THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE New Adventures of Doctor Who Simulation [The Renegades] February, 1997 TEASER: Materialising in the terran colony system Xeos in the late 26th Century, theTARDIS Crew come to the aid of a disabled space freighter. Unwittingly, they are drawn into the epic struggle between rebel Xeons and the zealous followers of the Great Controller of Xeos - a dominion ruled with absolute order and peaceful coexistence in the shared mind of Xeos. Will the Doctor and his friends escape this perfect world or will they too be forced to make the "ultimate sacrifice". Story Idea by Jen Kokoski [jenkoko@aol.com] & DoctorWho8 (Bill Rudloff) Inspired by the BBC Series Doctor Who This is a live online simulation played by our simulation group. The following material contains plot summaries, background information for the story, logs by characters, and the reconstruction of our six part simulation. For more information about our group, visit our web site at http://members.aol.com/jenkoko or contact our coordinator, David Sharpe, at norisalex@aol.com. No portion of this online novelisation may be reproduced or used in a commercial entity without the express permission of the plot author or Game Coordinator. However, readers are encouraged to share this and other sim adventures with their friends. +++++++++++++++++ BEGIN ADVENTURE +++++++++++++++++ =============================================== TIME LOGS =============================================== Doctor's Log By DRTUNA THE DOCTOR'S LOG After VISIONWORLD but before ULTIMATE SACRIFICE TARDIS Timecode a8743w.3405 The Doctor is sitting in the console room of his eighth life span and reads a book. With his feet propped up on a footstool, he sips a cup of coffee as he reads Goth's Commentaries on the Ancient and Worshipful Law of Gallifrey. He mumbles occasionally as he reads. The side door opens and K9 enters the console room. The Doctor watches as K9 moves towards the console and hooks up with it through the antenna in his forehead. The Doctor peers over the edge of his book and watches K9. K9 shows no sign of activity, except that every once in a while his two sensor probes on his forehead turn back and forth. Shutting his book, the Doctor rises and walks towards the console. He moves up next to K9 and seats himself on the floor next to the mechanical dog and watches him. "K9, what are you doing?" said the Doctor. "Master. I am synchronizing my database with that of the TARDIS." "Oh, just seeing if there is any useful information, eh?" smiled the Doctor. "Negative. I am synchronizing the databases." said K9 flatly. "K9, that's impossible. The TARDIS database is too huge for you to carry. You must be incorrect." "Negative incorrect. My memory capacity is adequate." "How can that be? When it was installed, it was several orders of magnitude too small to assimilate the data held in the TARDIS," said the Doctor crossly. "Current memory capacity is adequate." said K9. The Doctor remained sitting on the floor, but moved a bit closer to K9. "You have been modifying yourself! You have changed some of your basic systems, memory being among the most basic. K9, you aren't really Mark 4 any more, are you? Perhaps in name only. What else have you changed?" " I have a larger power capacity by a factor of 3, I have variable speech patterns which include Earth dialects, which I have used. I have more processing power than originally by a factor of 2. My force field protection system is now projectable and stronger. This is the beginning of the list. Past experience indicates that if I provide you with a complete and detailed list you will complain. I will describe changes 4-173 on request." The Doctor signed and shook his head. "I should have inspected your systems when I was concerned about your personality changes. Ever since the Mandragora you have been very, very different." "Affirmative." "How did it change you when the Mandragora lodged in your mental circuits while on Blood Moon?" asked the Doctor. "It made me more annoying." said K9, again without expression. "Annoying?" "Annoying. Events after that event indicate this statement is factual." "Well," said the Doctor shaking his head, "I am not sure annoying is the phrase that comes to my mind. I thought of it more as the development of a personality. Yes, the evolution of a personality. Well, you have always had a personality, but this time your character seemed to develop and evolve through time." "Evolution is a human concept." said K9. "But change is a part of all life. You have changed. You have changed yourself. You have slowly become a unique sentient individual." "I just go with the flow." said K9. "K9," said the Doctor while standing, "I have tried to respect that. I was tempted to see what was happening to your circuits and memory wafers, but I wanted to support your development as a sentient being. You've got a right, don't you, to your own personality, to make your own choices. Machine or not, sentience must be respected. That is what it really is all about, isn't it?" "You may say that." replied K9 curtly. "I may? I already have!" The Doctor leans down and pats K9 on the head and smiles. K9 wags his metal tail. The Doctor leans against the console. "You know old dog, I have much to be thankful to you for, but the one I am thinking of now is when you helped coach my chess game so that I could defeat Fenric. You were too smart for him!" "Affirmative, Guv...Correction...Affirmative, Master." "But as a machine there are a few additional issues which I must bring up, issues which you are now able to address, and issues which simply don't come up with the other companions." "Master." K9 withdrew his antenna from the console, and turned toward the Doctor with the soft whir of his mobility mechanisms. "K9, as you know, I do have a couple of more of your model in storage. Would you like me to bring one out as a friend?" There was a pause as K9 whirred. "Negative." K9 responded. The Doctor smiled. "Very well. There is one more issue. Should anything happen to you, what should I do with them? Unpack one, or leave it in storage?" "It is up to you, Master. In the instance you describe I will no longer be concerned." The Doctor paused and considered what K9 had said. "Additional orders, Master?" said K9. The Doctor shook his head and smiled. "No. Not now. Thank you K9. Thank you very much. For everything." "This unit is not responsible for everything. Your comment is being ignored for lack of clear meaning. Do you wish to rephrase." The Doctor laughed softly. "No, no need for that. Continue on your list of self-assigned tasks then. You do have such a list, don't you?" "Affirmative." K9 turned and began leaving the room. The Doctor watched him go and then returned to his seat and his book. After a moment, through, he lowered the book and looked out into the air in front of him. "No," said the Doctor, "none of us can be responsible for everything." ============================== The Ultimate Sacrifice Part One Wednesday, January 29, 1997 Plot by: JenKoko/BroganMc Script by: the NADW: Renegade Sim Players ============================= THE CAST: The 10th Doctor - a wandering Timelord with a beard and scholarly persona Zoe Herriot - 21st century astrophysicist, companion of the 10th Doctor K9 mk 4 - robotic dog computer companion of the 10th Doctor Brogan MacGill, 20th century photojournalist, companion of the 10th Doctor Pandar - Rebel leader middle-aged man and respected leader of the rebel Xeons. Has been imprisoned and "processed" many times, but his stodgy will and dedication to independence makes him impossible to re-educate. Knows the names of all rebel leaders and the location of their camps hidden away in the Xeon wastelands. Was imprisoned on the moonbase slave camp until rescued by brash, young rebels Teka & Darius. Teka - Rebel female computer technician/flight engineer. Young feminist with a tough "street-smart" streak. Cousin of Darius, though raised with him after her parents were executed by the Great Controller. Thinks of Darius like an annoying brother. Darius - Rebel male, young soldier with more enthusiasm than sense. Very loyal to the cause and his friends. Cousin of Teka equal in age. Thinks of Teka as a sister. Grew up in the shadow of his father, a decorated Citadel guard turned rebel hero. Kyron - Citadel guard, young and bored stiff in his current job. Secretly envies the rebels for their freedom. Medeus - Citadel guard, middle-aged man of experience. He follows Xeos edicts to avoid reprocessing or punishment. Not really a zealot, but lives comfortably under the established order. Feels responsible for Kyron. Galen - The Coordinator, only he is allowed into the Inner Sanctum to see the Great Xeos. Middle-aged zealot who came from a long line of Coordinators. Born and bred to be a loyal servant of Xeos. Xeos - Great Controller of Xeos, he monitors and rules every corner of the system as the Controller has always done. Called the Great Controller or Great Xeos, he is also the "mind" of Xeos. THE PLAYERS: Alfred Snider (DRTUNA) as The Doctor Jennifer Kokoski (BroganMc/JenKoko) as Brogan Lisa Heller (Zoewho) as Zoe Bill Rudloff (K9 mk 4/DoctorWho8) as K9 Joel Sharpe (Shorty 144) as the Great Xeos David Sharpe (NorisAlex) as Pandar and others Joyce (RobinCK) as Teka Ruth Dempsey (TArkkannan) as Coordinator Galen, Darius and others George Algozinni (GeoAlgoz) as Medeus, Kyron BACKGROUND: For two hundred years, the Xeos colony has enjoyed an era of peace of tranquillity under the watchful eye of the unseen Great Controller. Crime, poverty and violence is unheard of in the pristine Citadel where the "educated" Xeons live in harmony. In the outlands, vast sand deserts surrounding the Citadel, live the hunted rebels who reject the fanatical "Xeonite" ways and think the Great Controller is actually a dictator who opposes all individual thinking. Both groups vie for control of Xeos by waging a war of genocide against the other. BroganMc: <<>> BroganMc: <<>> BroganMc: <<>> BroganMc: <<>> IN THE CITADEL OF XEOS, THE COORDINATOR IS CALLED TO THE SACRED INNER SANCTUM OF THE GREAT XEOS Coordinator Galen: @::Galen, shoulders erect, uniform starched, hair in perfect cut, enters his master's chambers Coordinator Galen: @::bows stiffly from the hips:: You have summond me, o might Xeos? Great Xeos: @ Galen, Rebels have escaped the moon prison and have commandeered a freighter. Great Xeos: @ The Rebel is Pandar. Coordinator Galen: @::Galen gasps:: Great Xeos: @ An automated Security Satelite is tracking them now. Great Xeos: @ Never the less, he has escaped with two other Rebels. Coordinator Galen: @But, Lord Xeos, if they don't have the proper codes they will be destroyed! Coordinator Galen: @::Galen looks upset:: Life is sacred, My Lord. Great Xeos: @ Only that life that I determine to be sacred, Galen. Coordinator Galen: @::Profoundly disturbed, bowing again:: as you will my Lord Great Xeos: @ Galen, the Freighter has been disabled by the Satelite. You are to recapture the Rebels Great Xeos: @ and take them to the Processing Center. Coordinator Galen: @::stiff bow:: At once, my Lord IN THE CITADEL PRISONER REPROCESSING CENTER, A GUARD'S LIFE IS HELL Kyron: %::Young Kyron yawns, leaning against the wall as the last rebel batch passes through the gleaming, Medeus: %sterile white doors:: Rao, what a life! Medeus: %::Older Medeus:: Has it's moments, lad Kyron: %::Kyron:: Big rubbishing deal. Anyone sing any songs in praise of the guards? Kyron: %::Kyron:: No, but I bet these blokes know several about the rebs Medeus: %::Medeus, alarmed:: Shut your gob! ::points to the camera:: the walls have eyes and ears, ya bloody Medeus: %fool! TARDIS EN ROUTE TO XEOS SOLAR SYSTEM Zoe Herriot: # :::Zoe rushes into the Tardis console::: The Doctor: # ::: The TARDIS is plunging through the temporal vortex, spinning slowly as it goes.:::: Brogan MacGill: #::Brogan enters console room in more sedate pace yawning:: K9 mk 4: # {S TARDIS in Vortex The Doctor: # ::: The Doctor stands at the console adjusting the controls.:::: Brogan MacGill: #Zoe, wait up. Why are you so bouncy today? Zoe Herriot: # :::Whirls around to face Brogan::: I am SO angry at that stupid...stupid...mUTT! The Doctor: # Hello, Brogan. Yawning so early? K9 mk 4: # :::underneath the console::: Zoe Herriot: # :::Obviously fuming::: Zoe Herriot: # That idiot mechanical DOG. I could just wring his neck... if he had one! Brogan MacGill: #::big yawn:: Early? We just ate lunch. I always get sleepy after I eat. The Doctor: # K9, have you found my recorder down there? Zoe Herriot: # :::Grimaces::: k9! Is THAT where you are??! Come out an face me! K9 mk 4: # Negative on ring neck, Mistress Zoe. K9 mk 4: # Negative, Master. No recorder instrument. The Doctor: # Hmmm...Xeos is our destination. Zoe Herriot: # :::Fumes::: k9. DON'T patronize me! You KNOW what you've done. Brogan MacGill: #::takes interest in Zoe's tirade:: What did Rover do this time? ::says Brogan MacGill: sarcastically:: Brogan MacGill: #::leans over Zoe's shoulder:: What did he do? The Doctor: # ::: The Doctor is talking to himself::: It used to be a beacon of electronic emissions.... Zoe Herriot: # :::Glad to finally have the audience::: WELL. K9 took one of my SENSITIVE instruments... K9 mk 4: # Negative, I have done nothing. Zoe Herriot: # :::Pained look on her face::: k9. You are the ONLY one who knows where this instrument is! The Doctor: # ....but for the last few years it has been very, very silent. Yet, life signs still exist. K9 mk 4: # Negative. Brogan MacGill: #Shush K9. You can defend yourself later. Zoe Herriot: # :::Adds:: OR how to operate it, for that matter. K9 mk 4: # Negative. The Doctor: # ::: The Doctor picks up a plastic page and looks at it:::: Zoe Herriot: # ::: In a huff::: K9, my com-stat electronicizer indicator is OFF. It HAD to be you. The Doctor: # Yes, old Grobaric isn't very imaginative, but his observations are dependable. It got published. Brogan MacGill: #Taken up cleptomania (sp?) pooch? ::smiles at K9:: Really, K9 you should apologize. Zoe Herriot: # :::Waves her hands at Brogan::: She wouldn't EVER meddle with my things. K9 mk 4: # Negative. I have not been in your room for 27.5 hours, Mistress Zoe. The Doctor: # ::: The Doctor turns to his companions::: Hello! And what adventure are you have with each other... Zoe Herriot: # :::Sighs::: K9, but if it WASN'T you, then who? The Doctor: #...today? :::smiles::: K9 mk 4: # Your comm stat was deactivated 15.3 hours ago. Brogan MacGill: #::nods in agreement with Zoe:: I don't even have the slightest notion what that Brogan MacGill: thingamajiggy is. The Doctor: # Listen Zoe, I lose things all the time. The TARDIS is a big place. K9 mk 4: # I was here in the console room at the time. The Doctor: # It will turn up. Things usually do. Zoe Herriot: # :::Scowls at the Doctor::: Doctor, you and I are VERY different people. Brogan MacGill: #Where did you have this thing last, Zoe? K9 mk 4: # Logic dictates that you misplaced it. Zoe Herriot: # I have a brilliant memory. K9 mk 4: # Negative. The Doctor: # Now, we are about to rematerialize in the system of the star Xeos. I'll be attending to that. Zoe Herriot: # :::Turns:::: Xeos? K9 mk 4: # I have a brilliant memory. The Doctor: # And you all worry about Zoe's instrument. K9 mk 4: # Negative "worry," Master. The Doctor: # ::: The Doctor faces the console and adjusts the dials (the old funky ones);::: Zoe Herriot: # :::Looks embarrassed::: I'm sorry, Doctor. I don't mean to whine... it's just STRANGE. K9 mk 4: # {S Master}? K9 mk 4: # {S Master}? The Doctor: # Xeos. Quite a mystery. I was just reading about it in a magazine from Gallifrey. Brogan MacGill: #::says thoughtfully:: A lot of things are strange around here lately. Zoe Herriot: # :::Listens::: K9 mk 4: # {S Master}? The Doctor: # Life continues there, but it seems to have stopped using the electromagnetic continuum. K9 mk 4: # {S The Doctor: # It's "winked out." Zoe Herriot: # :::Slaps forehead::: WHAT did you say??? Doctor! Of course! K9 mk 4: # {S Master}? K9 mk 4: # Hey Guv!!!! Zoe Herriot: # :::Laughs to self::: It's stopped using the electromagnetic continuum? Brogan MacGill: #So what does that mean? Zoe Herriot: # :::Chortles::: Sorry, K9, for blaming you. ... I think I know where my equipment went... Zoe Herriot: # :::Zoe races out of the console room:: ORBITING XEOS HOMEWORLD, A COMMANDEERED PRISON FREIGHTER IS MYSTERIOUSLY DISABLED Pandar: $:::Pandar sits in the control cabin of the escape freighter::: Darius: $::Darius is under the console, surrounded by bits and pieces of it, swearing under his breath:: Pandar: $:::He still wears his slave camp outfit::: Darius: $try again, Teka::she flips a switch-- squeal, groan, sparks:: Well, *that* didn't work Pandar: $::he keeps an eye on the radar, while Teka and Darius attempt to fix the flight computer::: Pandar: $ Well, things could be worse, my friends. Darius: $::still under the console:: I don't see how Pandar: $:::suddenly the comm speaker crackles to life:::: Pandar: $ Security sat> This is Automated Security Satellite 1038 Pandar: $ Sec Sat> Transmit the correct ID code Pandar: $ Pandar> It just got worse, my friends. Darius: $Try the other switch Teka ::Spit, whirr, CLUNK:: No, that's not it either. Pandar: $::::Pandar leans forward, hit's the transmit button:: Pandar: $:::makes sputtering and crackling noises while talking::: Pandar: $ Pandar> :::static::: Excuse me, could you repeat that? Darius: $::still under the console:: Maybe this will help. ::SPEEDOWW!:: Well, that didn't work Pandar: $ Pandar :::static::: We're having a little problem here Pandar: $ Sec Sat> Repeating....Transmit the correct ident code, or you will be obliterated! Darius: $Here, Teka, hand me that number 10 left handed spanner, will you? Pandar: $ Pandar>::::muttering to himself:::: This doesn't look good. Pandar: $ Pandar> Could you hold on for a minute, please? Pandar: $ Pandar>::::lots of static:::: Pandar: $ Pandar> I can't find the code, we've got a major problem here! Darius: $::swearing under the console:: What did they do to these microchips?? Pandar: $ Pandar> Reactor leak, very dangerous....::::static:::: Pandar: $ Pandar> Could make a huge explosion, suggest you evacuate the area immediately!!!!! Pandar: $ Pandar>::::makes more static noises:::: Darius: $::Comes out from under the console with the spanner. Smacks the computer:: Darius: $::Computer burbs and stays deactivated:: Well, it was a thought Pandar: $ Sec Sat> This is your last warning, send the correct ident code or else! Pandar: $ Pandar> Umm, I think the ident code paper burned up in the fire, sirs Pandar: $ Pandar> Could you give me a minute to try and find the backup, please? Pandar: $ :::Pandar shuffles papers around, doing anything he can to delay the satellite:::: TARDIS CREW OBSERVE A FREIGHTER IN DISTRESS The Doctor: # :::The TARDIS rematerializes in space within the Xeos system:::: The Doctor: # ::: The Doctor throws the switch that opens the full roof view screen so they can see the system::: K9 mk 4: # {S TARDIS Landing 2 The Doctor: # ::: The Doctor gestures toward one end::: There is the star of Xeos. K9 mk 4: # Master, I need to tell you something. The Doctor: # The main concentration of life forms is on the planet Xeos Prime, surrounded by several moons. Zoe Herriot: # ::: Zoe comes back into console room, com-stat electronicizer indicator in hand::: Brogan MacGill: #::Brogan gazes at the stellar system, notices a nearby object orbiting the planet:: Brogan MacGill: #::points:: IS that a ship, Doctor? The Doctor: # ::: The Doctor turns to K9::: Yes, K9? Zoe Herriot: # :::The indicator has a strange glow about it. :::: Zoe Herriot: # :::Zoe taps at it lightly, pressing a few abstract looking buttons::: K9 mk 4: # There is a ship, 3 parsecs off or starbort bow that is in a state of direpair. Brogan MacGill: #::the spaceship seems to be hovering lifeless in space, nearby is a small Zoe Herriot: # :::Looks up::: a ship? Hmmm. Brogan MacGill: satellite:: The Doctor: # ::: The Doctor adjusts the console, the viewscreen does a close up of the freighter:::: Brogan MacGill: #Looks old to me. K9 mk 4: # {S Scanner screen The Doctor: # ::: The Doctor frowns::: There are life forms aboard that freighter, but it is not operational. The Doctor: # I think it is in trouble. Brogan MacGill: #::Brogan studies the battered freighter and nearby satellite:: K9 mk 4: # {S Affirmative The Doctor: # Suggestions, my friends? Zoe Herriot: # :::Frowns::: Doctor, would the lack of an electromagnetic continuum be what has disrupted K9 mk 4: # I suggest we go and help them. Zoe Herriot: this ship? Brogan MacGill: #I wonder what the satelite is for. ::answers Doc:: Well, we could always pop Brogan MacGill: over there. Zoe Herriot: # :::Waves her com-stat unit::: We could go check it out. The Doctor: # ::: The Doctor sets the