The End of the Universe (Doctor Who fanific)

Chapter 6

"Only enough to know we've been brought here because someone wanted to get us all alone, possibly to kill us," Three said casually.

"So, the usual, then?" Six asked, looking around at all of them.

"Hardly the usual," Seven said, trying to avoid looking at the rainbow-colored coat. "Whatever this thing is, it's breaking the First Rule of Time nine times over."

"So far," Four interjected.

"So whatever this thing is, it's powerful," Six said. "Powerful enough to ignore the Rules of Time and intelligent enough to pick out individual brainwaves across all of time and space."

"That's about it," Four said.

Six began to pace, "Hasn't anyone wondered how it's doing all this? I don't see any scientific equipment, any instruments? There isn't even anyone else besides us!"

"One of us, I don't remember which, suggested mind control," Five said. "But I don't know if we agreed on it, as much as we can agree on anything, that is."

"And who put you in charge, young man?" One asked, bristling and standing in front of Six, who looked highly affronted.

"Did you think just because you're the First you get to be in charge? I have more experience than you do."

"Well, if we're going by that, I have more experience than all of you," Eleven said, waving.

Six shot him a withering look, "Do you know, I'd almost believe you if you didn't look like you were twelve years old."

"Now, wait a minute," Three said, stepping in between them all. "There's no reason to get so defensive. We're all just trying to work out what we're doing here."

"I can't believe I turn into that," Five said under his breath.

Nine scoffed, "Well, if you don't like your replacement, look at mine. All hair gel and charisma."

"For the last time, I'm not wearing hair gel!" Ten said, turning an exasperated look at his predecessor.

"I'm supposed to believe it stands up like that on its own, does it?" Nine asked sarcastically.

"Enough!" Four yelled, standing up and glaring at them. "Honestly, is every one of you after me a child? Have you all forgotten the universe is collapsing around us?"

Five glanced at the scanner and furrowed his brows, "Yes, it's lost half its volume since the TARDIS first arrived here."

"I'm not a child," Seven said sulkily, but Six waved a hand.

"Fine, let's work it out so we can get out of here and back to our own times. I don't like the idea that someone has just been bringing us all here."

"If it's mind control, wouldn't we sense it?" Ten asked. "I mean, a mind that big and that powerful that it could find us scattered across galaxies and centuries must have a pretty big presence."

They remained silent for a few moments, but the only sound was the hum of the TARDIS engines. "I don't sense anything, do you?" Three asked. "Mind you, it could be shielding itself."

The rest shook their heads. "What if we joined our minds?" Five asked. "If it's shielding itself, the combined force of nine Time Lords might be able to break through."

"It's worth a try," Four said, and they all closed their eyes and concentrated, slipping into each other's minds without much effort. They were all the same person, and there was very little difference between them. Only enough to make being together irritating.

After some effort, they broke the connection, shaking their heads. "It's no good," Ten said. "There's nothing there except us."

"Yes, and I think I'm spending quite enough time with myself as it is without having to share brain space," Six said haughtily.

"If it is shielding itself, it's done a very good job," Three said.

"But then what's keeping us here?" Seven asked.

"I'll tell you, nothing," Nine said. "Seems to me you've all been sitting here waiting for more of us to turn up, but none of you have tried to leave. How d'you know it's keeping you here then?"

They all looked at each other. "It simply never occurred to me to leave," Five said.

"Yeah, I mean, I don't really like leaving a mystery unsolved," Ten said uncertainly.

"One of us should test it," Three said. They all looked at each other, none wanting to be the first to try.

"I'll do it," Six said finally, pulling some levers on the console. The TARDIS engine started to grind, the central console rising and they all watched curiously.

After only a few seconds, the grinding noise became a screeching, and Six hurriedly switched the engines off. "That answers that question," he said.

"I don't like this," Ten said, looking worried. "Nothing can take over the TARDIS."

"I quite agree with- which are you, the Tenth?" One said. "I don't like this at all. We are dealing with forces far beyond anything I've encountered."

"Is it something that's taken over the TARDIS? Or is it something keeping us in place on the outside?" Four asked.

"Is there a difference?" One asked.

"Oh, I should think so, a very big difference," Four said. "Something that's taken over the TARDIS without our knowledge, oh, now that is a problem. Something holding us in place is entirely different."

"Not necessarily," Five said. "If something's preventing the TARDIS from moving on the outside, that means it can control the time vortex and the fabric of space-time. If anything, it's more powerful!"

"Yes, but it might be easier to escape an outside force instead of destroying a force that's already on the inside, don't you see?" Four said earnestly.

"But what could be out there, anyway?" Six asked dismissively. "The universe is collapsing, all the stars are gone. There's nothing left to hold us in place or to take over the TARDIS!"

"Well, if it wanted us dead like I said, it couldn't have picked a better spot," Eleven said. "What could be more natural than collapsing with the universe?"

They contemplated this as the TARDIS lurched to one side again. "It would seem we've found the perfect murder, then," Six said with a sigh.

"Oh, I don't think there's anything perfect about a murder," said a new voice, belonging to what appeared to be a long-haired Victorian poet. "But then, I never expected to find you all here either, so what do I know?"