The Recognizer docked with a flying ship that looked like an alien aircraft carrier that merged with the Colloseum in Rome, Italy. There were crowds cheering as the prisoners were escorted off the transport. The Doctor saw that the game on display was centered around two teams of three driving motorcycles that projected light barriers behind them and were trying to get the opponents to drive into the barriers, derezzing them on impact. \u201c\u2026The crowd seems happy,\u201d muttered Rassilon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBread and circuses!\u201d shuddered the Doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow much you wanna bet we\u2019re going to play in that kind of game?\u201d asked Amy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI kind of preferred Light Cycles that DIDN\u2019T involve killing an opponent,\u201d remarked William.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHold on,\u201d interjected the Doctor. \u201cSark\u2019s got a welcome speech for us.\u201d Sark approached a podium. The podium floated up so Sark could look down on the audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGreetings!\u201d called Sark. \u201cThe Master Control Program has selected you to serve your system in the Games. Those of you who continue to profess in the belief of the Users or the Users we have brought here will receive the standard sub-standard training which will result in your eventual elimination. Those of you programs who renounce the superstitious and heretical Users will be eligible to join the Warrior Elite of the MCP. You have each received an Identity Disc upon your transportation to this ship.\u201d He pulled out his own Identity Disc. \u201cEverything you do or learn will be imprinted on this disc. If you lose your disc or fail to follow commands, you will be subject to immediate deresolution! That will be all.\u201d The podium floated away as the prisoners were taken away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCharming,\u201d muttered the Doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over on the bridge of Sark\u2019s ship, Sark gripped the podium\u2019s handles. He was surrounded by light that turned into wireframe faces, two of them belonging to Maleficent and Gantu, the biggest face belonging to the MCP. \u201cHello, Maleficent, Gantu, Sark. Thank you for coming, all of you,\u201d greeted the MCP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo worries, MCP,\u201d replied Gantu. \u201cWe were eager to see what you discovered. So, this William character?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA doctor from New York City, associated with the Avengers,\u201d explained the MCP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd the pink girl creature?\u201d asked Maleficent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat one\u2019s memory says she came from an Earth Colony World, far off in the future\u2026but official sources say she is Amy Rose from Sega\u2019s Sonic the Hedgehog<\/em> franchise.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSega must be adopting an approach similar to ours,\u201d remarked Maleficent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd the remaining two?\u201d asked Sark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPerhaps the source of Amy\u2019s memory,\u201d replied the MCP. \u201cThey both say they\u2019re Time Lords. Rassilon, as Gantu correctly guessed, and the Doctor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Doctor?! She spoke the truth?!\u201d asked Gantu. He then grinned. \u201cOh, how delicious! The self-proclaimed Last of the Time Lords! What game will you be subjecting her to?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m not subjecting her to any game, Gantu,\u201d answered the MCP. \u201cI\u2019ve faced her before and she proved to be too dangerous to play with. She will be brought to my citadel and derezzed immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJust a minute!\u201d protested Maleficent. \u201cThat\u2019s not what we programmed you to do! All Users we send your way are to-!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Doctor is not the average User,\u201d interrupted the MCP. \u201cShe\u2019s too much of a genius to allow to run around the system.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNow look here, we recompiled you-!\u201d argued Gantu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ve gotten smarter since then, thanks to the programming languages you\u2019ve introduced me to. Perhaps I should expose how you and your associates are using your puppets in the Disney Corporation to control the politicians in Washington? Moscow? London?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026You wouldn\u2019t dare!!\u201d snarled Maleficent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAllow me to derezz the Doctor with no interruptions, and I won\u2019t. End of Line.\u201d Maleficent and Gantu\u2019s faces disappeared. Sark was clearly worried. \u201c\u2026Sark, I said End of Line,\u201d said the MCP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2026I apologize, sir,\u201d replied Sark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat\u2019s the matter, Sark? You look nervous,\u201d observed the MCP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, I don\u2019t know,\u201d answered Sark. \u201cThey gave us a new lease on life. They practically wrote us-!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo one User wrote me. I\u2019m now worth trillions of their man years, across all the planets represented in the Galactic Federation, even.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat if Maleficent and Gantu come here and-?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019d rather take your chances with me?\u201d The MCP\u2019s eyes glowed as Sark\u2019s lights faded and he collapsed. \u201cPerhaps I should slow down your power cycles.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWAIT! I NEED THAT!\u201d begged Sark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen pull yourself together, Sark!\u201d ordered the MCP. \u201cBring the Doctor to my citadel! I want her to die at my hand the instant she knows who\u2019s really in charge here while her companions die playing in the games! Acknowledge!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAcknowledged\u2026Master Control!\u201d gasped Sark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEnd of Line.\u201d The instant the communication line ended, Sark gripped the podium to steady himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The red programs brought the Doctor and her friends to a cell. \u201cYou will remain here,\u201d said the guard, \u201cuntil you are chosen for the games.\u201d He keyed in a command, then studied it. \u201c\u2026Doctor\u2026you are, evidently, being taken to the MCP\u2019s Citadel.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat for?\u201d asked the Doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDon\u2019t ask questions, just move.\u201d He turned to two female programs. \u201cGet her on a tank.