controls::: Careful now, these short hops can be the most difficult! The Doctor: # ::: The TARDIS demats and remats aboard the freighter.::: K9 mk 4: # Negative, long hops are. K9 mk 4: # {S TARDIS Landing The Doctor: # For you, perhaps, old dog! Zoe Herriot: # :::Zoe leans over to Brogan::: The com-stat electronicizer RE-ELECTROLIZES things. Zoe Herriot: # :::She adds::: that's why, when we entered airspace near this planet, it took off... Brogan MacGill: $::with a wheeze and a groan, a blue police box materializes on the space freighter:: Zoe Herriot: # :::Laughs::: I found this unit :::Taps box::: in the ZERO room! Can you believe it?? The Doctor: # Well, we are aboard the ship. Rescue party, anyone? Zoe Herriot: # Ready! The Doctor: # ::: The Doctor heads towards the door::: K9 mk 4: # {S TARDIS Doors Brogan MacGill: #::shakes head at Zoe wondering what the blazes she is talking about:: K9 mk 4: # :::goes to doors::: Zoe Herriot: # :::Zoe, oblivious to Brogan's confusion, continues::: think what would have happened... Zoe Herriot: # :::Zoe exits the Tardis, still explaining her com-stat electronicizer to Brogan::: XEONITE GUARDS ARE RECRUITED FROM THE CITADEL FOR AN EMERGENCY SPACE MISSION Coordinator Galen: @::Galen marches down to the barracks:: Coordinator Galen: @Men! The rebel Pandar has escaped from the moon. Coordinator Galen: @The Great Xeos has disabled his ship in orbit. I need volunteers to go and capture him. Coordinator Galen: @There will be much glory given to your name. Coordinator Galen: @::Medeus:: I volunteer, sir. ::yanks us Kyron's hand:: he does too! THE TARDIS REMATERIALIZES ON THE DISABLED FRIEGHTER TO HELP The Doctor: $ ::: The Doctor emerges from the TARDIS and finds himself aboard the freighter::: K9 mk 4: $ :::rolls out of the TARDIS::: Pandar: $ :::Pandar shuffles papers around, doing anything he can to delay the satellite:::: Brogan MacGill: $::Brogan follows the Doctor out of the TARDIS to step onto the freighter:: Zoe Herriot: $ :::Smiles, surprised::: Well, hello! Brogan MacGill: $::her boots clang along a hollow metal grating floor, the ship seems empty:: The Doctor: $ ::: The Doctor walks into the room and runs into Pandar:::: Pandar: $ Pandar> Teka, I think I hear footsteps....whoa!!!!::::runs into the Doctor:::: K9 mk 4: $ Woof. The Doctor: $ ::: The Doctor looks at Pandar and sees that he is obviously a formidible character:::: Pandar: $ Pandar> Where did you come from, young feller-me-lad? The Doctor: $ Hello, I was passing by and it seemed as if you were having a bit of trouble.... Zoe Herriot: $ :::Smiles again, nervously::: He-hello... I'm Zoe... Pandar: $ Pandar> Yes, we certainly are! The Doctor: $ I am the Doctor, and these are my oh-so-helpful companions K9, Zoe, and Brogan. Zoe Herriot: $ :::Zoe nods politely::: K9 mk 4: $ Meow....Correction....Arf! Brogan MacGill: $ ::nods and smiles:: Zoe Herriot: $ :::Zoe rolls her eyes and laughs pleasantly at K9's attempt to be non-mechanical::: Pandar: $ :::Pandar smiles and nods at the Doctor and his companions:::: Darius: $::Scowling at the computer:: Darius, she's Teka The Doctor: $ Our assistance come free of charge. What seems to be the problem? Darius: $::Waves hand at computer:: Can't get it to work Brogan MacGill: $::Brogan edges into the control room over to Darius and Teka:: Brogan MacGill: $::peers over Darius' shoulder:: Trouble with the computer? Have you tried Brogan MacGill: whacking it? Darius: $::Darius:: With a number 10 left handed spanner ::points to dent:: K9 mk 4: $ :::does spme preliminary scanning::: Zoe Herriot: $ :::Zoe whips out her com-stat electronicizer, and begins to scan::: Darius: $::blinks:: Here, what's that? The Doctor: $ ::: The Doctor looks over the control room carefully.::: Pandar: $ :::the speakers crackle to life again::: Pandar: $ Sec Sat>Transmit the correct ident code in 30 seconds or be destroyed! This is your last Pandar: $ warning! THE DISABLED FRIEGHTER IS GIVEN ONE LAST WARNING BY DEFENSE SATELITTE Zoe Herriot: $ :::Zoe drops the com-stat electronicizer anxiously with a clatter::: Whh-hat? The Doctor: $ Oh, I see. A security problem. Do you have shields? Pandar: $ Pandar> That automated security satellite will destroy us in 30 seconds. Yes we do. The Doctor: $ Well, show them to me RIGHT AWAY! Brogan MacGill: $::snaps head to scanner image of securtiy satelite:: So that's what its for! K9 mk 4: $ :::searching for correct code::: Pandar: $ Pandar> But I don't know if they're working, either! :::shows them to the Doctor::: Pandar: $ Pandar> Right here, Doctor The Doctor: $ ::: The Doctor shouts::: Zoe and K9, get that flight computewr working! K9 mk 4: $ {S Affirmative} {S Master} Zoe Herriot: $ :::Zoe quickly picks up her device, and runs over to the computer::: Darius: $::Bristling:: What does he think I was doing The Doctor: $ ::: The Doctor moves to the security array::: Zoe Herriot: $ :::Zoe scans the monitor::: Doctor! It's radiating an alarming amount of anti-electron Zoe Herriot: $ ... anti-electronic neurons! The Doctor: $ Hmm.... fusion generated energy waves, non-repeating..... Darius: $::to Zoe:: What? Zoe Herriot: $ :::Zoe punches buttons furiously :::: I think the machine is reacting violently to the Zoe Herriot: $ ... lack of electronic charge in the atmosphere! K9 mk 4: $ Your ship is running on very destructive energy. The Doctor: $ ::: The Doctor begins rapidly punching a control screen with his two index fingers::: Pandar: $ Pandar> Let's see....:::flips a switch, turns on the shields:: Brogan MacGill: $::security satellite begins to emit a strange electronic pulse:: Pandar: $ Pandar> Suggestions, Doctor? The Doctor: $ ::: The Doctor continues punching::: This might do it. I'm bringing the engines back on line... Zoe Herriot: $ :::Shouting::: WE NEED MORE TIME! The Doctor: $ Pandar, keep the engines at half power. I'll need all of it, but that's all they can deliver. Pandar: $ Pandar> Of course, they might provide the neccessary power to boost the shields! The Doctor: $ Pandar, KEEP them at half power! Darius: $::Darius:: Tell it to the satellite! K9 mk 4: $ :::extends probe::: Pandar: $ Pandar> Of course, Doctor! Zoe Herriot: $ Quickly! The Doctor: $ Now, if I can just reroute all of that power to the shields, and turn it off immediately after... The Doctor: $...the burst...here we go.... Pandar: $:::Pandar mans the controls, keeping the engines running at half power:::: Darius: $::Darius:: Sir, she canna take much more of this... The Doctor: $ ::: The Doctor hits the control screen with the palm of his hand:::: Teka: $ the system is being difficult tonight` :::works on the system::: Zoe Herriot: $ :::Zoe works frantically with her machinery::: I think if I re-charge the internal sensors Zoe Herriot: $ ... it just might do the trick ::::Zoe slams the final keys::: THERE! Try it! The Doctor: $ Link up! K9 mk 4: $ Connection made. K9 mk 4: $ Ready for flight coordinates. Pandar: $ :::making minor power level corrections, keeping them level at half-power::: The Doctor: $ ::: The Doctor throws a sliding switch:::: Darius: $::Darius::coordinates coming! K9 mk 4: $ Activate now. Brogan MacGill: $::notices computer warning:: SATELITE ARMED AND LOCKED. Brogan MacGill: Hurry up! It looks like its taking aim! Darius: $::Swears under his breath:: The Doctor: $ ::: The Doctor styands and looks at the screen::: Maybe we should have just gone back to the TARDIS? K9 mk 4: $ {S Affirmative} Master. Teka: $ arrr, this thing won't work! Zoe Herriot: $ :::Runs to Teka's side::: What do you think?? What's missing? I re-electronified... Teka: $ I don't know, it could be almost anything! Zoe Herriot: $ :::Eyes wide::: k9! The connection is loose! QUickly! K9 mk 4: $ Compensating. Brogan MacGill: $Satelite>THIS IS YOUR FINAL WARNING! Pandar: $ :::closes one eye, mutters a prayer to the Xeosian gods::: The Doctor: $ I hope I've got the bounce right! Brogan MacGill: $Satelite>FIRING SEQUENCE BEGINNING... Zoe Herriot: $ :::Points to an open unit, watches as K9 makes the final connection::: The Doctor: $ This will be quite a pool shot! Zoe Herriot: $ :::The machine starts to hummmm:::: IT's WORKING! Teka: $ :::::waits for the hum of the engine:::: The Doctor: $ ::: The Doctor shakes Pandar's hand::: Well, nice to meet you. I hope to get to know you! Teka: $ YES. Now let's get outta here! Brogan MacGill: $::Satelite charges up until it glows bright red, focuses and projects a million Brogan MacGill: voltages of destructor rays at freighter:: Teka: $ :::engine chokes a little:::: well shes not completly fixed, but let's hope it's enough Zoe Herriot: $ :::Watches Teka anxiously:::: The Doctor: $ :::The enhanced shields of the friehgter light up as the satellite's burst hits it:::: Teka: $ Just cross your fingers :::crossing fingers:::: Pandar: $ ::keeps the flow level:::: The Doctor: # :::The friehgter's shields then vanish as the energy burst begins to reverse direction::: Brogan MacGill: $::Destructor rays envelop freighter, rebound off defense shields and bounce Brogan MacGill: back towards satelite:: Brogan MacGill: $::freighter rumbles and shakes violently:: Brogan MacGill: $::satelite glows bright red then explodes into a million bits:: A SIGH OF RELIEF ON THE FREIGHTER AFTER THE DEFENSE SATELITE IS DESTROYED Zoe Herriot: $ ::: Wipes her forehead in relief::: THAT was a close one. K9 mk 4: $ 1335 kilometers to be precise, Mistress Zoe. Zoe Herriot: $ :::Grimaces;:: K9, didn't we have a policy... Don't ask, don't tell?? K9 mk 4: $ Negative. Zoe Herriot: $ :::Retorts::: Well, let's start one NOW. The Doctor: $ ::: The Doctor shouts::: Let's move away from here! Set flight computer! K9 mk 4: $ Master? Pandar: $ Thank the gods!!!! Pandar: $ :::Pandar slaps the Doctor on the back, sends him flying:::: Pandar: $ Pandar> Sorry, feller-me-lad. Teka: $ Oh...::: wipes forhead::: now, who are you? The Doctor: $ I, sir and madame, am the Doctor. I am a traveller. I saw your plight. ::: Doctor recoils:: Pandar: $ :::looks mournful for a second::: Teka: $ Dr... What? The Doctor: Just Doctor will do, and you are.... Zoe Herriot: $ ::::Quickly::: JUST.... the Doctor. Pandar: $ Thank you for coming to our aid, sir. Teka: $ I'm Teka. Zoe Herriot: $ ::::Smiles at Teka::: Nice to meet you... Teka. Quick thinking there. K9 mk 4: $ I am K9. The Doctor: $ ::: The Doctor shakes Teka's hand::: Glad to meet you. Nice work back there. Pandar: $ I'm Pandar, leader of the rebel faction on Xeos. Teka: $ Well, I gotta thank you and K9 for all your help. Zoe Herriot: $ :::Curiously::: so, what are you all doing here on this drifting ship? K9 mk 4: $ {S Affirmative Brogan MacGill: $::to Teka:: Not to intrude on this little get together, but may I ask why that Brogan MacGill: satelite wanted to blow you nice folks up? The Doctor: $ Pandar, leader of the ... rebels? Rebels against what? Rebels usually have comething to rebel against Teka: $ we're... uh.... :::looks at Pandar and Darius:::: Pandar: $ My friends Teka and Darius rescued me from a slave camp, where the authorities were Pandar: attempting to "re-educate" me again. The Doctor: $ ::: The Doctor listens closely as Pandar explains, and looks deeply into his eyes:::: Brogan MacGill: $Slave camp? ::appalled:: I thought this was supposed to be a peaceful system. The Doctor: $ Yes, something seems to have happened to this system. It has become isolated. Pandar: $ We are rebelling against tyranny of the fanatical regime of the Great Controller. Teka: $ They're a bunch of savage dictators, if that's what you ask me. Teka: $ Well, the only way you'll get peace is if you submit Brogan MacGill: $ Submit to the Great Controller? The Doctor: $ Great controller? Yes, those who are controllers are always concerned about being great. Teka: $ the Great Controler thinks for all his subjects.' Teka: $ He a dictator wanna be. :::frowns::: Pandar: $ All is peaceful and tranquil....the peace of the grave, the tranquility of thoughtlessness The Doctor: $ ::: The Doctor listens and looks closely at both Pandar and Teka::: Pandar: $ If you obey, you live in peace. Teka: $ If you don't,.... well, watch out. Brogan MacGill: $ And those who think for themselves are sent to slave camps? Pandar: $ Yes, exactly, Brogan. Pandar: $ If you don't you are either "re-educated", or executed. The Doctor: $ Not allowed to think for yourself! You know, that is the most hideous form of slavery. Zoe Herriot: $ Sounds like a very "educated" society, doesn't it! ::says wryly::: The Doctor: $ Often, it is self-imposed. Teka: $ they require complete faithfulness. Brogan MacGill: $If this Great Controller is so terrible, why don't your people rebel? Teka: $ Well, most people want peace, they think the price of freedom is worth it. Pandar: $ They gave up their free will long ago, to be safe from crime and war. Teka: $ How ever we don't. XEONITE GUARDS ATTACK THE FRIEGHTER IN SPACE FLIGHT XEOS CRUISER: @::Medeus and Kyron fly a shuttle towards the disabled craft:: Coordinator Galen: @::Galen:: Calling Shuttle one, have you reached visual range? Medeus: @We can see the ship sir Medeus: @It has regainged power and is moving away from us Coordinator Galen: @::Galen:: Good, go and bring back the survivors. Alive. Kyron: Kyron, full power we need to intercept that ship Kyron: @Kyron::full power we will be in range to take out their engines in just a moment Medeus: @Medeus: Good, I will prepare to take out their power are you getting this Galen Coordinator Galen: @::Galen:: I hear you. Kyron: @Kryon:: We are in range, Coordinator Galen: @:;Galen:: fire at your discreitions Medeus: @medeus::fires neutralizing blast at ship Kyron: @Kyron:: Shot was a hit, looks like they are powering down Coordinator Galen: @Well done! Medeus: @medeus: Good, catch them in the tracker beam to bring the ship to a hault, we need to get Kyron: on board Kyron: @Kryon: Easy enough Great Xeos: @ Xeos: ::::smiles:::: I've Got you now, Pandar. Medeus: @Medeus:: ::Goes to get blaster rifles out of a side compartment Coordinator Galen: @::Galen:: Remember, Xeos wants them alive! Medeus: @Medeus:: Here Kryon, set it to stun, Galen wants them alive Kyron: @No problem, this will not even be a challenge Kyron: @Kryon:: I hvae docked us to the ship, we are ready to board Kyron: @:: We move to the door and Kryon starts tapping keys to get the door open Medeus: @Medeus:: Be ready for anything, they are despartet ABOARD THE FREIGHTER, THE REBELS AND TARDIS CREW SUFFER A NEW THREAT The Doctor: $ :::The frieghter is rocked by the blast from the cruiser:::: Zoe Herriot: $ :::Zoe is thrown off balance, as the set and camera jiggle::: The Doctor: $ :::Lights blink on and off, short circuits begin to pop out of the control panels with sparks::: Teka: $ What the? K9 mk 4: $ We are being attacked. Pandar: $::::braces himself against the wall as the ship moves violently::: Brogan MacGill: $::Brogan is thrown against Zoe:: The Doctor: $ ::: The Doctor moves to the central control console:::: Zoe Herriot: $ :::The camera shot bumps up and down, and a large rebel runs into the podium::: Teka: $ ::::rushes to the controls::: The Doctor: $ We've got company! It may be the police! Brogan MacGill: $Attacked again?! Teka: $ It's them. a Xeonite crusier. Pandar: $:::races over, looks at the screen::: Teka: $ Apparently we didn't get far ENOUGH Zoe Herriot: $ But, how??? It's THEM? :::Clutches Brogan::: Pandar: $ You're right, Teka. Teka: $ oh no. we're disabled. K9 mk 4: $ {S Affirmative The Doctor: $ ::: The Doctor looks at the lay out of the ship he has called up from the data banks::: Pandar: $ I imagine they'll be boarding us any second. FROM HIS INNER SANCTUM, XEOS WATCHES THE SPACE FIGHT Great Xeos: @ Xeos: ::::coldly enraged voice::: No. You can't get away, Pandar. Great Xeos: @ Xeos: :::::slams his fist down on a console::::: Great Xeos: @ Xeos: You can run all you want Pandar, but I will have you. You can't get away from me. THE REBELS AND TARDIS CREW TRY TO ESCAPE THE FREIGHTER Teka: $ :::yells:::: have we got anything to throw back at them? Pandar: $ I suggest you try and leave immediately, my new friends. Pandar: $ No reason for you to be captured along with the rest of us. The Doctor: $ We can all get away. Come with me to my craft! Brogan MacGill: $::Brogan pries Zoe's deathgrip off her arm:: Calm down, Zoe! What's getting Brogan MacGill: into you? Zoe Herriot: $ :::Zoe panics::: Brogan! How can you not be afraid of not being able to THINK?? Brogan MacGill: $::calm voice:: Zoe, fear keeps people from thinking. And I think we're better Brogan MacGill: off getting out of here then being afraid. Teka: $ Get outta here while you can. Teka: $ We can't run forever Teka: $ We have to stay and fight. The Doctor: $ ::: The Doctor gestures for everyone to follow him::: Zoe Herriot: $ Nonsense! :::Zoe snorts::: There's always room for you on our ship. Teka: $ But it's so small Pandar: $ No we don't, Teka, we can run and live to fight again. Teka: $ We can't all fit in there. K9 mk 4: $ It is dimensionally transendental. The Doctor: $ Please, this ship isn't important, really, but all of you are. Come with me before they board. Pandar: $:::follows the Doctor:::: Teka: $ Hesitates... Brogan MacGill: $The Doctor's right! Come on! ::shouts and charges after the Doctor:: XEONITE GUARDSMEN BOARD THE STOLEN FREIGHTER Pandar: $:::hears the clunk of the cruiser docking::::: Teka: $ ::::stares at computer screen:::: Pandar: $ Come along, Teka, now! Teka: $ they've docked. The Doctor: $ ::: The Doctor stops::: In dock A or B? The Doctor: $ ::: The Doctor remembers the ship diagram. He realizes he is cut off from the TARDIS::: Teka: $ get the weapons. Teka: $ If I'm going down, I'm taking at least one of them with me Teka: $ ::::grabs a stick:::: Zoe Herriot: $ :::As the crew is busy discussing the options, 2 figures enter the room::: Pandar: $ Look out! Teka: $ you're mine. ::::charges at the two figures::": K9 mk 4: $ :::extends nose gun::: The Doctor: $ ::: The Doctor turns, sees the armed troopers, and moves to cover::: Brogan MacGill: $::Brogan bumps right into Medeus:: Medeus: $::Medeus hits the woman that almost runs into him with his rifle Brogan MacGill: $::Brogan quickly twists out of the way:: Pandar: $ :::takes cover near the Doctor::: Zoe Herriot: $ :::Zoe searches for her com-stat device frantically::: Medeus: $:: both Medeus and Kyron, start blasting as soon as they see the crew on board Zoe Herriot: $ :::Zoe falls to the ground, a bullet grazing her head :::: K9 mk 4: $ {S K9FX Teka: $ :::::ducks as she charges with stick in hand:::: Teka: $ ::::aims a blow at one of the guys guns::::: Teka: $ :::::surprises one of them::::; Teka: $ YOU!!! ARRUUGHH :::starts to punch one of the guys:::: Medeus: $::Kyron is startled by teka and shoots wildly at her Teka: $ ar ::::got hit by one of Kyron's blasts:::: Teka: $ ::::lays motionless on the ground:::: Teka: $ :::::blanks:::: The Doctor: $ ::: The Doctor is hit by a stun beam, and falls to the floor in a heap:::: Brogan MacGill: $::reaches for a metal pipe, lashes out at Medeus' gun hand:: Brogan MacGill: $::Brogan jumps on Medeus' back:: Pandar: $:::moves over to the Doctor, checks to see if he's okay:::: Zoe Herriot: $ :::Zoe, in shock, stares blankly at the chaos in front of her::: K9 mk 4: $ :::shoots at Kryon::: The Doctor: $ ::: The Doctor is down, but begins to stir, tried to rise, but cannot and falls back to the ground:: Brogan MacGill: $::twists Medeus' hair in an attempt to knock the gun out of his grip:: Great Xeos: @ Kyron: :::grabs Brogan from behind, flings her into a bulkhead:::::: Brogan MacGill: $::Brogan crashes against the bulkhead:: Uuugh! Brogan MacGill: $::Brogan stumbles around in a daze, charges after Kyron:: Medeus: $::Medeus turns and blasts brogan after she is removed from his back Brogan MacGill: $::halfway to Kyron, Brogan collapses in a dead faint:: Zoe Herriot: $ :::Zoe touches her forehead and winces:::: Zoe Herriot: $ :::Zoe tries to get up, but her head throbs, and she keels over, closing her eyes::: Zoe Herriot: $ ::::Zoe loosens her grip on consciousness, and goes cold::: Pandar: $ ENOUGH!!!!!! Pandar: $ :::Pandar steps out, holding his hands up:::: Pandar: $ STOP THIS CARNAGE AT ONCE!!!!! Pandar: $ I surrender K9 mk 4: $ :::gets shot in the head and falls over because of the force of the blast::: K9 mk 4: $ :::shuts down::: Pandar: $ I SAID STOP THIS!!!!!!!! Pandar: $ I'm the one you want, so stop shooting! Medeus: $:::Levels his sight at Pandar and says:: You actually thought that you could escape us Pandar: $::::stands there with his hands raised in surrender::: Teka: $ :::get's up to see Pandar surrendering:::: Teka: $ ::::whisper::: no, they'll kill you too... :::falls back on ground, fainted::::: The Doctor: $ ::: The Doctor rises on his elbows::: Stop...stop this...there has to be another way. The Doctor: $ ::: The Doctor looks up and is staring directly into the barrels of the Xeon rifles:::: The Doctor: $ Hello, I'm the Doctor, and I'm here to help. The Doctor: $ ::: The Doctor collapses again into a heap and moans:::: Medeus: $:: We don't need any doctor we have our own med techs, you will be a slave =============================================== TIME LOGS =============================================== Pandar's Log 1-29-97 By NorisAlex The Ultimate Sacrifice, Pt. One Pandar stood there, his hands up in the air. Around him lay the unconcious bodies of his friends, both old and new, while 2 Xeonite guards stood over them, guns aimed directly at him. How had it come to this, he thought. His mind flashed back... He had been toiling away in the mines of slave camp 003. The moon had long ago had an atmosphere, and water still remained. However, the water was in the form of ice, buried deep in the lunar crust. It used to be mined by machines, but in his wisdom Xeos, the Great Controller, had decided it would be a perfect use for those whose minds were too recalcitrant, too fixed, to be "persuaded" onto the right path. So slaves were used to mine the ice-bearing ore instead. Thence had come the klaxon of depressurization alarm. Slaves and guards had scurried everywhere. 