Out of Time

Chapter One

CHAPTER ONE

 Meanwhile…Twenty million light years away, somewhere in the Arteyu galaxy, within the shimmering and majestic imperial glass towers of the great and once universally recognised peaceful planet of Verdopolis a tall, gangly figure with bandy legs and arms flying all over the place in the most remarkably uncoordinated fashion could be seen running….

 Of course it was the Doctor, who at this precise moment was running for his life… Well nothing new there. Though while he ran along the bewildering array of maze like and partially reflective corridors, the Doctor was also doing a spot of multitasking as he ran his trusty sonic screwdriver along the crystal walls of this most ancient piece of architecture, he glanced at the reading, a quizzical expression flitted across his jubilant face, causing his smooth, wide brow to crease into an old man’s. There were two things the Doctor could be certain of: one: His instincts were right, something was definitely going on in the glass towers of Verdopolis and two: It was something to do with time…It just so happened that the Doctor had been on his way to see a very dear friend but now everything had changed and the Doctor had inadvertently stumbled upon something which was potentially huge and existence threatening. And it looked as though he might need a bit of help as he began to forge a plan of action, starting with finding his way back to the TARDIS…The Doctor turned his head just for a moment, it seemed he had finally lost the intensely moody guards of the glass towers…The visit to Verdopolis had been going well, too well and the Doctor just decided to slip away and have a little investigation and now he was being threatened with annihilation…It just wasn’t fair. There was an almighty crash as the Doctor collided with an imposing figure, clad head to foot in black armour. They had crossed paths before but the Doctor thought he had seen the last of them.

 “Ah yes…We meet again.”

 The Doctor rubbed his brow and slowly took a step back. Then had a little think and decided on the spot that he would find no sympathetic ally here but never the less he was still going to be his best courteous self as he extended a hand in greeting to the helmeted stranger whose visor was drawn over their face. The armoured figure gave off an air of haughtiness as they stood unmoved by the Doctor’s efforts, unperturbed the Doctor confided gleefully and clapped.

 “We meet again…You know I’ve always wanted to say that…Hello at long last.” The Doctor waved, adding his salutations as an afterthought, glancing over his shoulder, wondering where the outraged guards of “peace loving” Verdopolitan’s had got to because at this moment in time they would be preferable company. Confronted by a wall of silence the Doctor began to ramble, nervously twiddling with his bow tie. “Well I say meet again but we haven’t actually been formally introduced, the last time you saw me you tried to blow me up and the time before that it was shenanigans involving poisonous fumes…No hang on a minute.” The Doctor held up a finger and paused for a second, lost in contemplation. “No sorry, wrong order. It was the attempted decapitation by laser blade, then asphyxiation by the toxic fumes.” The armoured figure raised their gun and pointed it directly at the Doctor who raised his hands with a hurt look of stunned bewilderment, remembering to cover all tenses. “Okay…Have I done or will I do something to upset you?”     

 “I’m an assassin Doctor.” The distorted, electronic voice finally spoke through the speaker attached to their helmet. “It’s my job…Don’t you get it?” The sarcastic voice hissed menacingly. “I’ve been chasing you across space and time, you’re a very difficult man to keep up with…And an exceptionally challenging target to kill.”

 “Yes I noticed your vortex manipulator…Cheap and nasty form of time travel. Can make you bad tempered and give you a poorly tummy.” The Doctor rubbed his stomach, shaking his head parentally, he then raised his eyes; there was a stillness and authority about him now which belied his previous breezy eccentricity. “An assassin…I haven’t had one of those for at least half a century. Who sent you?”