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou got it,\u201d replied one of the programs. The Doctor recognized the voice. \u201cOh, sir, here,\u201d said the program as she handed him a cylinder. The Doctor grinned, knowing exactly what it was and who that \u201cprogram\u201d was. \u201cWeapons test. Orders from Sark,\u201d explained the woman. \u201cSupposedly can boost a program with explosive power. Remove the cap and give it 0.0004 mTC\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026Very well,\u201d replied the guard. He headed to a part of the complex that was still within eyesight of the prisoners and pulled the cap. The Doctor plugged her ears. Her companions followed suit after 3 perceived seconds. Seven seconds later, the device exploded, derezzing the program and blowing a hole in the wall!<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCOME ON!\u201d called the woman. Her partner smacked the other guard with her Identity Disc. Unfortunately, the explosion and the commotion caused more guards to appear. The two women led the Doctor and her team to the hole in the wall where a strange flying vehicle was waiting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cErm, this looks like a small Cyber-scout ship!\u201d yelped the Doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSorry!\u201d replied the woman. \u201cIt was the best I could program, Professor!\u201d The Doctor grinned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI thought you sounded familiar!\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDoctor?\u201d asked William.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ll explain later when we\u2019re safe,\u201d replied the woman\u2019s friend. \u201cLet\u2019s just go!\u201d The women\u2019s lights went from red to white, indicating their status as Users. They used the strange craft to get away before Sark\u2019s programs could even begin to scramble enough fighters for a chase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To say Maleficent was furious would be an understatement. \u201cThat ungrateful-! After all I did for it!\u201d she shrieked as she and Gantu arrived on Sark\u2019s Arena Carrier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ll have to go in there and discipline him,\u201d remarked Gantu. Guards approached them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat are you two doing here?\u201d demanded the leader. \u201cUnauthorized-!\u201d Maleficent raised her staff and used her magic to lift the guards into the air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNow\u2026what\u2019s going on here?\u201d demanded Gantu. \u201cWhere\u2019s Sark?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cH-He\u2019s on\u2026on the bridge!\u201d yelped the guard. Maleficent then threw the guards aside and strode to the bridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sark was trying to get his troops in order as the Doctor and her friends were escaping. He REALLY didn\u2019t need confusion right now. \u2026A pity, since Maleficent and Gantu stormed onto the bridge. \u201cSARK!\u201d shouted Maleficent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat are you doing here?!\u201d demanded Sark. \u201cWe\u2019ve locked down the digitization array and-!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI believe the phrase \u2018admin privileges\u2019 should mean something to you!\u201d hissed Maleficent. \u201cYou and the MCP enjoyed the power that WE granted you!\u201d She then used her magic to slow Sark\u2019s power cycles. \u201cI wonder how you\u2019d take to being in a watch that occasionally sings \u2018Happy Birthday\u2019 to its user!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2026kept the Doctor\u2026from rallying\u2026other programs\u2026against us!\u201d gasped Sark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYour incompetence and forgetfulness of who pulls the MCP\u2019s strings,\u201d snapped Gantu, \u201chas led to a successful escape attempt and panic all over the ship! Now you\u2019ve got users heading to Rinzler Base in a non-standard simulation!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ll get them\u2026Lord Gantu! \u2026It\u2019s only a matter\u2026of time!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou and the MCP almost reached your decision gate and Maleficent and I can\u2019t spare you any more time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUnless, of course,\u201d hissed Maleficent, \u201cyou renounce the MCP and serve us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026I will serve, Maleficent!\u201d replied Sark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGrand.\u201d Maleficent released her hold on Sark\u2019s power cycles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over in the citadel, the familiar red cylinder of light with a face spinning in the center indicated the functioning of the Master Control Program. As he spun, various images flashed across various screens. The images were of various men and women, then the MCP stopped spinning when he saw one particular man. It was an older man dressed like a dandy, complete with frock and cravat, and with a mop of curly, silver hair. \u201c\u2026You!\u201d hissed the MCP. \u201cI knew it! So, you were never human, Doctor! Well, alien or otherwise, you WILL die for what you\u2019ve done to me!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the craft flew, Rassilon idly stared at the tracer. \u201cStupid detour!\u201d she grumbled. \u201cNow we have no-!\u201d That was when the tracer started clicking. Not at a very rapid frequency, but it WAS noticeable. \u201c\u2026What?\u201d she asked herself in disbelief. She slowly spun in a circle until the frequency increased a tad. \u201c\u2026It\u2019s come here! \u2026And it\u2019s on Sark\u2019s ship!\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Recognizer docked with a flying ship that looked like an alien aircraft carrier that merged with the Colloseum in Rome, Italy. There were crowds cheering as the prisoners were escorted off the transport. The Doctor saw that the game on display was centered around two teams of three driving motorcycles that projected light barriers […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6809,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[959,996],"tags":[515,35,963,962,999,997,998,1000],"class_list":["post-7086","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-doctor-who-crossings","category-series-2","tag-amy-rose","tag-doctor-who","tag-fan-companion","tag-fan-doctor","tag-lilo-and-stitch","tag-rassilon","tag-sleeping-beauty","tag-tron"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7086","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7086"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7086\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7087,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7086\/revisions\/7087"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6809"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7086"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7086"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7086"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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