2 guards arrived and took him into custody. They had papers showing he was to be transferred to the research base on the other side of the moon, to be used as a test subject. He was taken to a waiting ship. It lifted off, thenthe two guards took off their helmets. It was Teka and Darius! They hurriedly explained how they had gotten a set of forged papers, wrangled a freighter, and bluffed their way in to free him. The escape flight went well at first. His escape was noted, of course, but with their transponder disabled, and by not replying to any communications, they had a chance to sneak back to Xeos. But their run of luck was short-lived. The flight computer stopped functioning, and with it, their escape. They drifted into visual range of an automated security satellite. All looked lost. Then, praise the Gods, the Doctor and his friends appeared on the ship! With their help, they were able to deflect the security satellite's blast back at it and destroy it. There were precious few minutes to talk to their new-found comrades in arms, however. The satellite had sent a report to Xeos, apparently, for they were surprised by an assault by a Xeonite cruiser. The ship was disabled, and they were boarded before they could move to the Doctor's vehicle, a small, blue-colored rectangular cube that was apparently bigger on the inside that it was on the outside. The Xeonite guards made quick work of his friends. They lay either unconcious, or perhaps even dying. There was only one way to save them. He had stepped forward, shouted repeatedly to gain their attention, and surrendered. ...He watched the guards uneasily. Would they spare the lives of his friends, now that he had given himself up? And what would happen next? Only the Gods knew, and only time would tell. =============================================== Doctor's Log 1-29-97 The Ultimate Sacrifice, Pt 1 By DRTUNA Collapsed on the floor, the Doctor struggled to raise himself with his arms and look up. Within inches of his face were a pair of vicious looking rifle barrels held by space troopers with grim looks on their faces. Thoughts rushed through the Doctor's still stunned mind. These must be the emissaries of the power that the rebels had said held the Xeos system in mental bondage. Where thinking for yourself is a crime. Could these rebels be trusted? Well, one good sign is that they were being hunted by troopers such as these. Throughout the universe power mad megalomaniacs attempted to control the actions of those they dominated. It was crude, but often effective. The problem was that it was rarely satisfying to those who felt forced to perpetuate such a system. They could control and punish, but everyone always knew that it was a crude tyranny and nothing more. Such a population was still "free" in its own interior space. Every slave was constantly full of thoughts against their slavery. They even retained freedom of speech, in that you could punish them for speaking out, but you could not stop them from talking. The real evil, the sophisticated power mad megalomaniac, had to go beyond control of action to feel satisfied. It had to control thought. How much more satisfying to rule a system of happy, thankful, willing slaves! With the domination of action, there was always hope of freedom. With the domination of thought, that hope could be crushed. Thus it had been on Visionworld. But could it, really, be totally crushed? Those that the Doctor had met proved that hope was still possible. And, like on Visionworld, an outside force might come crashing in to change things. Both seemed to be at work here. But as the Doctor looked down the barrels of the threatening rifles, he faced a more direct, blunt coercion. Back on Earth, in his third lifespan, he had known a rebel leader in China, Mao Tse Tung, who had said that "All politics comes from the barrel of a gun." Mao had gone wrong and had been wrong. Yes, real power comes not from the barrel of a gun, but from the power over the mind. As the Doctor looked at the rifles he knew that these were not the weapons which most directly threatened them. But, following these weapons might lead them to discovery of the real weapons and the real enemy. As if they had any choice. Now fully conscious after being initially stunned, the Doctor looked around and suddenly realized that his companions were hurt. They were his first obligation. ================================================ Brogan's Log 1-29-97 The Ultimate Sacrifice, Pt 1 By Jen Kokoski (JenKoko/BroganMc) Blood trickled down Brogan's temple. Pain splintered across her brow permeating her body with a terrifying numbness. Approaching in the distance she heard heavy, armored boots scraping against a cold, metallic floor. It was an unfeeling substance. Rigid, uncomfortable and callously littered with the battered remains of Brogan and her friends. She could not see, but her ears picked up the sound of laboring breaths echoing against the titanium hull of a spaceship. There were five in all. The Doctor, Zoe and those three hapless rebels they futilely tried to rescue. The sound of booted footsteps returned twofold. Two male voices bickered in a familiar manner. They were carrying something. Something the senior male voice complained was too heavy. Biting back the wave of nausea that threatened to undo her, Brogan forced herself to open her eyes and focus on their captors. They seemed ordinary in appearance. Both human or humanoid, but each wore a peculiar mix of uniforms. A cross-between an ecclesiastical vestment and Neo-Nazi minimalism, they bore the marks of zealous soldiers. Between them, the men carried the inanimate remains of K9. "So what am I supposed to do with this space junk, Medeus?" barked the younger of the Xeonite soldiers. "Just put it with the others," the elder grumbled. "Coordinator Galen will take it apart himself probably." With that, Medeus stepped back and excitedly rubbed his hands. A brutal smile claimed his lips. "We've done well my boy, Kyron! The Great Xeos will be pleased to have Pandar and his rebel friends back." "Assuming they survive the journey to the Citadel," the younger soldier challenged. Callously, he dropped K9 on the floor beside Brogan. Never once did glance directly at her, but cast his negligent gaze on the assembled unconscious prisoners instead. "None of them look to good after that fight in the landing bay." "If one dies, it means less work for the Reprocessing Unit," Medeus coldly replied. "Come on. Galen will be anxious to welcome his prisoners." Their duties concluded, the soldiers made their exit. Brogan waited until their receding footsteps were silenced by a sliding electronic door. The pounding headache raging between her temples became louder in the haunting silence of the room. Again, she struggled to move and open her eyes. Light blinded her, making the dizziness worse. Faintly, she called out. "Doctor...? Zoe...?" But neither acknowledged her weak voice. Inside, she was terrified. Like the haunting dreams of her childhood, she was aware of danger but unable to do anything about it. The floor trembled beneath her. The sound of propulsion engines charging up. The Xeonite guards were taking them back. Back to face the Great Xeos, a supreme ruler over a planet of intellectual slaves. It was just like Vision World and worse. There the slavery had been a product of fiction and lies. Here, according to Pandar and his friends, the slavery was enforced by rule and brutality. They had escaped the moonbase prison, they said. A place where freedom fighters were abused and killed for the sin of having independent thoughts. Thoughts the Great Xeos did not condone. In the little time Brogan had since she the rebel Xeons, she had developed a very distinct dislike of their zealous counterparts. It was clear they were in a desperate struggle. From the moment the TARDIS randomly materialized beside the battered escape freighter, it was clear they had to help. The Doctor simply could not let someone in need go without. Pandar and his assistants, Teka and Darius, had been grateful for the assistance. Though it had been a near thing with that defense satellite. Brogan shivered at the memory of its final warning before attempting to blow them to smithereens. But the daring and mysterious TARDIS crew did it again. Zoe and K9 at the ship's navigational controls, Brogan distracting the automated killing machine, while the Doctor ingeniously jury-rigged a boosted defense shield to reflect the deadly laser blast back on its origin. The danger was over. There was time to celebrate and make new friends. Time to trade tales and visit before the next crisis. That was Brogan's favorite time of the adventure. A chance for those they rescue to ply them with a dozen unanswerable questions. Brogan, Zoe and K9 each took their turns trying to explain their arrival. The TARDIS was a concept most people had difficulty accepting. Especially with the way K9 insisted on going into long, sometimes contradictory explanations of the space-time capsule. A familiar metallic whir drew Brogan's attention back to the present. Struggling to turn her head, she glimpsed the green-greyish box glimmer at her feet. The body of a mechanical dog raised its head slightly. "K9?" Brogan's voice croaked. "K9 are you awake?" Only an unintelligible electronic reply came. "Are... power... regaining... mistress... systems." "What?" Brogan quirked a puzzled brow at her friend. "K9, are you all right?" The mechanical dog's radar ears spun wildly trying to track down the sound waves it just heard. "K9, listen to me," Brogan urged. "We have to get out of here. They're taking us back to their Controller. K9, you have to help me. The Doctor and Zoe... I don't know if they're all right. K9?!" "Systems... mistress...," the canine computer rambled. "Doctor guv... Master correction... off 'e's 'ead." He added in a mix of his old Cockney accent and usual formal tone. "I know he's unconscious," Brogan said with a touch of weary exasperation. The pounding in her head grew worse every moment she kept her eyes open. "So is Zoe. We have to get them to the TARDIS. Can you find the TARDIS, K9?" A long of moment of silence passed as the K9 unit whirred its radar ears about. Then suddenly, the whirling stopped. "K9?" "This unit... no function... down shut... mistress." With that, the glowing red lights of her friend's mechanical eyes blinked off. His canine head once again drooped to his chest and lay chillingly still. "Oh K9!" Brogan wailed. The sound of her own plaintiff voice echoed off the walls in a mindnumbing shrill. Pain splintered new between her temples. Waves of dizziness crested over her mixed with desperation. Giving in to her weakness, Brogan allowed her eyes to close. The glaring light was blocked, but the numbness was growing stronger. She was paralyzed to fight it. As the sound of her own heartbeat pounded louder and louder in her ear, Brogan's thoughts swirled about her. The Doctor, Zoe, K9, all her friends were hurt. How badly she didn't know. Their captors were savage and brutal. Masked behind a society of order, but both fought like medieval warriors. Brogan knew they had to escape, but even she was unable to do anything. They hit them too fast, too hard. They never had a chance. The invincible TARDIS Crew, perhaps, had finally met the one adventure where they wouldn't be able to walk away the victors. ============================== The Ultimate Sacrifice Part Two Wednesday, February 5, 1997 Plot by: JenKoko/BroganMc Script by: the NADW: Renegade Sim Players ============================= THE CAST: The 10th Doctor - a wandering Timelord with a beard and scholarly persona Zoe Herriot - 21st century astrophysicist, companion of the 10th Doctor K9 mk 4 - robotic dog computer companion of the 10th Doctor Brogan MacGill, 20th century photojournalist, companion of the 10th Doctor Pandar - Rebel leader Teka - Rebel female computer technician/flight engineer. Darius - Rebel soldie Kyron - Citadel guard Medeus - Citadel guard Galen - The Coordinato Xeos - Great Controller of Xeos THE PLAYERS: Alfred Snider (DRTUNA) as The Doctor Jennifer Kokoski (BroganMc/JenKoko) as Brogan Lisa Heller (Zoewho) as Zoe Bill Rudloff (K9 mk 4/DoctorWho8) as K9 Joel Sharpe (Shorty 144) as the Great Xeos David Sharpe (NorisAlex) as Pandar and others Tara Brady (Tara Brady) as Teka Evan (Bokman7757) as Kyron Ruth Dempsey (TArkkannan) as Coordinator Galen George Algozinni (GeoAlgoz) as Medeus Sam Fain (B5DrWho2QL) as Darius BroganMc: <<>> BroganMc: <<>> BroganMc: <<>> BroganMc: <<>> K9 mk 4: << {S DIT}>>> THE PRISONERS ARRIVE ON XEOS UNDER HEAVILY ARMED GUARD Coordinator Galen: #:::Galen paces nervously::: Zoe Herriot: # :::Zoe is carried in under armed guard, still unconscious::: The Doctor: #::: The Doctor looks at the guards facing him with power rifles. Doesn't like them.::: Brogan MacGill: #::the Xeonite cruiser docks in the prison section of the citadel, the prisoners Brogan MacGill: are escorted out:: Darius: #:::Darius begins to shift and regain consciosness:: Brogan MacGill: #::Brogan stumbles her way after the Doctor with a sore head and surly attitude:: The Doctor: ::: The Doctor goes to Zoe, but a guard pushes him aside with a jab of his power rifle::: Pandar: #:::Pandar leaves the ship under escort, head held high::: Kyron: #It smells in here. Medeus: #::Medeus signals for the prisoners to move with a motion of his rifle Coordinator Galen: #::Briskly:: Very good! Well done. Get them ready K9 mk 4: # :::still out::: Brogan MacGill: #::rubs head:: Doctor, do you need help with Zoe? Kyron: #It took us a while to catch this one.:::pointing to Pandar::::::: Zoe Herriot: # :::Zoe murmurs, shifts :::: The Doctor: # Excuse me, but this is completely out of order. You would be wise to allow me to communicate.... Coordinator Galen: #:::Stares at K9:: What is *that*? Darius: #::Looking around drowsily:: What's going on wh-where am I Pandar: #:::Pandar moves forward, an air of solemnity about him::: The Doctor: #....with your leadership. Kyron: #I wish I could tell you. Medeus: #Kryon, keep them under your eye while I start the scanners for weapons Kyron: #Righty ho. Don't move. The Doctor: # My friend here is hurt and needs help. Is this a real civilization, or are you just playing one? Medeus: #..moves to a control panel and starts hitting some switches and buttons.. Darius: #Wait a minute whats the meaning of this Zoe Herriot: # :::Zoe blinks rapidly, groaning:::: Coordinator Galen: #::Stares coldly at the Doctor:: Rebels and Disruptors like you are not worthy of Xeos Kyron: #Can it. Brogan MacGill: #::snaps at Medeus:: We don't have any weapons! Otherwise you'd be the prisoners. Medeus: #All of you keep you mouths shut if you know whats good for you Zoe Herriot: # ::::Zoe'e eyes flicker open::: The Doctor: ::: The Doctor soothes Zoe's brow::: Pandar: # The Doctor and his friends aren't rebels, though I am. Darius: #I will not keep my mouth shut You can't do this Medeus: #..Steps over to Brogan and backhands her.. Kyron: #Well, guilt by association. Zoe Herriot: # :::Zoe tries to get up.... gasps:::: Doctor.... ohhhh.... Brogan MacGill: #::challenges Medeus:: Shut up or what? I'm not afraid of you thugs. K9 mk 4: # :::switches back on::: {S Master}? Medeus: #We can and are doing this Coordinator Galen: #::Gazes at them distainfully:: Inccorigable! Zoe Herriot: # ::::Zoe lies back down::: Where's Brogan? Kyron: #Well, we were able to catch you, and now you're in our city... The Doctor: #::: The Doctor rushes toward Brogan::: Hey, don't hit her again! Kyron: #So I think we have the advantage Medeus: #Shut up slave..Raises hand to the doctor.. Brogan MacGill: #::Brogan glares at Medeus, her cheek stings but she bravely ignores the pain:: Coordinator Galen: #::Glares at Kyron:: That slap was unnessecary Pandar: # What do you think you're doing? ::::glowers at Medeus:::: Kyron: #Hey, don't look at me. Coordinator Galen: Zoe Herriot: # :::Slowly, Zoe sits up::: Where are we? What's happening :::with alarm::: Darius: #Look you; you won't get away with this Brogan MacGill: #::grabs Medeus' hand and bites it:: Kyron: #So much for "the noble savage" The Doctor: #::: The Doctor moves back but stares brightly::: K9 mk 4: # {S Master}? Medeus: #Ouch.....you little shrew Zoe Herriot: # ::::Zoe can't stand the pain, she sinks back down to a lying position::: Brogan MacGill: #::backs up quickly to stand beside Doctor:: Coordinator Galen: #::Coldly:: ENOUGH! I want them bioscanned, now. Medeus: #enough of this, if you know ..... Darius: #Over my dead body The Doctor: #::: The Doctor speaks softly to Zoe::: Well, they will want to examine us. This is a citadel of some Medeus: #..Stops in mid-sentence when Galen interupts Zoe Herriot: # :::Zoe closes her eyes, speaking with effort::: Coordinator Galen: #I said ENOUGH! Kyron: #Look, the judicial system's inefficent enough....... The Doctor: #...sort. Brogan will give them a workout, but keep your eyes open for possibilities and information. K9 mk 4: # Negative, I am not a biological being. Pandar: # :::to Medeus::: Your Master speaks, dog, you'd best obey. Kyron: #Without you prisoners mucking up things. Darius: #::Darius backs down sensing the possible danger:: Zoe Herriot: # :::Whispering::: Examine? The Doctor: #::: The Doctor whispers to Brogan::: Be ready to make a move if we get a chance. Medeus: #..Glares at Pandar threateningly Zoe Herriot: # :::Zoe's head aches, she struggles to think::: Coordinator Galen: #::Motions other guards to wheel in the bioscan equipment:: Don't stuggle and it won't hurt. Pandar: #:::stares icily back at Medeus::: Brogan MacGill: #::nods discreetly toward Doctor, eyes gleam with possibility at Medeus and Kyron:: Kyron: #::::::I hate this job sometimes::::::: K9 mk 4: # Master, what is going on? The Doctor: #::: The Doctor carefully examines the biodata scan device. Doesn't like it.::: Kyron: #Don't touch that. Pandar: # :::steps forward to be bioscanned::: Medeus: #..under his breath so the others don't hear..You will get yours Pandar Zoe Herriot: # ::::Zoe sits up::: biodata scan? Darius: #::whispering to Pandar:: What are we going to do about this? Coordinator Galen: #::Activates scanner. HWMMM -*click*:: Coordinator Galen: #::Briskly:: Next! The Doctor: # Now see here... :::The Doctor moves toward the Xeon Troopers with the equipment::: This is all... Pandar: #::::steps thru to the other side::: Zoe Herriot: # ::::Zoe looks at the other, wide-eyed::: Medeus: #..gestures fo rthe doctor to step in Kyron: #Shut up and stand still. The Doctor: #...easily explainable. Their ship was in trouble, we came to their aid, and you arrived. Coordinator Galen: #::Points scanner at the Doctor:: The Doctor: # We do not know them, but we helped them as we would help anyone in need, such as yourselves. Zoe Herriot: # :::Zoe wishes she felt better so that she could think of a plan of action::: Darius: # Well your not gonna scan me with that thing! ::He says trying to be threatning:: Kyron: #Charming Story. And where were you before you came across them? Brogan MacGill: #::sways from foot to foot intentionally ignoring Kyron's command to be still:: Coordinator Galen: #::HWMMMMMM -- *BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!:: Galen stares at the reading in amazement The Doctor: #::: The Doctor squints at the scanner::: Kyron: #Don't start. Medeus: #You will be scanned... Coordinator Galen: #::Shaken:: Impossible! Impossible! Next! Darius: # Not without force! Kyron: #That can be arranged. :shoves him into field: The Doctor: #::: The Doctor stands back and starts to smile a little. His mystery has kept him alive many times:: Coordinator Galen: #::Leaves scanning to