As the World Shatters

Chapter 3: the temporal manipulator

The TARDIS door whirred quietly shut behind them as Peri and the Doctor returned home from another peaceful day spent in the English countryside. It seemed to Peri that she had heard more about cricket this last month than she ever had in the rest of her life. Everything had changed. Though she had tried hard to hide it, since the Doctor, her Doctor, had died and left her with his predecessor she had found it so hard to adjust to life in the TARDIS with him again. Everything was the same... yet nothing was. Everything she looked at she recognised. The TARDIS had been her home for what seemed like a lifetime, yet every time she looked just a little closer, she could see how different it was. Her own life had not been lived here, someone else had lived it instead. Even the TARDIS itself felt strange, lifeless somehow, without the Doctors chaotic, energetic self. He had never even left his mark because here, he had never existed. That was the hardest part for Peri to grasp, that everything they did, her entire life these last few years, had never even happened. 

She was pulled from her troubled musings by the present Doctors contented voice as he carefully deposited his ball, bat and shin pads beside the TARDIS console. ''Well, that went splendidly I thought'' he declared, half to himself, pleased with his performance in this latest game of cricket. ''And a wonderful day for it too, don't you think?'' 

 ''I... I guess'' Peri agreed without enthusiasm ''but i... isn't it time we got away from here, went somewhere else?''

After a stressful encounter in the Fornax System, the Doctor had decided they could both do with a break and he had taken Peri to 1950's Earth for the cricket season. It had been ok at first, but after a day or two it had started to wear extremely thin. It reminded peri of when the Doctor used to drag her along when he went fishing for gumblejack, though at least this Doctor didn't expect her to carry his equipment. In fact, he didn't seem to expect very much of her at all, mostly leaving her to her own devices while he played, then letting her follow him back to the TARDIS after. Just a few seconds thought and she knew which one felt worse. 

The Doctor looked crestfallen at her suggestion. ''Oh, must we?'' he asked, disappointed. ''We haven't been here all that long and I promised I could play for the team in tomorrow's match.''

 Peri sighed. She was really trying to make things work with this Doctor and besides, it was hard to say no to such a doleful expression. ''I suppose we could stay for just a few days longer.'' she agreed, forcing a smile. 

''Excellent!'' he expressed with a grin. ''Now, I'll take this equipment back and oil my cricket bat before the game tomorrow. See you at tea.'' 

With that, after a quick goodbye from Peri, he disappeared into the labyrinth of corridors making up the TARDIS and Peri was once again left on her own.

That night, after a hot supper of sausage and mash, Peri retired to her room but like always she was reluctant to sleep. She had had nightmares almost every night since... well, since it happened. Not always the same but always about those last two days before the world was shattered. When the inevitable happened and she finally did drift into sleep, like always it was the same as ever......

The Master looked back at them, a smug smile of satisfaction on his face as he studied his prisoners. Peri seemed frightened but still defiant as she stood close to the Doctor, while he, on the other hand, looked somewhat indignant but also, rather intrigued. 

 ''A temporal manipulator'' he noted with interest. ''Incomplete at the moment yes, but still, an impressive piece of equipment. It's a little complex for you, isn't it? A little above your limited abilities? I would have expected something simpler.''