Doctor Who and the Eternity Cage (The Future Doctor Chronicles Part One)

Chapter Three

Dr Munro's back ached terribly but he'd managed with great effort to carry the woman to the door of Bethlem hospital. With no hand spare though he had no option available other than to bellow for assistance. 

"Mr Lockheart, some assistance please." 

Within moments the large oak panelled door opened and a dishevelled old man bearing all the signs of having just woken up stepped out. 

"Would you be so kind as to fetch two orderlies and a strait jacket?" 

"Certainly Sir." Lockheart scuffled away embarrassed at having been caught sleeping on duty. 

Dr Munro groaned as he walked through the door and lowered her body to the floor, then straightened and dusted himself down.  

He craned his neck upwards to gaze at his new hospital hall. The large open space that was Bethlem's reception contrasted sharply with the small cells that the patients inhabited, but the hospital wasn't all darkness and solitude. He deemed it worthwhile to the patient's health to have large, well lit and airy communal areas for the non violent patients. Time would tell with regards his new patient, that intelligent look in her eyes could spell trouble.  

Dr Munro was awoken from his thoughts by an insistent cough. In front of him stood two orderlies dressed in black trousers, white shirts and black waistcoats, he always insisted that his staff dressed smartly. 

"Thank you for coming so promptly. Can you put this lady in room 47 and inform me the moment she wakes." 

Dr Munro walked towards a door marked private, behind him he could hear the jingle of the buckles as they put the strait jacket on her. 

As the Doctor and Lucy emerged from the Tardis the sight that met their eyes was awe inspiring. They stood on the edge of a cliff that overlooked the enormous doomed city that had been visible on the scanner. 

"How are we supposed to get over there?" Lucy asked. 

The Doctor scanned the horizon and lifted his arm to point towards their right. 

"Looks like there's a bridge over there Lucy and if I'm not mistaken a welcoming committee." 

Following his gaze Lucy immediately noticed three figures waiting at the far end of a long flat chrome bridge. The central figure was dressed in a bright white suit, while the two men that flanked him both wore black three piece suits. 

"Well let's not keep them waiting." 

The Doctor strode forward forcing Lucy to run along after him, reaching the chrome bridge he felt a sharp tug on the back of his coat. 

"Are you sure that things safe, where are the handrails?" 

The Doctor twisted round to face her, a mischievous look on his face. 

"Close your eyes and clear you thoughts."  

Lucy closed her eyes and immediately felt the Doctor's hands on her shoulders. 

"Right you can open them now." 

Lucy blinked against the strong sunlight and was shocked to find the three previously distant figures were now right in front of her.  

"What the hell was that?" 

"TCT or thought controlled travel. A much safer way to cross your average long drop." The Doctor replied, clearly pleased with himself for shocking his companion.  

The man in white forced a smile and held out his hand. 

"Welcome to Damnos Doctor, I'm the Leader." 

"Pleased to meet you." the Doctor looked intently at the man before him, keen as always to know what sort of person he was dealing with. He was roughly forty five years of age but his short grey hair combed into a side parting made him appear slightly older but perhaps more distinguished. The hand that he now gripped was soft and smooth, the hand of a man unused to physical labour. 

"Now this man to my right is Assistant Jarrow. He will show you to my private refectory where you may partake of refreshments before meeting the Grand Curator." 

With over exaggerated politeness the Doctor bowed slightly. 

"We appreciate your hospitality." 

As the Doctor and Lucy were being led through an airlock and into the city the Leader turned and whispered into the remaining assistant's ear. 

"Go at once to the Grand Curator and make sure the project and anything pertaining to it is out of sight. He's to meet with the Doctor in thirty minutes." 

The assistant turned to leave but the Leader grabbed his arm in a vice like grip. 

"He's to comply with the Doctor's wishes. The last thing we need right now is a suspicious Time Lord." 

As the Assistant left him The Leader craned his neck skywards and spoke his innermost thoughts aloud. 

"Before too long we'll rise to become the dominant force in the universe and one Time Lord won't stand in our way."