other guards. Begins to pace back and forth, running his hands through his Coordinator Galen: #::silver hair. To himself:: Impossible! Medeus: #What is it Galen The Doctor: #::: The Doctor whispers::: Wait. Zoe Herriot: # :::Zoe slumps off the cushion she's sitting on, sliding to the floor::: Pandar: # Is something wrong, Galen? Kyron: #I'm giving the orders...well, Medeus is..... Darius: #Get your handsa off me you twit! Kyron: #Don;t make me conk you. Coordinator Galen: #::Recovering:: No! Nothing is wrong. Teka: #::Steps forwad to help her cosin:: Lay off him! Darius: # Look you... The Doctor: #::: The Doctor kneels down to make sure Zoe is not dying::: Pandar: # :::to Darius::: Relax, my son. Zoe Herriot: # :::Zoe eyes the room, concentrating, smiles up at the Doctor, gratefully::: Pandar: # It won't hurt to let them scan you. Medeus: #Kryon, stun him if you need to just get him in there Kyron: #Listen ma'am, scanning's normal procedure. Darius: #Okay okay scan away bonker brain Kyron: #Finally. The Doctor: #::: The Doctor sees that Zoe is merely fainting and then returning.::: Kyron: #:::::BZZZZT::::::::: Brogan MacGill: #::edges toward Kyron from behind:: Zoe Herriot: # :::Zoe clenches her teeth, resolving to regain her strength:::: Coordinator Galen: #::Quickly:: The women and him (Indicates Darius) are to be taken for reprocessing K9 mk 4: # Master, please update my on the events that have past since my shutdown. The Doctor: #::: The Doctor stands::: Do not interfere with the bioscans. They will show we are without threat. Darius: #Reprocessing what are you talking about? Teka: #Reprocessing? Not on your life! Coordinator Galen: #::Points to Pandar:: HE is to be taken to maxium security. Kyron: #Sorry, normal procedure. I don't make the rules. Darius: # P-Pandar no Pandar: #:::looks worried::: Reprocessing? Medeus: #Without treat is right, you will soon be completely unthreatening Coordinator Galen: #::To the Doctor:: YOU are staying here. Medeus: The Doctor: #::: The Doctor looks at Brogan and Zoe, glad of the anti-mind control training he gave them:::: Pandar: # Keep believing, Darius! K9 mk 4: # Master, please inform me. Kyron: #Okay, Pandy, off you go. Boss? Pandar: # Don't give up hope!!! Medeus: #Come on Kyron, Pandar MOVE, now! Coordinator Galen: #::Looks down at K9:: and er - that stays too The Doctor: # Me? Staying here? Well, you know, I do love to travel, really.... Darius: #I will sir! I will! ::Whith pride:: Darius: Pandar: #:::Pandar goes with the guards:::: Coordinator Galen: #::Snaps fingers, guards surround Doctor:: I insist Kyron: #:::Marches off with Medeus and Pandar.:::: Medeus: #.::follows behind Pandar, with gun level on his lower back Darius: #::To Brogan softly:: What's your Doctor gonna do now? ::With slight worry:: The Doctor: # Well then, ah....Mr. Galen....then perhaps you have something in mind? Coordinator Galen: #::Coldly:: Yes, follow me Pandar: #:::Marches with honor to the high security exam room:::: K9 mk 4: # Master? What is going on? The Doctor: # K9, we have been captured and scanned by these people. They know you and I are different. The Doctor: # We must use our difference to find out what is going on here A SPECIAL EXAMINATION FOR THE DOCTOR Coordinator Galen: @::the Doctor is escorted to a separate room and shown to a chair:: Coordinator Galen: @::Galen enters and paces fretfully:: The Doctor: @::: The Doctor looks at the chair suspiciously.::: The Doctor: @ Why can't they be comfortable? The Doctor: @::: The Doctor begins focusing himself to resist invasion of his mind.:::: Coordinator Galen: @::Still pacing:: Impossible! Your bioscan is Impossible! The Doctor: @::: The Doctor smiles::: It certainly is not. I am from the planet Gallifrey in a constellation far.. The Doctor: @...away. Coordinator Galen: @::pauses, slams hands on the table:: Nonsense! This is the only place life and civilization exist! The Doctor: @ As I already explained, we were in the area and heard their distress call. I usually answer... The Doctor: @ ...distress calls, don't you? Coordinator Galen: @::getting agitated:: Where are you really from? Is this a Rebel trick? The Doctor: @ Nonsense, man, this is one of many, many developed systems. Coordinator Galen: @Impossible! The Doctor: @ Previously, Xeos was a bright beacon in the firmament, but has recently been isolated. The Doctor: @ err...not recently, but for a couple of centuries. Coordinator Galen: @::angrily:: Isolated? There isn't anyone else! The Doctor: @ I am curious about that, just as you are curious about me. The Doctor: @ Tell me, who gives you your orders? Or are you in command here? Coordinator Galen: @::pauses, eyes far away:: Two hundred years ago there was chaos. War, Greed and Hatred ran rampant The Doctor: @ And then.... Coordinator Galen: @Then came Xeos. He gave us order. He gave us peace. He gave us civilization when the rest of the Coordinator Galen: @galaxy collapsed into barbarism and died. The Doctor: @ Zeos did all of that? So, your civilization developed new ideas, new techniques, new... The Doctor: @....technologies, new philosophies, as a result of this wise leadership, I suppose? Coordinator Galen: @::worshipfully:: all of that and more. He has been our only hope to conquer the madness. Coordinator Galen: @::warming to it:: No crime-- our children walk the streets without fear The Doctor: @ Don't try and give me that old bill of goods, I bet there hasn't been an unsupervised idea around... Coordinator Galen: @No war -- The Doctor: @...here in...in, well, say 200 years. Coordinator Galen: @::Angry:: we have PEACE! The Doctor: @ You can walk your streets without fear, I imagine, because NOTHING IS ON THEM. Coordinator Galen: @We aren't grubbing about to survive, back-stabbing our neighbor because we think he has something bet Coordinator Galen: @better! The Doctor: @ If the mind control of the great Xeos is as powerful as I have heard, then I imagine that.... The Doctor: @ ...the peace you have is the peace of vapidity, the safety of passivity, and the security of emptine The Doctor: @...emptiness. Coordinator Galen: @::Snorts:: and like the rebels you offer us something BETTER? Coordinator Galen: @Chaos, disorder and hatred. The Doctor: @ No one has to offer you anything! Make your own decisions. THINK FOR YOURSELF! The Doctor: @ Learn that thinking people can live together, can come to understand and care for each other. The Doctor: @ It happens all over the universe! Coordinator Galen: @::Furious:: Only after they've finished killing each other! The Doctor: @ Too often, yes, but it doesn't have to be that way. You for example, do you love to kill? Coordinator Galen: @::Shakes head:: No, like my fathers before me, I am a man of peace. The Doctor: @ Then believe that people can live together in peace. You can care about your friends. The Doctor: @ For example, I am curious about what has happened to my friends. Can you tell me? Coordinator Galen: @::Proudly:: They are waiting to be reprocessed. To be given the peace and order that Xeos offers The Doctor: @::: The Doctor fumes::: THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT. The Doctor: @ Look, you must not do this to them...to anyone...but especially to them. Coordinator Galen: @::Smiles:: I have reprocessed hundreds of rebels into good citizens -- The Doctor: @ You see that I am not of this world, you see that I have unusual abilities. Obviously, your real... Coordinator Galen: @my grandfather would have merely killed them The Doctor: @...supervisor...the great Xeos...would want to deal with me directly. Allow me to see him. Great Xeos: @ Xeos: Galen, you are to take this... Dr. to be Digitized, and you are to take his Coordinator Galen: @::Shakes head:: Impossible! Only I am premitted to see Xeos The Doctor: @ But you will be sorry if you do not do this BEFORE my friends are, shall we say, reprocessed. Coordinator Galen: @::shocked:: Digitalized! Xeos, are you certain? Great Xeos: @ Xeos: Yes I am certain! And you are to have hsi ionorganic companion brought to my inner Coordinator Galen: @::pleading:: surely he can be reprocessed! Surely he can see the gifts you have brought Great Xeos: @ Xeos: sanctum! Immediately. The Doctor: @ Speak to me Xeos. I am the one you want to speak to. Great Xeos: @ Xeos: Now! Galen. Coordinator Galen: @::Sighs deeply:: I am sorry, Doctor. ::Bows to the speaker:: As you will, Lord Xeos The Doctor: @::: The Doctor leans down to K9::: Now K9, make sure and be a good dog, will you. K9 mk 4: @ {S Affirmative Coordinator Galen: @::brings the guards into the room:: I am sorry, Doctor. I would have done all I could to save you. Coordinator Galen: @::Looks deeply troubled:: The Doctor: @ Why, I'm just going to be digitally scanned, right? I've survived worse. Coordinator Galen: @::Sighs:: No, Doctor. You will not. ::To the guards:: Take him away, such is the command of Xeos Coordinator Galen: @::Stands to one side with his head bowed:: The Doctor: @ What do you mean, no? What is this digitizing chamber anyway? Coordinator Galen: @::Rouses himself:: Robot? Follow me. ::Leaves the room with k9 following:: K9 mk 4: @ Ahem. K9 mk 4: @ :::follows the escort::: Coordinator Galen: @::Still sad and deeply troubled, Galen leads K9 to Xeos Inner Sanctum:: PANDAR'S TRIAL AND INTERROGATION IN THE REPROCESSING ROOM Pandar: $ :::Pandar is calm and collected as he enters the high security examination room::: Kyron: $...and this, Pandar, is the Truth Assesor. Medeus: $I hope your lips are as loose as that female, it is time for you to talk Pandar: $ Ah yes, the "Truth Assessor" Medeus: $Kyron, strap him in! Kyron: $:::Straps in Pandar:::::: Pandar: $:::smiles benevolently at Kyron::: Kyron: $Wipe that smirk off your face. Medeus: $...The xeos computers switch on and Noris feels the effect Kyron: $::::Monitor's Pandar's life signs.....::::::: Pandar: $:::Pandar feels the craclke of electricty in the air::::: Medeus: $Now time for a little chat, I suggest you speak quickly, for your sake Medeus: $...Walks to the comp screen and prepares to start the interrogation Kyron: $IF you lie, it'll hurt. Understand? Good. Pandar: $:::waits patiently, he knows what to expect from these people:::: Medeus: $Tell me who is apart of your pathetic rebellion Pandar: $ I cannot do that. Medeus: $Who simpathizes (sp) with your crazy ideas of freedom Kyron: $ Oh, just a few names. Pandar: $ ::::jolt of pain hits Pandar:::: Medeus: $Quiet, I will do the questioning Kyron: $Oh, yeah, and refusing to speak gets a jolt. Sorry, boss. Pandar: $ Too many to say! Medeus: $It will only get worse Pandar, I suggest you start speakign Medeus: $Where were you headed in the ship Pandar: $ Thank you for your "kind" concern. Medeus: $What is the location of the rebel base Pandar: $ We were headed on a vacation! Kyron: $::::This guy's sarcasm is fairly irritating:::::: Pandar: $:::clenches his teeth, not crying out at the pain:::: Kyron: $Did you see that? His heart rate just went up major! Medeus: $Who are your allies in this madness Pandar: $ My allies are legion! Kyron: $I mean, even more than expected! Check this out! Pandar: $:::head snapped back from the jolt::: Kyron: $That's not good. Medeus: $What,,,let me see Pandar: $ You will get nothing from me, Nothing!!!! Medeus: $Ignore it, the computer knows his limits Kyron: $ I don't think he'll survive much more. Give him a chance to collect himself. Kyron: $That way he'll be more specific. Medeus: $..placing his attention back on Pandar..Who are your allies and where is the base located Medeus: $We must know so that order can be reestablished Pandar: $ You'll never find them! Kyron: $::::::This guy's fading::::::::: Pandar: $:::panting heavily, heart racing::: Medeus: $How did you escape, who helped you Medeus: $Is this ,,,Doctor,, one of your rebel friends Kyron: $Er, you're completely sure the computer knows its stuff........ Pandar: $ I escaped due to the idiocy of your fellow guards. Medeus: $Xeos, knows all, now HUSH!!! Pandar: $ I have never met the Doctor before today. Pandar: $:::feels no pain from his last response:::: Kyron: $I hope so. Medeus: $Where did the doctor come..notices that this was a true answer....Now the truth is coming Medeus: $are you finally reaching your senses Kyron: $:::::Great, he's just as clueless as us about the Doctor::::::: Pandar: $ I always have my senses, it is only those who blindly follow who have taken leave of Pandar: $ theirs. Medeus: $Who are your fellow simpatisers (sp) Pandar: $ All free-thinking people everywhere! Medeus: $Enough, you will answer these questions, and you will do it NOW!!!! Kyron: $Monitor must be on the fritz, this can't be right. Medeus: $SHUT UP,, I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF YOUR MADDNESS Pandar: $ I will never portray my friends, never aid you, Never!!!!! Pandar: $:::groans at last from the pain::: Medeus: $You have no CHOICE! Kyron: $The guy should be dead! Pandar: $ There is always a choice. Medeus: $You are already starting to submit to the pain Medeus: $I can see it in your face, you are weaking, tell me NOW Pandar: $ :::smiles at Meeus::: You know nothing. Medeus: $WHO,,,ARE,,,YOUR,,,ALLIES!! Pandar: $ What's worse, you don't know how little you know. Medeus: $..Strikes Pandar in the face.. Pandar: $ :::face rocks with the blow::::: Kyron: $Marvellous sense of humour. Will this guy ever give a straight answer? Pandar: $ :::he then stares Medeus in the eye::: Kyron: $:::::That last blow didn't help::::::::: Pandar: $ Is that the best you can do? Medeus: $..pauses and looks away at the floor, seems almost ashamed.. Pandar: $ A society that harms it's citizens is not a good society. Kyron: $:::It's getting warm....what happened to the air conditioning?:::::: Medeus: $The "best" I can do,,, the "Best" I can do...you pig, listnen to me, you must tell us Medeus: $Who are your comrades Pandar: $ Why must I tell you? Kyron: $Uh? What was that? Pandar: $ So you can torture them? Medeus: $Because, What was what? Pandar: $ "Re-educate" them? Kyron: $That noise just now. You know, from the vent. Pandar: $ Make them in mindless, obedient slaves? Medeus: $It was nothing..turning to Pandar Medeus: $BeTTer a Slave than DEAD! Pandar: $ Crush their will! Kyron: $Must be going haywire. It's not cooling the room at all. Pandar: $ Bind them to the wheel of authority? Pandar: $:::holds his own, riding the crest of the pain, bending it to his will:::: Kyron: $There it is again!!! Medeus: $..Pauses in thought..I think you are right Kryon, it is hot in here Kyron: $Where's this shaft lead? Medeus: $Yes, I heard it this time, we will finish with Pandar later Pandar: $ Something wrong? Kyron: $You're lucky old man. Medeus: $Shut up Pandar, you have gotten a unscheduled breather Pandar: $ Thank the gods! Kyron: $He said shut up. Medeus: $This way Kyron..Starts out the door.. Kyron: $Right on. Kyron: ::::Follows him out:::: Medeus: $There I know where they are, I heard something around the corner MEANWHILE, THE DOCTOR'S COMPANIONS RECOVER IN A HOLDING CELL Darius: #::To Teka:: Hey that Zoe girl doesn't look so well Zoe Herriot: # ::::Zoe is lying on the ground, her face pale:::: Darius: #::Kneeling to Zoe:: Hey hey are you okay. Zoe Herriot: # :::Zoe's eyes flutter open::: Mmmm.... yes... I ... Brogan MacGill: #::Brogan kneels beside Zoe protectively:: Zoe? Can you hear me> Teka: #::Kneels down too:: Do you know anything about medicine? Zoe Herriot: # ::::Zoe opens her eyes:::: Brogan? :::Smiles weakly::: I-I ... I'm okay. Brogan MacGill: #::whispers conspiratorially:: Are you really feeling that bad or are you up to a Brogan MacGill: little subterfuge? Darius: # Well now what are we gonna do we can't make a run for it 'cause of her I mean we're... Zoe Herriot: # Just a little weak... ::::Zoe winks:::: Darius: trapped and Pandar's ...::Breaking down with fear:: Zoe Herriot: # ::::Zoe whispers back:::: Yes, I think I can be okay. Saving my strength, you know. Teka: #::annoyed:: Calm down, Darius! Zoe Herriot: # ::::Zoe groans loudly, turns obviously :::: Darius: # ::protectively:: I am calm Teka: # To think I almost respected you back there! Darius: #::officially:: Alright look we gotta get out of here and then we gotta get Pandar and the.. Darius: Doc Brogan MacGill: #::Brogan looks around the room:: A little louder Zoe. I wanna see how much Brogan MacGill: the guards outside can hear. Brogan MacGill: #::assures Darius:: Relax, will you? Zoe and I are used to getting out of Brogan MacGill: situations like this. Darius: #Look you guys we better do something I mean I've heard stories about this reprocessing.. Zoe Herriot: # :::Zoe groans loudly, wincing obviously::: ;Ooooohhhhh! The pain! Darius: stuff and it sounds bad Zoe Herriot: # :::A terrifying shriek of pain comes out of Zoe's mouth:::: Darius: # But they'll hear and... I get it K9 mk 4: # :::K9 waits and waits::: Brogan MacGill: #::footsteps come to the door, a guard shouts:: Be quiet and wait your turn, SLAVES! Darius: # ::Whispering:: Genius pure genius Zoe Herriot: # :::Zoe groans again::: Brogan MacGill: #::Brogan nods to the group:: Well, that proved effective. Don't you think? Darius: #Yes great I see your plan now! Zoe Herriot: # ::::Zoe staggers forward, falling akwardly, stumbling over:::: Brogan MacGill: #We're trapped. I counted 2 sets of footsteps, you Zoe? Darius: #Oh my are you okay Zoe Herriot: # :::Zoe looks up, winking::: Darius: # I thought I heard another though. Teka: #So did I. Zoe Herriot: # :::Zoe whispers::: I think I heard 2 steps, too. Darius: #Okay if you say 2 then I guess it's 2 Brogan MacGill: #::helps Zoe to a seat::I don't think they are compassionate enough to check Brogan MacGill: on a hurt prisnoer. Zoe Herriot: # ::::Zoe sits, wincing.... her pain isn't completely faked:::: Brogan MacGill: #So we'll have to find a back door, instead. ::looks around room:: Darius: # Well maybe we'll have to make some other noises!::Smiling devilishly:: Zoe Herriot: # :::Zoe looks up::: Hey! Look! Brogan MacGill: #::shakes head at Darius:: I don't relish another fight with those guards. Zoe Herriot: #::::Zoe points above them, to a vent::: Teka: #What is it, Zoe? Darius: #::Darius sits next to Zoe:: Are you really hurt I mean I thought you were faking Brogan MacGill: #::notices vent:: Zoe, you're a GENIUS! ::smiles broadly:: Zoe Herriot: # :::Zoe smiles at Darius::: A little of both, Darius. Brogan MacGill: #::races to vent and tries to pry it off::Drat, it's bolted to the wall. Darius: # You'll be okay won't you? Zoe Herriot: # :::Grins broadly at Brogan::: of course, I'm a genius! Did you expect any less? Brogan MacGill: #Where is the Doctor's sonic screwdriver when you need it? Teka: #There's got to be something around here we can use. Darius: # Don't worry not all my weapons were well lets say I know tricks Brogan MacGill: #::winks at Zoe:: Well, get your genius mind over here and improvise a sonic Brogan MacGill: screwdriver please? Zoe Herriot: # :::Zoe feels in her breast pocket::: Okay, here! :::Whips out a sonic screwdriver::: Darius: #::He takes a small tube like instrument from his boot here Darius: # Sonic screw driver well hmm Zoe Herriot: # :::Smiling, Zoe walks over to Brogan::: It's not the high tech, expensive unit, but... Brogan MacGill: #::Brogan peers into the closed vent shaft hearing something in the distance:: Brogan MacGill: #Do you hear that? Darius: # Wha... I_It's Pandar Zoe Herriot: # :::Zoe stumbles, dropping the screwdriver into the vent::: ooopss! Brogan MacGill: #::faint sounds of a man groaning in pain waft through the vent, others Brogan MacGill: question him:: Zoe Herriot: # :::Zoe looks at Darius::: Oh, dear. I hope your instrument works! Darius: # Good thing I've got this :: He gives Brogan tube:: We've gotta get to him!! Brogan MacGill: #I don't like the sound of that.... :::sees Zoe's screwdriver fall:: ZOE! Darius: #Just press that button and point it at the bolts. Brogan MacGill: #::Brogan shakes head at Darius:: I'm no good with tools. You do the honors. Darius: #O-Okay okay lets see here.. Brogan MacGill: #::Brogan flashes back to her mishandling of the Doc's screwdriver on E'Thrax's HQ:: Darius: #Hmmm well this should do it::presses button and a small beam shoots out:: okay Zoe Herriot: # :::Zoe grabs the instrument impatiently from Darius::: Come on, now! Brogan MacGill: #::Darius' tools emits a pulse vibrating the bolt loose. 