it Daleks?!”

“T…Too…hot…!” panted Amy.

“Heat exhaustion!” muttered the Doctor.

“What about Peach and Daisy?! Where are they?!” asked Mario.

“If I had to hazard a guess, gone to Daisy’s home for help,” replied the Doctor. “We have to take them back! All four of them!”

“I’ll get us there!” called Rosalina as she pulled out her wand. She spun and everyone vanished in a flurry of sparkling stars.

On the bridge of the Dalek ship, the Gold Supreme Dalek looked over its bridge crew. One of the guards heard the door open and saw the Scout Dalek with its prisoners. “Halt!” barked the guard.

“Scout 4 reporting to Dalek Supreme with alien prisoners!” replied the Scout Dalek.

“Proceed!” directed the guard.

“Move! Move! MOVE!” ordered the Scout as it used its pincer claw to shove Daisy forward.

“STOP PUSHING!” shouted Daisy.

“Human Female will remain silent!” barked the Dalek Supreme.

“You’re part of the Supreme Council, aren’t you?” asked Amy.

“Correct!” replied the Dalek Supreme. “You are the Mobian that abandoned my predecessor to Octus and his false Daleks!”

“So you’re the new model of Goldie, huh?” chuckled Amy. “The Old Gold Supreme rushed forward while its gunstick was offline!”

“Do not contradict your masters! The function of non-Daleks is to obey or die!”

“D-D-DIE?!” squeaked Luigi.

“Why make copies of us in the first place?” asked Amy. “And why just me and Luigi?”

“The Princesses are needed in our ally’s castle!”

“Oh no, not Bowser!” complained Daisy.

“What did you lot falsely promise him?” asked Amy. All Daleks…hesitated at Amy’s question. “…Oh? …Oh! OOOOOOOOOH!” Amy started laughing. “Bowser has power over you! You shot one of his friends and he came back to life!”

“We…cannot account…for local resurrection fungus…” replied the Dalek Supreme.

“And you can’t use it, I’m guessing.”

“…Your theory…is correct…”

“So, Bowser destroyed a few of you in a rage when you attacked him and now you know what it’s like to be enslaved.”

“The positions will reverse to their proper order!” barked the Dalek Supreme. “The Comet Observatory will be brought under Dalek control! Its early warning system will be shut down and all knowledge about 1-Up Mushrooms will be added to Dalek data! The Daleks will use 1-Up Mushrooms to become immortal! The Rebel Daleks will fall!”

“So that’s why you cloned me and Amy!” realized Luigi. “You knew the Doctor and Mario would rescue us!”

“Correct! Your duplicates will shut down the Comet Observatory’s defenses! The Daleks will take control of the Observatory! We shall sweep away all rebellion! All matter shall succumb to the power of the Daleks!”

On the Comet Observatory, Amy and Luigi had regained consciousness while Wario and Waluigi were lying on the bed in the bedroom. “There,” said the Doctor. “Their body temperatures were about 41 degrees Celsius, but they only got hotter after the blunt force trauma to the head. They’ll just need to cool down and drink the water nearby. Now then, Amy, Luigi, what happened out there?”

“We were walking the deserts with the Princesses,” replied Amy. “Daisy was telling us about a ziggurat, but then these two attacked us. I knocked them out with my hammer, but…”

“We didn’t see Bowser’s Minions,” finished Luigi. “They attacked us and kidnapped the Princesses.”

“…Really?” asked the Doctor. “Bowser’s Minions? Or the Daleks?”

“…The what?” asked Luigi.

“Doctor, if the Daleks attacked us, we’d be dead,” remarked Amy.

“…Amy, I think you had better stay here with Luigi and our new friends,” suggested the Doctor.

“What about us?” asked Mario.

“We’re going to check out this ziggurat,” replied the Doctor.

“Not more desert trekking!” complained Pauline.

“I’ll keep us cool,” assured Rosalina. She waved her wand and an aura enveloped them. “There. We’ll be as comfortable in the desert as we are here. …Though I would recommend we still bring water.”

“All right, but no Launch Stars,” said the Doctor. “I’m still dizzy from when we last used it.”

“Doctor, you’re no fun,” teased Rosalina.

“Luigi, you and Amy are all right here, right?” asked Mario.

“Mario, honestly, we’re all better thanks to the Doctor,” soothed Luigi. “You don’t have to fuss. We’re safe, even with those two.”

“…All right, but you call the instant you’re in trouble, okay?” directed Mario.

“We will, Mario,” replied Amy. “No worries.”

“All right, let’s-a go!” Mario said to his team. Rosalina used her magic to teleport herself, Pauline, Mario, and the Doctor back to Sarasaland. Amy and Luigi stood outside the bedroom, then their faces went blank as they looked up as if hearing a voice.

“…We obey,” they said in a monotonous voice. They left the bedroom area and traveled up the Observatory into the Engine Room. They entered the room and spotted a Gearmo working.

“Hey! Wait a minute!” called the Gearmo. “No one’s allowed here without Rosalina’s permission-!” Amy simply twisted the Gearmo’s eyes in opposite directions and shut it down. Luigi approached a computer console and keyed in a command.

“Access denied,” said the computer.

“Emergency vocal override,” directed Luigi. “Passcode: Telescope.”

“Vocal override accepted,” replied the computer. “State sub-menu.”

“Sensor net.”

“Accepted. Voice confirmation required.” Amy looked up to receive her orders.

“…Voice synthesizer-” her voice then changed to Rosalina’s- “activated. Release blocks to sensor net control.”

“Thank you, Rosalina,” replied the computer. “Sensor net control: online.” Amy then keyed in a command. “Sensor net will deactivate. Are you sure?” asked the computer as it pulled up a selection screen. Amy selected “yes”. “Sensor net: deactivated.” Luigi looked up.

“Sensor net: disabled,” he reported. “Advise all battle commanders that they may begin their attack run.”

The Dalek Communications Officer received the report. “Duplicates report success!” it reported. “Comet Observatory Sensor Net is disabled! We may begin our attack run!”

“All battle commanders, report to assault decks!” ordered the Dalek Supreme. “All research concerning the fungus known as 1-Up mushrooms is to be collected! All findings to be reported to scientific division for analysis! This planet shall belong to the Daleks!”