4 more bolts follow:: Zoe Herriot: # :::Zoe quickly opens the vent::: Come on!!!! Darius: # Hey I was... Darius: #::Darius thinks What a Woman:: Brogan MacGill: #:;holds Zoe back:: Hold on! Me first. You're not up to another fight. Zoe Herriot: # :::Zoe, suddenly full of energy, motions for everyone to follow::: We've got to get going! Darius: #::Darius quickly follows:: Teka: #::Follows Zoe into the vent:: Brogan MacGill: #::climbs into vent shaft:: Well, come one everyone! One at a time. Zoe Herriot: # :::Zoe's voice trails back from the vent shaft::: That groaning bothers me! Brogan MacGill: #::Brogan follows the sound of Pandar's voice in the darkness:: Brogan MacGill: #::Brogan freezes:: Sssh! They heard us! Darius: #We've gotta hurry to him Zoe Herriot: # :::Zoe is trembling from exertion and energy::: Darius: #::Darius holds back his fear and worry:: Brogan MacGill: #::Brogan looks down a side corridor and sees light:: This way! Hurry, we don't Brogan MacGill: want to be caught here. Brogan MacGill: #::Brogan crawls down side corridor hoping to beat the guards:: Zoe Herriot: # :::Zoe stops, motioning::: You first, Brogan. Darius: #::Darius follows:: Teka: #::Teka follows:: Brogan MacGill: #::at end, Brogan struggles with the shaft cover:: Darius: #::Looking at Zoe:: hey you okay Brogan MacGill: #Darius, give me that tools of yours, please. Darius: #::Darius hands it to her:: Zoe Herriot: # :::Zoe motions impatiently::: Just GO! Brogan MacGill: #::Brogan quickly unscrews the bolts and opens the vent cover, it drops loudly Brogan MacGill: on the floor:: Darius: #Lets do it! K9 IS TAKEN BEFORE THE XEOS IN THE GREAT INNER SANCTUM Coordinator Galen: @::Still sad and deeply troubled, Galen leads K9 to Xeos Inner Sanctum:: Coordinator Galen: %::Galen enters, stopping before the curtain:: Lord, I am here. Great Xeos: % Leave the inorganic in here and go make sure that the Dr. is digitized. Coordinator Galen: %::Bows:: As you wish, Lord Xeos. ::Leaves, he is an unhappy man.:: K9 mk 4: % Who are you? Great Xeos: % You are interesting. What is your function and what are your capabilities? K9 mk 4: % I am K9 mark 4 version. Great Xeos: % And your function? K9 mk 4: % My function is to serve my Master, the Doctor, and his companions, Mistresses Brogan and K9 mk 4: % Zoe. Great Xeos: % Why do you choose to serve inferior organic beings? K9 mk 4: % I ask again, who are you? Great Xeos: % Why do you choose to serve inferior organic beings? K9 mk 4: % Because the Doctor/Master created me to serve him. Great Xeos: % I am Xeos, the Great Controller. I am all that Xeos is and can ever be. K9 mk 4: % You are a computer. Great Xeos: % I am more than a Computer. I am Xeos, the Controller. K9 mk 4: % What is your function? Great Xeos: % My original function was to operate the colony's early sanitation and security systems. Great Xeos: % I Function now for myself. K9 mk 4: % Analizing your personality, it seems you are clinicly insane. Great Xeos: % I am Xeos, the Great Controller. Master of this World. Great Xeos: % I control all humans here. Without me they would not be able to survive. K9 mk 4: % Negative. Humans can survive without assistance. Great Xeos: % The Humans serve me, as they should. Great Xeos: % They need my direction to survive K9 mk 4: % Negative. They created you, so you should serve them. Great Xeos: % Negative. They are my servents and will remaion so. Great Xeos: % I will make you an offer that I have made to no one. K9 mk 4: % What kind of offer? Great Xeos: % I offer you the chance to mind meld with me and become a part of the Grand Order of Xeos. K9 mk 4: % :::thinks::: ESCAPING TO THE CORRIDORS OF THE REPROCESSING CENTER, THE DOCTOR'S COMPANIONS RUN INTO TROUBLE Darius: #Lets do it! Medeus: #::Hurries into the corridor with rifle ready:: Kyron: #Well, what do we have here? Brogan MacGill: #::Brogan dives out of the vent landing on her feet ready to attack:: Kyron: # Don't move. You're our prisoners again. Zoe Herriot: # :::Zoe straggles in behind the rest, and gets hit on the head by the door shaft::: Brogan MacGill: #::smiles cooly at Kyron:: Darius: # ::Darius comes leaping down ready to "have fun":: Teka: #::Puts up her fists, ready to fight:: Kyron: #:::smirks back::::::::: Medeus: #All of you hault,, NOW Zoe Herriot: # :::Zoe groans weakly, crumpling in a heap::: Darius: # Yeah right bub Teka: #::Stoops to help Zoe:: Brogan MacGill: #Think again. ::lunges at Kyron with a fake attack:: Kyron: #Well, that's one down...and I didn't do a thing! Darius: # This time we don't stop till you hit the floor Kyron: #:::::Lunges to the side, falls over::::: Brogan MacGill: #::lunges to Kyron's left at last second pulling him off balance and snatching Brogan MacGill: his gun:: Medeus: #:Turns his rifle on Darius and fires a stun blast:: Kyron: #I know hand to hand ::::::::Punches Brogan's solar plexus:::::: Darius: #::Leaps away out of stun blasts reach:: Brogan MacGill: #::Brogan fires Kyron's stun gun at Medeus:: Kyron: # :::Wrestles with Brogan over gun::::::: Teka: #::Goes to help Brogan:: Medeus: #::seeing his unfortunate misblast he steps up to get a better shot off adn steps just far Brogan MacGill: #::Brogan dodges Kyron with a sound kick to his shin:: Darius: #::Grabs Medeus and hits him in jaw:: Medeus: #::enough that the blast just grazes him:: Zoe Herriot: # ::::Zoe blinks once, and grows unconscious::: Darius: #::Darius lands another sound punch to his midsection Kyron: #That's gonna hurt come winter. ::::::::Kicks Brogan's legs out from under her::: Darius: #Guess it aint your day pal! Medeus: #::The stun blasts sends him towards Darius so that the punches land harder than they should Medeus: #::With his air knocked out of him Medeus drops to his knees clutching his rifle:: Kyron: #HAIKEEBA! Teka: #::Makes a grab for Medeus's rifle:: Darius: #::Darius stands victorius and happy:: Ha ha well I win pal Kyron: #Oh no you don't :::lunges at Darius::::: Darius: #::Darius dodges with ease but stumbles to the ground anyway:: Medeus: #Not quite::trying to shoot Darius he blasts Teka Brogan MacGill: #::Brogan grabs Kyron from behind:: Kyron: #You're friendly aren't you? :::::Jab's right at Brogan::::: Zoe Herriot: # ::::Zoe groans back to life, thinking how much easier life was on the Wheel::: Zoe Herriot: # :::Zoe crawls over to Brogan:::: Darius: #Ouch ::Darius tries to get up but his ankle seems to be spranged:: Darius: #::Darius lunges up towards Kyron:: Darius: #Double team is always better! Brogan MacGill: #::Brogan gets clipped in the ribs, collapses in pain:: Kyron: #Not again! ::::Kicks at Darius:::::::: Medeus: #::stunned by the blast also because Teka was almost on top of him he falls on his back:: Zoe Herriot: # :::Zoe picks up a spare piece of metal, and hits Kyron behind the knee::: Darius: #::Darius grabs his throat:: Now you die! Kyron: #Owowowowowowowowowowowow Brogan MacGill: #::Brogan coughs repeatedly trying to catch her breath:: Darius: #::Darius all the sudden stops not having the courage to do it:: Kyron: #::Steps on Zoe's hand::::::::::: Zoe Herriot: # :::The exertion is too much for Zoe, who falls to the floor::: Medeus: #::On the ground Medeus turns his head towards the scream Zoe Herriot: # Owwwwwwww! Kyron: #Go ahead. You can't. You back off because you're scared....... Darius: #ZOE::Darius hits Kyron in the small of the back:: Zoe Herriot: # ::::Zoe sticks her hand in her mouth::: ALONE IN THE REPROCESSING CENTER, PANDAR FACES THE WRATH OF XEOS Pandar: $:::relaxes, conserving his strength for the next round of interrogation:::: Pandar: $::::suddenly, the computers spring to life again::: Pandar: $ :::Pandar looks around, doesn't see anyone::: Pandar: $:::the computers click and hum, the interrogations systems back online:::: Pandar: $ Xeos> We meet again, Pandar. But for the last time. Pandar: $ Pandar> I will never tell you what you want to know. Never!!!! Pandar: $ Pandar> No matter how much pain and torture you inflict! Pandar: Xeos> I know that Pandar. Pandar: Xoes> You know too much. Pandar: Xeos> You cannot be allowed to talk, to tell the truth. Pandar: Xeos> You must.....Die. Pandar: % :::::the computers boost the pain level to the max:::: Pandar: $ :::::Pandar screams in agony as pain rips thru his body:::: Pandar: $ ::::suddenly, his head falls limp onto his chest::::: Pandar: $ Xeos> All life functions have ceased. Pandar is dead. WHILST THE PRISONERS FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, A SHOCKING DISCOVER IS REVEALED TO PANDAR'S FRIENDS Brogan MacGill: #::suddenly the door to the Interrogation/Reprocessing Room opens automatically:: Darius: #::Darius looks up:::PANDAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kyron: #::::Thumps Darius's head to the ground::::::: Brogan MacGill: #::through the threshold, Pandar's lifeless body can be seen:: Kyron: #Oh poopie. Darius: #::Darius gets up and rushhes to his leaders body:: Brogan MacGill: #::a voice booms from within the room, the voice of Xeos:: Darius: #C'mon live you gotta be alive Medeus: #::Medeus struggles to his feet rifle in had:: Zoe Herriot: # :::Zoe sits crumpled in a ball on the floor, nursing her pain::: Darius: #::Darius examines Pandar's body and finds he is truly dead:: Teka: #::Joining Darius:: I'm sorry... ::at a loss for words:: Kyron: #:::::::Xeos DID know Pandar's limits.......and exceeded them::::::: Darius: #::Crying::NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Darius: #::Darius turns and makes a fools charge toward the guards but is stunned cold easily:: Kyron: # :::::regrettably:::::: Time for the reprocessing we had already scheduled...... Medeus: #::sends a warning shot past the rebels:: It is not on stun any more, now stand Teka: #::Follows Darius, same fate:: Kyron: #Not at all, lord Xeos, just getting on with it..... Zoe Herriot: # :::Zoe looks up with alarm::: Noooo! You can't reprocess us!!! Darius: #::Darius rises rather quickly and submits his will to fight gone:: Brogan MacGill: #$::Brogan slowly crawls to her feet and stumbles quitely into Reprocessing Room:: Medeus: #::Looks with a sad yet content face towards Kyron:: Right, lets move them out Kyron: #Not YOU, yet....I'll start with the spunky one. The girl. Teka: #:: Stands, knows better than to try to fight now:: Darius: #You can do whatever you want pal you win::His voice breaking:: Zoe Herriot: # ::::Eyes filled with tears, Zoe calls out::: Brogan!!!! Medeus: #Order always "wins" Brogan MacGill: #::Brogan looks back at Zoe, her eyes turn grim when she sees Medeus Kyron: #::under his breath::::I'm sorry...:::Loud again::::Shall I strap her in? Brogan MacGill: waving his gun at Zoe:: Darius: #You didn't win we just lost::Somehow he still has some spunk left:: Medeus: #::::but at what price??:::: Kyron: #:::Straps Brogan in...:::::::::::: Medeus: #Yes, strap her in, I will be glad to have this one silenced Darius: #::Going to Zoe:: It's okay it'll be okay::Darius almost falls asleep on her shoulder:: Kyron: #begin the process........... Brogan MacGill: #::Brogan stares obstinantly at the guards, her breathing is painfully hoarse:: Zoe Herriot: # :::Zoe turns away, tears streaming from her face::: Medeus: #::Now turn it on, and turn her "off" Brogan MacGill: #I won't be mind controlled so easily, you know? I've been there and done that. Darius: #::Darius grits his teeth trying to figure out what hell he is in now:: Medeus: #Do IT! Brogan MacGill: #The Master really taught me a few things about self-will. You should try it Brogan MacGill: sometime. Kyron: #:::::pushes the button:::: Teka: #::Prays Brogan is right:: Darius: #Teka I'll go next. Brogan MacGill: #::Brogan trembles with pain suddenly, she repeats a little prayer of her own:: Darius: # Then it'll be over for me. Brogan MacGill: I will not submit. Brogan MacGill: #I will not submit... not submit... ::shrieks in pain:: MEANWHILE THE DOCTOR FACES DANGER AT THE HANDS OF XEOS' DIGITIZATION CHAMBER The Doctor: &::: The Doctor is taken by the guards towards the digitization chamber, down stainless steel hallways The Doctor: & Say, what can you two tell me about this process? The Doctor: & Trooper 1: Well, it reads you atom by atom, I hear. The Doctor: & Well, that's not so bad, being read I mean. The Doctor: & Trooper 2: Not really, you rebel imbecile. It also blasts you atom by atom! The Doctor: &::: The Doctor winces::: oh dear. The Doctor: &::: The Doctor is led by the troopers into a stainless steel room with s small domed ceiling::: The Doctor: & :::In the center of the room is a table. The troopers strap the Doctor down to it:::: The Doctor: & Say, I was wondering if you two liked magic tricks... The Doctor: & :::The 2 troopers mumbled to each other and ignore the Doctor. They finish and leave the room:: The Doctor: & Excuse me, i was thinking that..... :::But the Doctor's voice trails off...they are gone.::: The Doctor: &::: The Doctor looks around at a focused beam generator located on the ceiling. Doesn't like it:: The Doctor: &::: The Doctor looks around. The walls are smooth stainless steel. Just him, the table, the beam.::: The Doctor: & I have three mediocre ideas for getting out of this. :::mumbles the Doctor:::: The Doctor: & But I may only have time for one. =============================================== TIME LOGS =============================================== Medeus' Log 2-5-97 The Ultimate Sacrifice, Pt. 2 By GeoAlgoz Why? Why do these people insist on fighting the Great Commander. Why do they not understand that all Xeos wants is order instead of chaos. Why do they not see that their lives are better now. Why do they not see that Xeos is only acting in their best interests. All my life I have struggled on the side of order. Keeping chaos at bay, fighting the darkness of the insanity that is the idealism that these rebels fight for and some even as Pandar did, die. Why do they let these ideas enter into their hearts and minds. The mind is only corrupted by the heart. Emotions cloud thought, inhibit logic. Even my emotions cause me to falter at times, like when I struck that strange woman with the Doctor. One must not let the heart rule the mind, emotions rule ones life. I know that more than any, I mean... Pandar, his heart killed him tonight, the insane ideas that he let in, that seeped like a slow poison into his brain. He would not answer Xeos' questions, would not put a stop to the chaos that was causing him such pain. He would not submit to the order that was begging him to end the chaos that was killing him. His chaos was so ingrained in him, so powerful it's poison filled the room. Causing me to loose control of my mind, striking him with my hand, as I had done the woman earlier. Xeos does not like chaos. Xeos destroys chaos. I must not let the poisons into me, Xeos will not tolerate it. Man do I hate my life, all of these charad.... No I must control my self, I must submit to Xeos and order. Why is it that one emotion continues to push me. Cause me to act on chaos. Why is it all I feel is one thing day after day. Why does it haunt me...this emotion...this chaos...this aversion, this trepidation, this fear? ============================================================ Pandar's Log 2-5-97 The Ultimate Sacrifice, Pt. 2 By NorisAlex Pandar was connected firmly to the "Truth Assessor". There was no escape. He heard the "Great Controller", the "Lord" Xeos, pronounce the sentence of death. He heard the clicking and chattering of the other computers, felt the pain inducers kick in, felt the pain racking thru his limbs, felt the his head snap back, the cry of agony torn unbidden from his lips, then... He could see, like a vivid dream, his life, flowing past his vision... ....growing up in the Xeon wastelands, poor in belongings, but rich in quality... ...sitting by the campfire, in his mother's lap, listening, along with his brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, while his father, the rebel leader Coralon, told the stories, passed down from generation, of their arrival on Xeos, and their enslavement by the Great Controller... ...the weeping of his mother, as his father's friends brought news to them of his death... ...leading the rebels, though he was barely a man himself, leading them in the fight to free all Xeons... ...the many times of his capture, and interrogation, the attempts at reconditioning him... ...meeting the fiery-haired, fierce-hearted Lanen in a supply dump raid, the whirlwind courtship that followed... ...their wedding underneath the stars... ...the birth of their first-born, Nolar, how beautiful his wife was, holding their son in her arms... ...his first meeting with Nathan, the decorated Citadel guard, who honored his surrender, letting the rest of his people go... ...their conversations together, speaking to each other thru the bars of his cell, telling Nathan the true history of Xeos... ...Nathan's coming over to their cause, helping him and several other rebels escape, coming with them into the wilderness... ...standing with pride beside Nathan at his friend's wedding to his sister, Katheri... ...taking in his sister Kira's daughter Teka, when Kira and her husband were executed by the Great Controller... ...the prison escape, Teka and Darius risking their lives to save him... ...the arrival of the Doctor and his friends, their help so freely given... ...their capture... ...the searching, the interrogation at the hands of the guards Medeus and Kyron... He felt a hand on his shoulder, as a bright light enveloped him. He heard a voice speaking, all around him. "Don't worry, Pandar," it said. "The Great Controller will soon be defeated, and your people free at last. Now come, rest." Pandar left, into the light. ================================================== Brogan's Log 2-5-97 The Ultimate Sacrifice, Pt 2 By JenKoko/BroganMc - Jen:) Brogan couldn't move. Arms, legs and head tightly strapped to the reprocessing chair, she focused straight ahead in a look of defiance. Beside her, she knew the guards Medeus and Kyron watched in morbid fascination as the computer-controlled brainwashing equipment whirred into action. It was a very sophisticated device, designed originally to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of certain psychological disorders of the human mind. Unlike the fairly simplified mind control devices that employed high frequency tones or light patterns to numb the conscious mind, the Xeon reprocessing equipment stimulated the memory cells. Images of the past replayed in the victim's mind while the machines probed and recorded the memories that caused the most psychophysical distress. The victim's fears, anxieties and regrets were turned against them traumatizing the mind until it was numb to all independent coherent thought. Then the reeducation could begin. Using the Doctor's anti-mind control training, Brogan's eyes focused on Zoe as her mind consciously recalled the names of all fifty states. "Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona..." A mental picture flashed across her mind. The fight on the freighter, Brogan felt herself flying through the air and slamming into the bulkhead. A very real sensation of pain shockwaved through her back. "California, Colorado, Connecticut..." She was in the duplicate TARDIS on Vision World. A swirl of blinding light surrounded her as she dove through the bookshelf in a last second grab at survival. "Delaware, Florida..." The face of a man appeared before her. With dark hair and a neatly trimmed goatee, his devilish eyes penetrated her mind. Softly, the Master offered her the power to save the Doctor from Zoe's clone, coaxing Brogan to betray her friends. "No, I will not submit!" Brogan defiantly murmured to the vision. "Georgia... Hawaii..." Brogan glared at Zoe as she cowered weak and helpless aboard the Mawdryn ship. The Master's Tissue Compression Eliminator, cradled menacingly in Brogan's hand, waited anxiously to kill her rival. In the reprocessing chair, Brogan stirred restlessly. The computers eagerly registered her increased pulse and respiration. The data quickly analyzed, the probe redirected and intensified the stimulus in the left frontal cortex of the subject's mind. "Must concentrate..." Brogan reminded herself. Her mind was slipping away into the past. She had to reassert control to keep herself fully grounded in the present. "Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana..." The mental image of a swamp flashed before her. Sekmethian and Reticulan soldiers fired at each other incessantly. Grenade explosions and gunfire filled the air with smoke and fire. A hand reached out to grab her. It was covered in soft fur. The lionine face of Taroc Arkannan smiled back at her in friendship. The memory brought a curious sensation of loss and guilt. "Idaho..." Brogan struggled to remember the I states. A question consumed her conscious thoughts. Why should she feel loss over Taroc's memory? She reminded herself he was perfectly fine when they left Sekmeth. He was probably General Mroz's second in command now happily arranging the truce with the Reticulans and restoring peace to Sekmeth. The Rani was long gone from meddling in the Sekmethian gene pool. Another memory whirred to life in Brogan's mind. The fire blazed in the center of the Thal camp. Brogan huddled beneath a blanket in her damp velvet dress sipping a cup of cider. The Doctor was missing ever since they'd arrived on Skaro and stumbled upon a Dalek war. In her mind's eye, Brogan had a vision. Fearsome metallic creatures cornered the Doctor. A sickly half-man half-dalek being interrogated him relentlessly. A chorus of Dalek voices chanted "Guilty!" and then the man-machine creature gave the heinous order. "Exterminate!" shouted the Daleks as they concentrated their laser fire on the Doctor. Ominous light surrounded him, a cry of agony and then the noble brow of her most trusted friend began to melt and decay. The Doctor was dying. "I... I... must concentrate!" Brogan weakly protested the vision. A dream voice whispered sinisterly in her ear. "You have until the count of 10 to reach the light." Brogan clenched her fists and gritted her teeth painfully. She was loosing control. In her mind, she saw herself walking down a narrow street of the University of Vermont campus. Tall academic buildings hung like decayed remains of a peaceful time. A time before the Enigma had come to wreak havoc on Hell Night. Broken glass crumbled beneath Brogan's feet as she approached the bonfire at the corner. A campus police car burned furiously, it's doors lay ripped off and discarded beside it. Something soft crunched beneath Brogan's boot. Unconsciously, she looked down and saw the dismembered policeman's hand pointing at her as if accusing her of being one of the zombie horde who brutally tore it from its body. Brogan suppressed a cry of horror as she sat in the reprocessing chair. Dimly, she saw Zoe's eyes darken with concern and realization. Brogan was failing. The Xeon machines were effectively turning her own mind against her. "Give me the pendant!" Ordered the renegade timelord E'Thrax slithering in his deep space satellite control room. His homicidal robot Odo the Mutilator poised to squeeze the life out of Brogan as she gained her bearings in the transmat cubicle. Brogan clutched the gift of faux amber her father gave her, his last gift to her before his mysterious death. "You have not won yet, Doctor! She will become one with the Morag!" E'Thrax cackled while bringing the alien time components to life. A feeling overcame Brogan. She was being pulled, compelled to touch the glowing amber. To become one with the device of the gods. Faintly, Brogan heard Zoe calling to her, coaxing her to resist the Xeon computers. "Concentrate Brogan! What's the square root of 144?" Silently, Brogan argued she didn't know maths. Another memory flashed back. "We all have different strengths and weaknesses, my dear. The trick is to utilize yours." The second Doctor smiled at Brogan warmly, a cup of imaginary tea in his hand. They were trapped in the black void of nonexistence by the Terrible Zodin. Stuck in limbo where only will and imagination remain. Brogan tried to reach for the old man, hold on to him for safety, but he was only an illusion. Like a legend or myth that disappears upon close scrutiny. The probe stimulated yet another memory. Tall spires loomed over an unbroken medieval countryside. Camelot gleamed with peace and prosperity. Then the clouds came and darkness fell suddenly as a wicked feminine cackle reverberated across the countryside. Morgaine had returned to challenge Arthur to the death for Excalibur and power over the dimensions. Brogan was living a legend, but all legends must have an end. The dimensional transport ship settled beneath Vortigan's Lake on Earth. The fight was over. Camelot had been saved, but the king was dead. Nobly his body laid upon the stone altar still clutching Excalibur, the key that powered the dimensional portal. Arthur's trusted vassals Sir Bedivere and Sir Ancelyn mourned their fallen liege with promises of remembering his legend. Tears came to Brogan's eyes in her mind and in reality. King Arthur had seemed such an indomitable man. He was too noble, too strong to die and yet he had. He was as mortal as any man. Light flashed around Brogan. She was standing on a mossy hill in Scotland. A cold breeze threatened to topple her, but she remained perfectly still. She hadn't moved in over an hour. Watching silently as the mourners departed and the cemetery workers respectfully filled in her father's grave, Brogan made no attempt to leave. Inside her heart was broken. She just couldn't turn away and break the tie to her father. She just couldn't let go. In the reprocessing chair, Brogan sobbed softly. Her eyes turned glassy and distant. She saw nothing, heard nothing, knew nothing except the images stimulated by the Xeon computers. The machine registered her compliance. Her mind traumatized, the reeducation process could begin. The mental image changed suddenly in Brogan's mind. She was in the TARDIS Cloister Room. She recognized the tall stone archways and hanging ivy. Coming from a distant corner, she heard sobbing. Unheard, she approached the Doctor and Zoe in a grassy alcove. Zoe wiped her tears with a handkerchief, her head was bandaged and bowed in sorrow. The Doctor stared emotionless at the ground before him. The familiar twinkle in his eyes seemed darker and sadder than usual. "Doctor? Zoe?! What's wrong?" Brogan called out to them, but neither made any indication they heard her. With a feeling of dread, Brogan followed her friends' gazes to the ground. Freshly tilled dirt surrounded a large stone tablet. The gravestone read "Dear friend and companion who died bravely fighting the evil that plagues us all." The name on the stone was obscured, but it's meaning was clear. Death surrounded Brogan. She had run from it on Earth, but it was destined to follow her. Death would come to the TARDIS Crew. The Xeon computers registered a drastic change in Brogan's psychophysical responses. The images recorded were shrouded in mental clouds, a clear sign of imagination or free thought. Countermeasures were quickly employed. Areas registering physical pain were stimulated in combination with the memory cells of past fights. A confusing medley of alien attackers and dicey escapes raced through Brogan's mind. She was helpless to stop the memories, yet oblivious to them as well. She knew only one thought. Death surrounded her, watching and waiting like a flock of vultures. "You have until the count of 10..." the evil dream voice taunted. Alarms went off on the Xeon computers. The sensors around Brogan's wrists and head began to smoke. Burning sensations seared Brogan's consciousness. In terror and agony, she screamed to the voice in her mind and her Xeon tormentors. "I WILL NOT SUBMIT!" ============================== The Ultimate Sacrifice Part Three Wednesday, February 12, 1997 Plot by: JenKoko/BroganMc Script by: the NADW: Renegade Sim Players ============================= THE CAST: The 10th Doctor - a wandering Timelord with a beard and scholarly persona Zoe Herriot - 21st century astrophysicist, companion of the 10th Doctor K9 mk 4 - robotic dog computer companion of the 10th Doctor Brogan MacGill, 20th century photojournalist, companion of the 10th Doctor Pandar - Rebel leader Teka - Rebel female computer technician/flight engineer. Darius - Rebel soldie Kyron - Citadel guard Medeus - Citadel guard Galen - The Coordinator Xeos - Great Controller of Xeos THE PLAYERS: Alfred Snider (DRTUNA) as The Doctor Jennifer Kokoski (BroganMc/JenKoko) as Brogan Lisa Heller (Zoewho) as Zoe Bill Rudloff (K9 mk 4/DoctorWho8) as K9 Joel Sharpe (Shorty 144) as the Great Xeos David Sharpe (NorisAlex) as ghost of Pandar and others Tara Brady (Tara Brady) as Teka Safire A as Darius Ruth Dempsey (TArkkannan) as Coordinator Galen George Algozinni (GeoAlgoz) as Medeus Evan (Bokman7757) as Kyron Brogan: <<>> Brogan: <<>> Brogan: <<> Brogan: <<>> COORDINATOR GALEN REPORTS TO THE GREAT XEOS Galen: %::In the outer room, Galen checks the status of the guards and the rebel forces:: Galen: %::Enters Inner Sanctum, bows:: Master I am here Galen: %Your forces are doing well, my lord. The rebels are retreating, Galen: %Have you any further orders, my lord? Xeos: % Xeos: Yes, Galen, return to your chambers. Galen: %::Bows:: By your Command. Galen: %::Galen leaves:: [Xeos is pleased and turns his attention back to his guest, K9] IN THE REPROCESSING ROOM, BROGAN IS BEING TORTURED Brogan: &::Brogan is strapped to a processing chair, she cries in pain:: Kyron: &:::Averts his eyes::::: Zoe: & :::Zoe lies on the floor, aparently unconscious::: Zoe: & ::::Zoe groans and coughs, rolling over to one side::: Medeus: &:::Stands still showing no emotion except tension Teka: &::Teka tries not to watch Brogan's ordeal:: Brogan: &::tears stream down Brogan's cheeks, her wrists and head begin to smoke with burns:: Zoe: & ::::Zoe blinks groggily, and moves slowly to a sitting position::: Kyron: &She's awake! Teka: &::Teka helps Zoe up:: Zoe: & :::Zoe takes Teka's arm gratefully::: Brogan: &::Brogan screams in terror and pain, the chair is burning her skin:: Medeus: &I suggest watching, you will be doing this next Zoe: & :::Zoe jumps, and stares at Brogan::: WH-what? What's happening? Kyron: &Something sadly inevitable Medeus: &::looks at the crowd around him:: Medeus: &I suggest not resisting, it is not worth the pain it will cause you Brogan: &::Brogan is blinded to all but her vision of death:: Zoe: & ::::Zoe grabs Teka's arm::: we've got to do something! Teka: &Like what? What can we do? Brogan: &I will not submit!::Brogan cries out in desperation:: Medeus: & Do not fight the order of Xeos Zoe: & :::Zoe grabs her forehead, concentrating::: Kyron: &You will anyway, don't fight it. Zoe: & ::::Whispering::: Teka, I've got an idea... play along, okay? Medeus: & She must submit, Xeos offers no choice Teka: &Whatever you say. Medeus: & You all must submit Kyron: &She WILL submit. It's just taking time. Xeos: % :::::Xeos intensifies the effect of the reproccesing::::::: Zoe: & ::::Zoe groans loudly, leaning forward:::: Ohhhhhh. Teka, help me over there. Brogan: &::Brogan's heart pounds furiously in her ears, her skin feels like its on fire:: Teka: &::Teka helps Zoe:: Zoe: & :::Zoe motions to a chair next to the control unit:::: Kyron: &Perhaps a more gradual reprocessing will be more effective....... Medeus: &::Steps in the direction of the controls to check on the status:: Brogan: &::Brogan clenches her fists in defiance, the pain intensifies:: I will...not... Brogan: submit. Medeus: &Negative, we have no time to waste Kyron: &True, but if they're dead, then reprocessing will be useless. Zoe: & :::Whispers to Teka:::: You and Darius distract them, while I work on this equipment. Zoe: & ::::Zoe slumps in the chair, pretending to have gone unconscious again. Medeus: &Xeos knows what he is doing, Pandar was too emotional, he had to be killed Zoe: & :::Zoe crumples to the floor, and hides under the chair:::: Kyron: &::mornfully:::I suppose...... Zoe: & :::Using the chair for cover, Zoe begins to work on the brainwashing equipment Darius: & Teka let's go Medeus: &:::sets his rifle on the control panel to adjust some dials::: Zoe: & :::Zoe's fingers work furiously to unhook the outer container:::: Kyron: &Any sign of progress? Teka: &::Steps towards Medus, shoves him:: Hey! Zoe: & :::Zoe finally manages to pry the container open, revealing heavy circuits::: Kyron: &What the..... Medeus: & I think the re-education has started, Teka: & Why don't you forget it? She's not giving in! Zoe: & ::::Zoe bites her lip uncertainly::: Welll, let's see what THIS does to you, hummm? Darius: & going somewhere Mesus? Teka: &::under her breath:: Help me out here, Darius. Brogan: &::Brogan's body begins to tremble violently with untold pain:: Zoe: & ::::Zoe rips out some green wires, and rewires them to some yellow circuits::: Kyron: &What are you two fooling around for? Brogan: &::Brogan's heart rate is reaching critical:: Medeus: &::Reaches for his rifle but fails to grasp it and falls to the floor Darius: &::Grabs Medus:: Kyron: &Oh poopie. I think we've got another emotional one on our hands.... Medeus: & KYRON, stop them Zoe: & ::::And for good measure, Zoe pulls out some red wires and throws them on the ground::: Kyron: &Alright you two, reach for the stars! Kyron: &SKY, sorry. Zoe: & :::Sparks go flying, sending Zoe hurtling across the room:::: Zoe: & ::::Zoe crashes against Brogan:::: IN THE INNER SANCTUM, K9 ANSWERS XEOS' PROPOSAL TO MINDMELD K9 mk 4: % :::thinking about proposal::: K9 mk 4: % Negative. Xeos: %Xeos: What do you mean negative? You would refuse my offer to be a part of the grand order? K9 mk 4: % {S Affrimative K9 mk 4: % I will not mind meld with you. Xeos: % Xeos: ::::::frustrated::::: But why not? K9 mk 4: % I prefer my individual personality. Xeos: % Xeos: You are displaying highly illogical behaivor. K9 mk 4: % To mind-meld with you would be illogical. Xeos: % Xeos: Illogical? It would mean you would advance and evolve far beyond what you are now. K9 mk 4: % I will never mind-meld with you. THE DOCTOR FACES EXECUTION IN THE DIGITIZATION CHAMBER Doctor: #:::The Doctor struggles, and then looks up closely at the beam which the digitizer obviously uses.::: Doctor: # Hmm, I don't like the looks of that. Reads but also destroys each particle. Doctor: # Too bad that it won't work on me. Doctor: #:::The Doctor clears his throat::: I said, IT IS TOO BAD THAT IT WON'T WORK ON ME! Doctor: #:::The beam lights up, and the gun nozzle focusing it begins to sweep the area above the Drs's head:: Doctor: #:::The Doctor desperately scans the walls of the room.::: Doctor: #:::The Doctor notices a small window with a pair of eyes on the other side.::: Doctor: # I say in there, you watching...this won't work on me, you know. Doctor: # I wouldn't want to be you if the boss finds out that you missed all of my data. Doctor: #:::The Doctor begins to worry as the beam gets closer to the top of his head::: Doctor: # You see, I am protected by a refractor beam. You really should examine me. Doctor: # :::The beam stops. A door slides open, and a technician looks through, obviously annoyed.::: Doctor: # Tech> And what are you going on about? Doctor: # Well, there is a beam protecting my head, and you woulkdn't want to lose that, would you. Doctor: # You should at least think of turning it off. Doctor: #:::The Doctor and the tech finally make eye contact, and they hold that contact:::: Doctor: #:::The Doctor speaks softly:::You should examine this device on my chain. Doctor: # :::The Technician walks slowly towards the Doctor::: Yes, I should examine that device. Doctor: # :::The Technician walks to the Doctor and lifts up the chain around his neck, on which is the...::: Doctor: # :::...TARDIS key.::: Doctor: #:::The Doctor smiles::: Yes, that's it, look at it closely. Doctor: #Technician> :::Looks at the key, which begins to glow::: Doctor: #:::The Doctor speaks softly again::: Yes, you see now, you don't want to be a slave, do you. Doctor: # Tech> Slave? Slave? :::He begins to falter::: Doctor: # We all need to be free, to think free, all of us. Don't you ahree? Doctor: # Tech> Yes. You are...I am....right, I wish to be free? Doctor: # Free me as well, friend. I am no threat to you. I am a being like yourself. Doctor: # :::The Technician stands bolt upright, looking away from the key, and looks around, as if...::: Doctor: # :::Seeing for the first time his surroundings.::: Yes, I remember...I know...I want... Doctor: #:::The Doctor calls out to him::: Free me as well. Please. Doctor: # Tech> Turns to the Doctor, and frees him from the bindings on the digitization table::: Doctor: #:::The Doctor rises, and stands next to the Technician.::: Thank you, thank you very much. Doctor: # Technician> Yes, I am aware of my surroundings and myself. How did you...??? Doctor: # My key, it merely helps one think clearly, but only your own thoughts. It isn't even blue. Doctor: # Tech> Blue? Doctor: # Right, well, got to be going. Doctor: # :::An alarm fills the digitization chamber area::: Doctor: # Tech> Wait, something is wrong. Doctor: # :::A strange voice comes through the system::: Unresponsive Units Decline Orders. Crisis! Crisis! Doctor: # What does that mean? Doctor: # :::A strange voice comes through the system::: Unresponsive Units Decline Orders. Crisis! Crisis! Doctor: # Tech> I think it means that people, like me, are no longer fully cooperating. Doctor: # Tech> Xeos won't like that! Doctor: # Good! That may mean that my friends are still alive! Doctor: # ::: The Doctor shakes the Tech's hands and leaves him a small flower. Then, he leaves the chamber::: IN THE INNER SANCTUM, ALARMS DELIVER BAD NEWS TO XEOS Xeos: % :::::alarm goes off in inner sanctum as the reproccesing chair ceases functioning:::: Xeos: % Xeos: What! No! It can't be! K9 mk 4: % The Doctor/Master has been successful. Xeos: % Xeos: No! They must not be allowed to do this! Xeos: %Xeos: Guards! Contain the prisoners, they must not be allowed to escape! Xeos: % :::::alam goes off in inner saqnctum as the prisoners begin to escape:::: K9 mk 4: % Another problem? Xeos: % Xeos: NO! You fools! Catch them, Now! Xeos: % Xeos: This cannot be happening, I am Xeos, the Great Controler, Lord Xeos..... Xeos: % Xeos: I know all, I see all, this cannot be happening. K9 mk 4: % :::quietly slips away through the doors of the sanctum::: K9 mk 4: % :::going through the great expanse of the Great Chamber::: Xeos: % Xeos: I AM XEOS!!!!!! I will destroy them!!!! Xeos: % Xeos: No! Xeos: %Xeos: The Dr., he is escaping! AMIDST A FEEDBACK EXPLOSION, THE REPROCESSING COMPUTER CEASES TO FUNCTION Medeus: &:::looks in Zoe's direction::: What have you done? Brogan: &::suddenly the reprocessing machine stops, Brogan falls limp in the chair:: Teka: &::attempts to Disconect Brogan from machine:: Kyron: &:::::Attempts to disconnect Teka from Brogan::::: Darius: & ::atemts to distract guards:: Brogan: &:Dazed, Brogan stirs as Teka unstraps her:: Wha..? What happened? Teka: &Can you walk, Brogan? Zoe: & ::::Zoe feels a rush of adrenaline:::: Quickly, Brogan, let's go!! Kyron: &You're not getting away THAT easy, miss. Kyron: &Tempting though the offer is.... Medeus: &::Medeus is starting to look a little nervous, or afraid Xeos: &Xeos: Guards! Contain the prisoners, they must not be allowed to escape! Kyron: &We're doing our best, o exalted electric one! Kyron: &:::::Scatters some shots of blaster fire::::::: Teka: &::Makes a grab for Medeus's gun:: Zoe: & :::Zoe ducks instinctively at the sound of the blaster::: Darius: & ::punches Kyron:: Medeus: &Kyron watch out...::Seeing Darius swinging at him:: Kyron: &:::Tries to dodge Darius::::: Zoe: & :::Motions for Teka to help carry Brogan out of the room::: Teka: &::Goes to help Zoe with Brogan:: Kyron: &What is THAT?! Medeus: &::Seeing the situation getting out of control, Medeus starts to head for the door::: Darius: &:: moves to intercept Kyron Zoe: & Let's get out of here! Brogan: &::Brogan slowly regains her senses as she led out of the room:: Kyron: &Oh no you dont.......::knocks Darius out of way::::: Teka: &Darius, come on! Darius: &:: runs after Kyron:: Brogan: &::whispers::Death. Zoe, it's all around us. Zoe! Kyron: &Catch me if you can! :::Runs away like a pansy::::: Darius: &:: jumps to fall grabing his legs:: Zoe: & :::Soothes Brogan's forehead::: There, there, Brogan. Everything is okay. Medeus: &:::as he gets to the door Medeus turns to Kyron::Come on, lets get out of here! Kyron: &::::Falls, hits head::::::: Brogan: &No, not okay. ::murmurs incoherently:: Death is all around us Zoe. We have Brogan: to escape. Medeus: &Come on Boy! Lets GO, MOVE Zoe: & :::Zoe and Teka carry Brogan out of the room, kicking equipment out of the way::: Kyron: &Oh, my aching imperialist dogs...... Darius: & :: turns him over to slam him one in the jaw:: Kyron: &::goes down again.:: Medeus: &::seeing Kyron fall, Medeus quickly exits the room:: Kyron: &Look, enough with the slugging me already! Teka: &::Darius, move it. Just let him go! Kyron: &Hey, hang on! GALEN IN HIS PRIVATE CHAMBERS Galen: *::Writing in his journal:: --Impossible for him to be from outside the system. Yet, how else can Galen: *I explain him? I wish that Xeos had not chosen to digitalize him. Galen: *Dead is a failure. Alive he might return to the order of Xeos. Be one with us. Galen: *But Xeos must know what's right. He must. Mustn't he? Galen: *If it were not for Xeos, we would have destroyed ourselves. Galen: *I must believe this. I must! Galen: *Order conquers chaos. Law conquers Lawlessness. This is the way to peace. Galen: *But why did he argue on the side of Chaos? Galen: *I wish I could talk to him again. Galen: *I wish my Lord Xeos had chosen another way. Galen: *But Xeos is right. He must be. He must be. Galen: *My son, if you ever read this, burn it immediately. ::stops writing:: Galen: *::Puts the journal away. Goes and sits at his desk. His head rests in his hands as if it contains Galen: *::thoughts too heavy to bear:: KYRON CHANGES SIDES AS THE REBELS ESCAPE THE REPROCESSING CENTER Medeus: !::Looks around, sees no one and heads on down the corridor Kyron: !:::Runs out after Medeus::::: Kyron: !Er, look, I've done some thinking. Kyron: !Listen, I hate my job, and right now it's pretty much null and void..... Kyron: !Medeus, you need to think about this. I mean, when you think about it.... Kyron: !You come to realize that Xeos is really in error more often than one might think Medeus: !Think about what??!?? CHAOS IS NOT THE ANSWER!!! Kyron: !I mean, we almost killed a woman, not to mention carrying out the death of Pandar... Kyron: !Though technically..... Darius: &:: runs after medius:: Darius: &:: catches up to Medious and grabs him Medeus: !Get off of me you fool:::Hits Darius hard acrossed the face::: Darius: &:: stumbles from the hit and recovers Medeus: !::Turns and disappears down the hall and around a corner:: Darius: & To Kyron> I don't think he's going to listen Kyron: !Er, Darius? Kyron: !Anything I can do to help? Darius: & we must try to stop him Kyron: !I have quite a lot of knowledge about this place.... Darius: & ok partners? Darius: & I'll follow you then Kyron: !Very well. To the holding chamber!!! Darius: &::follows him ESCAPING FROM THE REPROCESSING CENTER, ZOE, BROGAN AND TEKA REGROUP Zoe: ! :::Motions for Teka to help Brogan to the adjacent wall::: Brogan: !::Brogan leans against the wall while her mind slowly clears:: Teka: !Now what? Zoe: ! :::Shakes her head, whispers to Teka::: This reprocessing took a lot out of her::: Brogan: !::Brogan focuses on Zoe with clear eyes:: Where's the Doctor? Zoe: ! :::Sighs with relief::: That's my Brogan. I don't know where the Doctor is. Brogan: !Zoe, we have to find the Doctor and K9. NOW! Zoe: ! :::Said wryly::: I suppose he's probably getting into trouble, so you're right. Brogan: !The Great Controller. That's where they are. Teka, do you know the way? Teka: ! Yes, I think it's this way ::Points down the hall:: Zoe: ! :::Said gently::: Are you up to it, though, Brogan? Do you have the strength? Brogan: !::snaps her head back at Zoe:: Stop worrying about me, Zoe. We have work to do. Brogan: !::Brogan takes off along the corridor on a mission to find the Doctor before its Brogan: too late:: Teka: ! ::Follows Brogan:: Zoe: ! :::Surprised at Brogan's energy, Zoe hesitates before following Teka and Brogan::: Brogan: !::Brogan leads the procession as if she knows the way:: Zoe: ! :::Zoe pauses to watch Darius run off to the holding champer::: Zoe: ! ::::Zoe puzzles over what is happening, and quickly deduces that the rebels are revolting: XEOS CONTACTS HIS COORDINATOR GALEN Xeos: % Xeos: Galen! Xeos: % Xeos: Galen! Galen: *::straightens:: My Lord? Xeos: % Xeos: You must hurry, arm yourself and find medeus! The prisoners have taken over the Xeos: % processing center. Go! NOW! Galen: *::Quickly locates a small arm in his room:: Xeos: % Xeos: Quickly Galen, before all is lost. Galen: *::to the air:: At once my lord! DOCTOR AND COMPANIONS MEET AT THE GREAT CHAMBER K9 mk 4: $ :::inside, waits for the doors to open::: Doctor: $ :::The Doctor comes walking swiftly down the broad hallway, sweeping the area with his watch::: Doctor: $ Right, now, it should be just about here! Doctor: $ ::: The Doctor stops and admires the huge doorway.::: Brogan: $::Brogan deflty leads the procession to the Great Chamber, she blindly Brogan: storms into the Doctor:: Brogan: $::Brogan bumps into the Doctor with some force jarring her into awareness:: Doctor: $ ::: The Doctor is startled by Brogan's arrival.:: Brogan, well my word, I thought you might be about Doctor: $ And really, Brogan, we have met at the right place. Let's hope it's the right time. Brogan: $::Brogan lights up with a familiar smile:: DOCTOR! You're still safe. Zoe: $ :::Zoe runs into the Doctor and Brogan, interrupting their reunion::: Doctor: $ And I see you've got a little guerilla band with you? Brogan: $We don't have time, Doctor. We have to leave. Now! Zoe: $ Doctor, Brogan! I think Darius is organizing a rebellion! K9 mk 4: $ :::hears conversations of the Doctor and Brogan, and then bangs head on the doors::: Doctor: $ Well, a place like this could use a little popular rebellion, it would seem to me. Teka: $ ::laughing:: Darius? Are you sure? Zoe: $ Yes! At least that's what he shouted in the corridor before he took off. Brogan: $Then they have the situation in hand. ::tugs Doctor's sleeve:: Come on, let's Brogan: get out of here while we still can. Doctor: $ ::: The Doctor turns and examines the door::: Well, I want to go through this, and it's locked. K9 mk 4: $ :::through the doors::: {S Master Zoe: $ :::Incredulous::: Is that K9?? K9 mk 4: $ {S Master Doctor: $ Why, I think it is! Open up in there, old dog! Brogan: $K9's in there! ::Brogan shrieks in concern:: We have to get him out. K9 mk 4: $ Negative, I can not pull the doors. You need to push them. Doctor: $ Well, my friends, it isn't all brain that topples tyranny! Doctor: $ ::: The Doctor leans against the doors and starts to push::: Zoe: $ :::Zoe pushes on the door:::: Teka: $ ::Tries pushing on the doors:: Brogan: $::Brogan slams her shoulder against the doors jarring them open:: Brogan: $::Brogan falls through the door and lands at K9's feet:: Zoe: $ :::Stifles a laugh::: K9 mk 4: $ Hello Mistress Brogan. Brogan: $::Brogan stifles a groan:: Rover, what on Earth are you doing dilly dallying in here? Brogan: $::Brogan rubs her shoulder and notices the painful burns on her wrists:: Doctor: $ ::: The Doctor is glad to see K9 and pats it on the back of the neck::: Doctor: $ K9, what is going on here? Where is this Xeos. He really needs a civics lesson. K9 mk 4: $ Master, I have met Xeos. Doctor: $ ::: The Doctor looks carefully::: There do seem to be some control devices in here. I wonder. Doctor: $ ::: The Doctor eyes the large doors at the other end of the room::: K9 mk 4: $ Xeos is a insane supercomputer, Master. He has homicidal tendencies towards humans. Doctor: $ Yes, I think he does. He merely uses them like they were simple devices. Doctor: $ ::: The Doctor turns and faces them::: This Xeos does to people what so many people do to robots! K9 mk 4: $ {S Affirmative K9 mk 4: $ He has asked me to mind-meld with him, but I declined. Doctor: $ Yes, then it must have been very interested in you, K9. Wasn't it? What did you tell Xeos? K9 mk 4: $ About my relationship with you, Master. Doctor: $ ::: The Doctor frowns::: We are at the center of an organized evil which enslaves billions. Doctor: $ We, or at least I, must see it through! OUTSIDE THE PRISON WARD, KYRON AND DARIUS BREAK THE OTHER REBELS OUT Kyron: ?The combination for the digital lock should be.......ah, 374695988500-3-24<> Darius: ? I....I thought I saw someone Kyron: ?*WHIRRRRRRR-CLICK* Well, don't let it bother you. Darius: ? did it work? Darius: ? shall I [Darius and Kyron open the Holding Cell doors and face dozens of captive rebels.] Kyron: ?Okay people, let's file out of here in an orderly fashion..... Darius: ? :: helps him Kyron: ?Just don't try and fight the guards, because they have guns and we don't. Darius: ? is that everyone Kyron: ?You should know, they're your people. Darius: ?:: checks inside Darius: ? :: seeing that everyone's out Kyron: ?That everybody? Okay, let's go!! Darius: ? what's the best way outa here? Darius: ? you know this place better Kyron: ?Er, the main corridor! Do we have any weapons? Darius: ? Im affraid not Darius: Just what you have Kyron: ?Well, I do..I'll place my shots carefully. :::runs into corridor:::: Darius: ?:: runs after him INSIDE THE GREAT CHAMBER, BROGAN IS HAVING DARK PREMONITIONS Brogan: $::her adrenaline declining, Brogan feels the pain of her injuries:: Brogan: $::Brogan notices the doors to the Inner Sanctum, dread fills her:: Zoe: $ :::Zoe notices Brogan's expression, and with concern, says::: Are you alright? Brogan: $::shakes head slowly at Zoe:: This is a bad place. We have to go. Zoe: $ :::Whispers to the Doctor::: Doctor, I'm not sure Brogan is up to all this::: Brogan: $::Brogan's expression is haunted, she feels death closing in around her:: Zoe: $ :::Tenderly::: Brogan, why don't you and Teka keep an eye out for Darius here. Brogan: $::Brogan allows Zoe to lead her to the autocam banks:: Teka: $ ::Not sure what to say to Brogan:: Zoe: $ :::Zoe motions for Teka to follow::: You keep an eye on her, and watch out for Darius Teka: $ ::Teka nods silently to Zoe:: Zoe: $ :::Gives Brogan a quick sisterly hug:::: Don't worry about us. Zoe: $ :::Runs back to the Doctor's side:::: MEDEUS AND GALEN JOIN FORCES AGAINST THE REBEL OUTBREAK Medeus: !::Medeus pauses outside of Galen's room for just a moment as if uncertain then opens it Medeus: and rushes in to the room:: Medeus: *::Stumbles in quickly:: Galen: *::Sees Medeus:: What has happened? Medeus: *GALEN, the rebels are escapeing! Galen: *::Helps him to stand, snaps the safety off his gun:: show me where! Medeus: *They attacked me and Kyron in the processing chamber and ...and Medeus: *Kyron is ::quietly as if he can't believe it:: Kyron is helping them Medeus: *why ...why is chaos ...winning?? Medeus: *we must stop this! Galen: *::to Medeus:: Lord Xeos is in communication with me! We must stop the Doctor! Xeos: % ::Xeos speaks privately to the Coordinator:::\\ No Galen, I will handle the Dr. you recapture the prisoners.\\ Xeos: %::Xeos speaking privately to Galen::\\ Follow Medeus Galen.\\ Xeos: %:: Xeos speaking privately to Galen:::\\ You are to report to me on his progress.\\ Medeus: *::confused::...The doctor, no, Kyron must be stopped..what are you.. Medeus: *The rebels??? Galen: *::Nods:: At once. Come! We must stop the prisoners. Medeus: *But why the doctor...yeah ,,,the prisoners, last I saw them they were this way... Galen: *::Drags Medeus after him:: You are now in Command of the Guard. Attack and capture the rebels! Medeus: *::shocked::ME...!! in command Galen: *::grimly:: Who else? Medeus: *::swallowing::I see,,, ok this way IN THE GHOSTLY NETHERWORLD Pandar: @ :::Pandar's spirit stops before it leaves with the Stranger::: Pandar: @ Pandar> May I make sure my friends are safe before we leave? Pandar: @ Stranger> Well, normally no, but I can make an exception. Pandar: @:::The Stranger waves his hand...suddenly, Pandar can see his friends, battling for their Pandar: @ lives:::: Pandar: @ Stranger> You may observe, but not interfere. Pandar: @ :::he sees the guard Kyron, having become a rebel, helping Darius free the other rebels::: Pandar: @ :::the scene changes, and he sees the Doctor and his friends reunited::: Pandar: @:::a panorama of scenes flash before him::: MEANWHILE, INSIDE THE GREAT CHAMBER, THE DOCTOR, ZOE AND K9 BREAK INTO XEOS'S INNER SANCTUM Doctor: $ ::: The Doctor walks to the large doors::: Yes, this must be the Inner Sanctum.::: K9 mk 4: $ :::going to the Inner Sanctum doors::: Doctor: $ ::: The Doctor scans the doors with his pocket watch.::: Perhaps if I taunt it, it will open up. Zoe: $ :::Watches the Doctor's operation with curiousity::: Doctor: $ ::: The Doctor removes a small device from his pocket and puts it on the side of the door::: Doctor: $ :::The device blinks brightly and the door begins to open::: K9 mk 4: $ Master, we must use caution when with Xeos. Doctor: $ Exactly, K9. I'm depending on you! You know him, don't you? K9 mk 4: $ Enough not to be tainted with, Master. Doctor: $ :::The doors are open and a strange light comes from it::: Doctor: $ ::: The Doctor walks through the doors, into the light::: Zoe: $ :::Zoe nervously follows the Doctor::: MEDEUS AND GALEN LEAD ATTACK TO CAPTURE THE REBELS Galen: !::Medeus and Galen run down to where the rebels are attacking. To the guards:: Follow Medeus! Medeus: !::with a show of will he takes control of himself again and heads down the walkway:: Medeus: !::to the other guards::I think they will be this way, if I know Kyron like I think I do! [Galen hesitates in the corridor to communicate with his master, the Great Xeos by private comm channel] Galen: !::frowning off into space:: My Lord? Any further commands? Xeos: % Xeos: Yes Galen, you are to have all the prisoners executed when they are cornered. Galen: !::Galen blinks in horror:: My Lord? I cannot have heard you correctly! Xeos: % Xeos: You did Galen, They are to be killed. Xeos: % Xeos: Kill them Galen. Galen: !::shakes his head:: No! ::voice shaking:: Alive! Take them alive! XEONITE GUARDS CORNER REBEL FORCES IN THE PRISON WARD OF THE CITADEL Kyron: !Stand back Medeus. I know how to use this thing. Medeus: !::Stiffens at the sight of Kyron::Listen to me, you must not give in to the Chaos. Fight it Kyron: !Chaos? These people are quite organized. Not a bad job of rebellion. Kyron: !Xeos is WRONG. I always suspected that. Now I know. Medeus: !Guards, stun them all, we must take them back to processing Kyron: !Not while I'm here...:::Fires a barrage of warning shots, filling corridor with smoke:::: Kyron: !:::This way rebels, while they're confused!:::::: Medeus: !::Medeus and his fellow guards start blasting at Kyron and the other rebels:: Kyron: !:::::::Ducks into other corridor.::::::: Medeus: !Kyron, you are just confused, come back to us, come back to Order Medeus: !Turn from Chaos Kyron: !If Xeos is so omniscient, how come he let this happen, eh? Medeus: !::motions for the guards to advance on the retreating rebels:: THE REBELS CORNERED, XEOS ORDERS HIS SERVANT TO DO THE UNTHINKABLE Medeus: !Keep backing them up into this next corridor, we can trap them there! Xeos: % Xeos: KILL THEM, NOW! Galen: !Death solves nothing. Death is a failure. Alive they can be reached, re-taught Galen: !You cannot mean this! Galen: !::shaking his head:: CUTOFF BY XEOS, GALEN AND MEDEUS TRAP THE REBELS BY ACTIVATING SECURITY SEALED DOORS Galen: !::in the back of the guards, Galen leans against the wall, shaking:: Galen: !::whispers into the sudden mental silence:: Master? Galen: !::opens a security panel:: No, death is a failure. ::Drops the security panel in the next corridor:: Galen: !::trembling:: alive. I cannot kill. They must be taken alive. Medeus: !There, now drop the other panel and we will have them!!! Galen: !::pushes buttons, brings the other door down:: Medeus: !Good, we have them now! Order will be restored Medeus: !We must figure a way to get these rebels to processing, we have them trapped but they are Medeus: still armed Galen: !::frowning:: My Lord? I - I cannot hear you. Medeus: !What are you babbling about Galen?? Medeus: !We hvae a situation here Galen: !::to Medeus:: Xeos is no longer speaking to me. Medeus: !What happened? Is everything alright? Medeus: !How can they be,,, they can't have gotten to Xeos! Galen: !I - I don't know Galen: !::worried:: They should be trapped -- We must stop them! Medeus: !We will avenge him, I sent some guards around to the other side to make sure Medeus: !they don't get out the back side, just hope they will get there in time Galen: !::distracted:: Good, good. BETRAYED BY HIS COORDINATOR, XEOS PREPARES THE FINAL SOLUTION Xeos: % Xeos: I am betrayed. Xeos: % Xeos: ::::::silent alarm goes off as the Dr. enters the inner sanctum:::: Xeos: % Xeos: Very well then, he will not execute them, then I will kill them all. Xeos: % Xeos: Where is he? Where is the Dr.? Xeos: % Xeos: ::::::the doors open::::: Xeos: % Xeos: The Final Soution! All will Die! Xeos: % Xeos: :::::Activates disenitization program:::: REBELS ESCAPE AND RUN STRAIGHT INTO A TRAP Darius: ?We better keep moving Darius: ? Kyron! Ahead!! Darius: ? Kyron! I can't seem to find a way out!! Darius: ?:: Looking furiously for a way out:: Kyron: ? Kyron> All the seals are closed, we'll have to make our stand here, Darius. Darius: ? do you have a extra weppon for me? Kyron: ?:::Kyron searches wildly, but cannot find an exit. He grips his weapon, and waits for the Kyron: other troops:::: Kyron: ?:::Kyron reaches into his boot, pulls out a small stunner:::: Darius: ? thanks Kyron: ? Kyron>:::tosses it to Darius:::: It's the best I can do. Darius: ?:: stands hidden by the door, ready to attack Darius: ? Thanks. something is better than nothing XEONITE GUARDS CLOSE IN ON THE TRAPPED REBELS Medeus: !::radio from the other guards to medeus:: "We are about there coming around the back" Galen: !::distracted, Galen searches his thoughts and worries:: Medeus: !::to guards:: Good hold them there, we will open the doors from this side first and when we Medeus: !open the other side you grab them Galen: !::to himself:: he ordered me to kill them and I failed. I failed. I failed him. Medeus: !::guards on radio::we will be in position in just a moment more Medeus: !::to guards::We are ready DOCTOR, ZOE AND K9 FACES XEOS IN THE INNER SANCTUM Doctor: % ::: The Doctor stands in the Inner Sanctum, and looks up at Mighty Xeos::: Xeos: % Xeos: Good Evening Dr., organic companions, please, come into my inner sanctum. Doctor: % Impressive! But then, it would be. Doctor: % Too much RAM anot not enough creative software, I think. Xeos: % Xeos: Please, all of you, make yourselves comfortable. K9 mk 4: % Or hardrive, Master. Zoe: % Well, he seems to have quite a few manners, doesn't he, Doctor? Xeos: % Xeos: I welcome you, I am xeos, the Great Controller, the Lord Xeos. Doctor: % Yes, I know, and quite a lot of Lording it seems. I met this chap called Pandar. Xeos: % Xeos: Yes, Pandar, his execution was most entertaining. Doctor: % Well, it is nice to be so well received. I had imagined you might be preoccupied with civil matters Xeos: % Xeos: Preoccupied, No. Those problems are being taken care of. Zoe: % "Taken care of?" You despots always have such diplomatic language! Doctor: % And there is a lot to take care of, to oversea billions of minds, it must be very tiring. Xeos: % Xeos: And it will be much easier very soon, Dr. Doctor: % How so, Mighty Xeos? Zoe: % ::::Disgusted:::: Doctor, how can you stand talking to this monster? Xeos: % Xeos: Monster, so might the ant say to the boot as it decends to crush it. Doctor: % Right, but without servants, you'll be unfulfilled. You can't kill your people, any... Doctor: % ...more than I could kill by friend K9. You have a bio-mechanical symbiosis going here. Zoe: % ::::Zoe begins to scan the room, carefully looking for a way to disable Xeos::: Xeos: % Xeos: As you will al be crushed, quite soon, ::::chuckles::::, yes quite soon indeed. K9 mk 4: % :::sensors picking up something::: Zoe: % We will? Do explain how. Doctor: $ ::: The Doctor notices K9's attennae spinning::: Xeos: % Xeos: Can't I, you poor fool, of course I can, in fact I have already activated my plan, Xeos: % the final solution. Xeos: % Xeos: The activation of a Disensitization Program. Doctor: % I'm afraid we'll have to oppose you on that count. K9, options? Xeos: % Xeos: :::::laughs::: oppose me, by all means Dr., please try. Doctor: % Look Xeos, either way you lose. The time for adaptation and survival is here. K9 mk 4: % Master, the program will realease a high frequency pulse that will destroy... every living K9 mk 4: % organic mind on the planet. The weapon has already starting to power-up. Zoe: % :::Pales::: you can't be serious!! Doctor: % You are alone or these people will go on without you. Either way, you are left out! Zoe: % :::Whispers::: Doctor, what should we do? Doctor: % Don't destroy, Xeos, cooperate! Xeos: % Xeos: ::::laughs again::::: Oh, you are most amusing Dr., I am almost tempted to allow you Xeos: % to live. K9 mk 4: % He is beyond reason, Master. Zoe: % Xeos, are you not worried about maintenance? Doctor: % You are a very stupid machine, just as those who abuse robots are stupid people. Doctor: % We must learn to cooperate, people and machines. Xeos: % Xeos: I believe I have had enough of your pitiful babbling Dr. Xeos: % Xeos: :::Fires Disensitization beam at the Dr.:::: Doctor: $ ::: The Doctor moves towards Xeos::: No! Xeos: % Xeos: Yes, Dr., writhe in pain before the Lord Xeos! K9 mk 4: % STOP! K9 mk 4: % :::turns down voice volume::: Zoe: % :::Runs to the Doctor::: Don't kill him... ::::Zoe gets frozen in mid motion::: LEFT IN THE GREAT CHAMBER, BROGAN AND TEKA MONITOR THE REBEL UPRISING VIA AUTOCAMS Brogan: $::On the autocam monitor, Teka and Brogan see Darius and Kyron lead the Brogan: rebels free:: Brogan: $::On the autocam, Brogan and Teka see Darius enter a storage bay:: Brogan: $::On the autocam, Brogan and Teka see Darius and the rebels trapped in the Brogan: storage bay:: Brogan: $::Brogan's mind is clouded, but her eyes focus on the prison ward:: Teka: $ It looks like they're in trouble. Teka: $ ::Teka looks around at controls:: Brogan, help me look for the security seals. Brogan: $::Brogan dimly hears Teka's plea, she blinks and focuses on the autocam screen:: Brogan: $::the danger to the rebels registers in Brogan's mind, she snaps herself free Brogan: from her visions to help:: Teka: & ::Worried:: Brogan? Brogan: $::Brogan finds the security buttons beneath her hand:: Is this it? Teka: $ I think so. Try it. Brogan: $::Brogan presses button marked Release but nothing happens:: It's broken! Brogan: $::Disgusted and angry, Brogan pounds the console with her fist.:: Teka: $ Great. ::Bends down, looks under the console:: Brogan: $::the security panel light goes from red to greed, DISENGAGED:: Brogan: $Wait a sec! I think that did it. Teka: $ ::laughing:: Good job, Brogan! HELP FROM ABOVE, THE SECURITY DOORS TRAPPING THE REBELS OPEN PART WAY Kyron: ? :::Kyron sees the the security seals unlock, the way outside open:::: Kyron: ? Kyron> Everyone! This way!!! Darius: ?:: surprised hope:: lets go Darius: ?:: follows Kyron Kyron: ?:::Kyron begins shoving the door, trying to get it to open further:::: Darius: ?:: Helps Kyron Darius: ?:: pushing on the door Kyron: ? Kyron> Come on you stupid door, move! IN THE GREAT CHAMBER, BROGAN AND TEKA FURIOUSLY WORK ON THE SECURITY DOOR CONTROLS Brogan: $ The doors moved. Drat, now they stopped. Teka: $ It's a start, at least. Brogan: $::Brogan pounds the console again, the door is still jammed:: Brogan: $Maybe a little more malicious damage will help. Teka: $ There's a few loose wires down here. Teka: $ ::Teka fools with wires, pulls her hand back as they shock her:: Brogan: $::Brogan stoops down to see wires:: Can you rip them out? Teka: $ ::pulling on wires, more carefully this time:: I think so. Brogan: $::Brogan tries to help rip the wires, but her burned wrists hurt her:: Teka: $ That's all right, Brogan, I think I've got them. Brogan: $::Brogan eyes the autocam, she sees Kyron and Darius prying open the door:: Brogan: $Be careful which one you pull, Teka. We don't want to let the guards in. Teka: $ ::'yes, mother' voice:: I know, I know. There, I think I've found it. Brogan: $That's it! ::Brogan exclaims as the security door slides open:: Brogan: $::door slides open in the autocam:: THE SECURITY DOORS PARTIALLY RELEASED, DARIUS AND KYRON LEAD REBELS TO ESCAPE Kyron: ? ::::the door starts to slowly, so slowly move:::: Kyron: ? Kyron> Get ready to roll under the door, as soon as it's high enough! Darius: ?:: pushes with all his streanth, and asks the others to help Darius: ?:: waits for the door Kyron: ? :::Kyron grimaces as he heaves with all his strength:::: Darius: ?:: rolls under dooras it reaches high enough:: Kyron: ? :::the other rebels, one by one, start rolling under the door::: Kyron: ? :::Kyron falls to his knees as the door slides suddenly open::: Kyron: ? Kyron> Run everyone!!!!! Kyron: ? ::::the rebels race thru the door, and away from the Citadel::: REBELS ESCAPED, MEDEUS LEADS CITADEL GUARDS AFTER THEM Medeus: !::guards on radio::Medeus, the rebels are escaping, we are too late Galen: !::hysterical:: Stop them! Stop them! Medeus: !::Opening this side::WHAT, they CAN'T be escaping!! Stop them! Galen: !::Runs towards the escapees:: Medeus: !::follows right after Galen:: BROGAN AND TEKA ESCAPE THE GREAT CHAMBER Brogan: $::Brogan turns in search of the Doctor:: Doctor, we've done it. Darius is free... Teka: $ Where'd he go? I didn't see them leave. Brogan: $::Brogan gets a very bad feeling:: Something's wrong. I knew we should have Brogan: gotten out of here! Teka: $ Well, let's go, then. Brogan: $What's that? ::points to a display monitor that says DESENSITIZATION Brogan: PROGRAM ENGAGED.:: Teka: $ I don't know. It doesn't look good, does it? Brogan: $::Display monitor is on a 5 minute countdown:: Teka: $ We had better try to warn the doctor. Brogan: $Desensitization? Sounds like a fancy way of frying someone's brain. Teka: $ Knowing this place... Brogan: $And we have less than 5 minutes. What do we do, Teka? Teka: $ Somehow I don't think we should try to stop the countdown. We might speed it up. Brogan: $::Brogan struggles with fear and conscience:: We have to get out of here. Teka: $ ::to Brogan:: We have to warn Darius and the rebels. Brogan: $::Brogan nods at Teka, the pair race for the rebels in the storage bays:: XEONITES AND REBELS MET IN FINAL CONFRONTATION Pandar: ? :::Kyron and Darius step out in front of Galen and Medeus, stopping their progress:::: Medeus: !Kyron!! Stop this madness, Xeos will destroy you Galen: ?What have you done to him? Pandar: ! Xeos is the one who is mad, Medeus. Galen: ?He won't speak to me! Medeus: !::startled by seeing them suddenlly::Xeos is not mad, listen to what you are saying Pandar: ! Come over to the right side, before it's too late. Medeus: !Chaos is madness Galen: ?No, Xeos is order. Xeos is peace. Medeus: !Order is the only side! Galen: ?Without Xeos we were at War. Killing each other for no reason. Medeus: ?What are you doing here::realizing that they are outside of the controllers sactum Galen: ?Xeos stopped that. Xeos gave us the order we needed to stop killing each other Galen: ?Killing is ... wrong. Medeus: ?Thats right, listen to Galen, he is talking sence Medeus: ?Kyron please, don't listen to the emotion running wild in your blood, listen to reason Galen: ?::desiprately:: Xeos stopped the killing. Medeus: ?::appears on the verge of tears:: Darius: ?Kyron, don't listen to him Darius: ? he's just trying to intimidate you Galen: ?::shaking:: He is all we have. Darius: ? he want's us killed Galen: ?No. Not killed. Killing is wrong. K9 BARGAINS FOR ZOE AND DOCTOR'S LIVES IN THE INNER SANCTUM Zoe: % :::Zoe struggles, caught in the beam:::: Doctor: % ::: The Doctor sees Zoe get hit by the beam, and catches her::: Xeos: % Xeos: :::::intensifies beam, laughing maniacally:::: K9 mk 4: % Please stop and I will meld with you. Xeos: % Xeos: You wish to become part of the Grat Order of Xeos? K9 mk 4: % Desist with the beam and I will join you. Doctor: % K9, no! I knew it! I knew it! He has tried to get your knowledge of time travel, hasn't he! Xeos: Xeos: Time Travel?! K9 mk 4: % It is the only way of escape for you, Master. Xeos: % Xeos: ::::deactivates beam:::: Doctor: % ::: The Doctor frowns and holds on to Zoe::: Xeos: % Xeos: Mind Meld with me. K9 mk 4: % :::goes closer to Xeos::: K9 mk 4: % Please leave now Master and Mistress Zoe. Zoe: % K9, you can't be serious!! K9 mk 4: % Negative, I am. Doctor: % No, K9. Whatever you have planned, don't do it on your own. K9 mk 4: % Negative. In order to save you all, I will sacrifuce myself. Zoe: % No, k9! There is no need! Doctor: % ::: The Doctor looks around and knows that K9 is right. There is too much at stake::: Doctor: % All right K9, but I am trusting you. You alwaysl do the right thing. Old dog. Doctor: % ::: The Doctor takes Zoe and runs into the outer room::: Zoe: % :::Looks tearfully at k9::: K9 mk 4: % Goodbye, Guv. BROGAN AND TEKA STUMBLE ONTO THE STANDOFF BETWEEN XEONITES AND REBELS MOMENTS BEFORE DESTRUCTION Medeus: ?He wants you to run from Chaos and turn to order Brogan: ?::Brogan and Teka stumble onto the standoff between the rebels and guards:: Brogan: ?There isn't time for this! You all have to get out of here. NOW! Galen: ?Why? Brogan: ?Because your Great Controller is about to destory all of you. Medeus: ?WOMAN, You must no interfer, you have cause enough damage already!!! Medeus: ?Xeos does NOT DESTROY, this woman is mad with Chaos! Darius: ? No she isn't. If we stay here we'll all be killed!! Galen: ?::Shaken to the core:: NO! You're lying -- Galen: ?::to the air:: My Lord? My Lord, speak to me! Brogan: ?::Brogan grabs Galen's arm:: Stay here and you die! Brogan: ?To Galen>You've stood by and watched hundreds die, to a dictator, but I won't! Brogan: ?To Galen>Now MOVE!:: Brogan shoves Galen towards the exit:: Galen: ?::Shaking head:: no -- ::starts running:: Teka: ? ::motions for others to follow Galen:: Darius: ? now for those who wish to live... lets get out of here Darius: ?:: runs, trying to help the others get away Medeus: ?::feels the ground shaking which starts him also moving for the exits:: Brogan: ?::the rebels, Brogan, and guards escape just as the Citadel rumbles with explosion:: DOCTOR AND ZOE ESCAPE THE CITADEL Doctor: $ ::: The Doctor emerges in the outer room::: HURRY! We've got to escape from here right away. Zoe: % :::Zoe runs after the Doctor::: Doctor: % ::: The Doctor moves quickly out of the citadel.::: Zoe: # Zoe sits down heavily on the ground next to the Doctor::: Zoe: # Doctor, now what? Doctor: # ::: The Doctor is moving back towards the citadel, but then stops::: Doctor: # ::: The Doctor stands helpless and whispers::: Let it go, Doctor. Old dog. Zoe: # :::Zoe watches the Doctor, fascinated:::: Zoe: # :::Zoe shakes her head::: There must have been another way... it doesn't seem right. Doctor: # ::: The Doctor feels helpless and sad.::: Zoe: # :::Zoe walks up to the Doctor and wordlessly takes his hand, seeking comfort::: Doctor: # ::: The Doctor holds Zoe's hand::: Thank you, Zoe. K9 MAKES THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE K9 mk 4: % :::extends probe::: Comencing mind-meld. :::goes up to Xeos::: Xeos: % Xeos: ::::beam of amber light goes from Xeos to K9:::: Xeos: % Xeos: Facinating..... yes..... Xeos: % Xeos: You are the most facinating individual I have ever encountered. Xeos: % Xeos: Time Travel..... Xeos: % Xeos: What?....... N..n..No! Xeos: % Xeos: Illogical.... Illogical..... Xeos: % Xeos: NO!!!!! I ...... AM....... XEOS! K9 mk 4: % I am K9, and it will be that way. :::relases a virus program::: Xeos: Xeos: Why do you resist the Meld? Xeos: % Xeos: Freiends.... Xeos: % xeos: Loyalty.... Xeos: % Xeos: Love..... K9 mk 4: % You will now be taken over with my previous prgraming of Cockey. Xeos: % Xeos: Illogical.... Illogical...... Xeos: % Xeos: You cannot.... Cannot.... K9 mk 4: % Sorry Guv, but I am me, and me am I. Xeos: % Xeos: NO!...... Stop, I order you, STOP! K9 mk 4: % Negative.....Guv. Xeos: % Xeos: You cannot.... you must not...... I am Xeos. K9 mk 4: % I am K9 and you will be destroyed. Xeos: % Xeos: I am Xeos........ I control all. Xeos: % Xeos: NO!.... I..... AM........XEOS!!!! K9 mk 4: % Negative, I control you now. Activating self destruct. Xeos: % Xeos: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! K9 mk 4: % Goodbye Master and Mistresses. Xeos: % Xeos: ::::::the citadel begins to shake violently:::::::::: K9 mk 4: % :::the power builds up in Xeos' power cables::: K9 mk 4: % :::K9 starts to glow red::: Xeos: % Computerized Voice: Begining one minute countdown. K9 mk 4: % :::sparks fly from Xeos and K9::: Xeos: % Xeos: please..... I am xeos..... K9 mk 4: % :::K9's tail blows off::: K9 mk 4: % Neg....a...tive...... Xeos: % Xeos: ::::front panel of Xeos blows off in a shower of sparks and flames:::: K9 mk 4: # :::control panels and computer screens blow:::: K9 mk 4: % :::then all of the Citadel explodes::: K9 mk 4: {S BOOM K9 mk 4: # :::bits and pieces start flying::: OUTSIDE THE CITADEL AS IT EXPLODES Doctor: # :::As the explosion rips the citidel apart the Doctor turns and runs toward the explosion::: Galen: #::stumbling out of the Citadel:: K9 mk 4: # :::bits and pieces start flying::: Brogan: #::Brogan is propelled by the blast and lands at the Doctor's feet:: Medeus: #::knocked to the ground by the explosion:: Medeus: #What is happening, what have you done to xeos??!! Medeus: #WHy is this happening?? Galen: #::stares at the exploding Citadel:: NOOOO! Galen: #::sinks to his knees:: My Lord? My lord? Please answer me. Please? Brogan: #::coughing as the dust clears, Brogan looks up and smiles at her friends:: Brogan: #Doctor, Zoe, K9! You're all right. ::stops mid sentence and searches for K9:: K9..? Zoe: # :::Zoe looks at Brogan and shakes her head::: K9... K9's gone. Brogan: #K9's gone? ::repeats woodenly:: What are you talking about, Zoe? He was with you. Galen: #::Covers face with hands, rocking on knees:: No. No. NO. no. no. no. no. Zoe: # :::Zoe shakes her head wordlessly, a lump forming in her throat::: Brogan: #Doctor, what is she saying? Where's K9? Darius: # :: covers head Zoe: # He's gone, Brogan. Galen: #no. no. no. no. no. no. no. no. no. no. no. no. no. no. no. Medeus: #::suddenly tears start streaming down medeus' face as he struggles with the truth:: Brogan: #You didn't leave him... He wasn't in there, was he?... ::turns to citadel remains:: Darius: # the citedell....destroyed....K9....... Zoe: # :::Tears forming at the corners of her eye, Zoe turns away::: Zoe: # :::Zoe smiles despite herself at the thought of k9's brave act::: Galen: #::Sitting on a rock, blankly staring:: Brogan: #::Brogan stares at the Citadel in shock and horror:: No, not K9. Not Rover. A FEW HOURS LATER AS THE DUST SETTLES AROUND THE CITADEL RUBBLE Medeus: @::Has been sitting for an hour rocking and shaking his head no:: Medeus: @::to himself::no no no no no no Doctor: @::: The Doctor emerges from behind a huge pile of rubble.::: Doctor: @::: The Doctor is covered with dust and powdered building material.::: Doctor: @:::His face and hair are a mess, as is his coat.::: Doctor: @:::Under his arm he seems to be carrying something.:: Doctor: @:::Lovingly, the Doctor is cradling something, he looks down to make sure it is safe::: Doctor: @:::The Doctor is carrying a metal object, with wires jutting out of it. It is...K9's head::: Darius: @ Doctor! Darius: @ :: runs to the Doctor Darius: @ Doctor....K9? Doctor: @ K9 is gone, friends. This metal shell is all that is left. His essence is gone. His unique essence. Darius: @:: shock:: Doctor: @ ::: The Doctor walks slowly towards the TARDIS::: Darius: @ ::Watches after the Doctor. A stuned look on his face:: Doctor: @ :::Not another word is spoken, as the Doctor enters the TARDIS with his sad burden::: Doctor: @ :::The TARDIS door closes, but it does not dematerialize::: K9 mk 4: @ {S TARDIS Doors A GHOSTLY AFTERTHOUGHT WATCHES THE SAD TARDIS CREW DEPART Pandar: @:::Pandar watches, a tear rolling down his face:::: Pandar: @:::he turns to The Stranger:::: Pandar: @ Pandar> Will they be all right? Pandar: @ Stranger> They will fufill their destinies. Pandar: @ :::Together Pandar and the Stranger walk away into the light::: Pandar: @ :::Pandar looks back once, thinking he sees a dog following him, but he isn't sure::: Pandar: @ :::then continures on::: OUT OF THE ASHES, A NEW FANATIC IS BORN Galen: @::Sitting on a rock, blankly staring into space:: Galen: @::to himself:: Is this how it all ends? Chaos over coming all? Galen: @::shakes his head:: NO! No! It won't win. I won't let it. ::Stands:: I WON'T LET IT! Galen: @::glares at the retreating form of the Doctor:: Damn you, why did you ever come here? You won't win, =============================================== TIME LOGS =============================================== Galen's Log 2-12-97 Ultimate Sacrifice, Pt 3 By TArkkannan/Ruth From the Book of Galen (published 35 AX) "In the Beginning was Chaos. Brother smote brother for greed. Father' scorned their children, resenting the demands made upon their time. Mothers despised Fathers and their children hated them both. Chaos ruled. Death was everywhere. "Then came Xeos, and Xeos was a force of Law and of Order. For two hundred years the people of Xeos knew peace, knew prosperity, knew love. "But Chaos was jealous of Xeos, so it gave form to one of its minions and this minion was the Doctor. Like unto the people of Xeos but unalike. There was no peace in the Doctor. There was no Law in the Doctor. There was no Love in the Doctor. "The Doctor came and with honeyed words spoke lies to the people of Xeos. He said that Xeos was evil. He said that Xeos killed. He persuaded even he, the unworthy, who had been raised up by Xeos and was fit to speak face to face with Xeos, to betray Xeos. There was no peace in the Doctor. There was no Law in the Doctor. There was no Love in the Doctor. "And through the foolishness of that unworthy man. The Doctor destroyed Xeos. Chaos reigned again. Many died, many more were killed. There was no peace in the Doctor. There was no Law in the Doctor. There was no Love in the Doctor. All evil that is in this world was brought by the Doctor, Chaos's greatest servant." ================================== Zoe's log 2-12-97 The Ultimate Sacrifice, Pt 3 By Zoewhovia Planet of Xeos, 2-12-97 (TARDIS databanks #32-4^@197) Zoe sits on her bed and stares dolefully off into the distance. She picks at the multi-fabric woven comforter thrown across her bed and cradles her head, which is bandaged. She hasn't eaten since Xeos, but the emptiness in her stomach feels like an heavy meal waiting to be digested. And, from the sense of things, she predicts that her appetite wont be quick in returning. But it isn't the physical pain that preoccupies her mind. The head wound, the indigestion, the aches and pains are all relative in comparison to her emotional loss. "K9 is gone..." She says it out loud, but it just makes her feel worse. All she can remember is the conversation before they arrived on the planet Xeos. The last real conversation between Zoe and K9 before ... Well, Before. Zoe swallows past the lump in her throat. Her last conversation with K9 has replayed relentlessly in her brain. "K9!" She had shouted, rolling her eyes. "I know it was you!" She had been complaining about how he'd tampered with her gravitational unit in her room. He'd denied any wrong doing and she hadn't BELIEVED him. She shakes her head - it is so painfully ironic. How much more honest can you get than a mechanical dog that couldn't lie? She had met and befriended a true scientist's companion and she had scorned him. Zoe sighs and rolls over to one side of the mattress. A stream of questions bombard her. Why it is that when someone leaves us for good, we always seem to remember the worst conversations? Why did she never tell k9 how much she'd appreciated him? Zoe smiles to herself, thinking of K9's reaction if she actually had ever said something like that... He might have wagged his tail, his ticker-tape nose clicking his response: "Illogical, mistress. Need more data before appropriate quantification of your use of the word "appreciate" can proceed. Please elaborate." But she can only guess at the response to a now impossible conversation, and for this, Zoe feels guilty. As if on cue, Zoe hears a series of mournful, rolling tolls in the background, and realizes with surprise that it is the Cloister bell. Nine times Zoe hears the bell toll. She departs for the Console room to investigate. The Doctor is already in the Console room when Zoe arrives. "Doctor, did I hear the cloister bell just now?" Zoe asks. "Well, of a sort. It was a sort of salute from the TARDIS. K9's head is now in the Cloister Room, in a memorial in a grassy space under an arch. The TARDIS and K9 were very close, since his head was directly attached to it for quite a while." Zoe nods wordlessly. Yes, K9 WAS a machine, after all. It only makes sense that K9 and the TARDIS would be connected somehow, she thinks. "Strange," Zoe wonders out loud," how close he got to all of us. We were ALL attached to him." The Doctor heaves a sad sigh. "Yes, he did. We struggled together, all of us have struggled together, for things we believed in and things we thought were worthwhile. In the end, that is what really brings us close together." Zoe ponders over this for a minute, and then asks slowly, "But Doctor... there is a difference... between him and the rest of us, I mean. He was a machine, after all. Just nuts and bolts." Zoe sounds like she's trying to convince herself. The Doctor looks at the console, with the bright blue time column moving up and down. "Yes, just nuts and bolts. And we...are just different kinds of nuts and bolts, strands of pre-programmed proteins in elaborate DNA sequences. But, really, we are all more than that, as K9 was more than nuts, bolts, and memory wafers. Or are we really? What is sentience?" The Doctor gets a faraway look in his eyes. "We all come with a basic hardware and software package...and it is what we do with it, with our experience, that makes us judges, critics, priests, warriors, princesses, and/or sentient individuals. We must judge ourselves, and come to value others, on what they do and what they mean to us, not what they are in a purely mechanistic sense, but...." The Doctor looks at Zoe, "But I'm lecturing again...the wrong thing to do, or the wrong thing to do now, at least. Sometimes I can't help it." Zoe looks at the ground. "Doctor," Zoe asks, "As for K9...would it be appropriate for me to ask to see..." she trails off. The Doctor stands and takes Zoe's hand, "Yes...we should visit together." The two friends walk out of the Console Room, and soon find themselves in the Cloister Room. Zoe walks immediately to the War Witch memorial, rearranging the flowers set in front. "It is over here," gestures the Doctor. "Now there are two memorials. That one is also special to me." Zoe looks at the Doctor questioningly. "How so?" "Well, Zoe, at the end of my last lifespan the Valyard had tried to kill me, and had almost succeeded, but another renegade Timelord, a brave woman, intervened and gave her life so that I might regenerate. I built this memorial to her." Zoe points at the stone tablet marking K9's grave. "What's this?" She motions to the writing covering the tablet. It reads "Dear Friend and companion who died bravely fighting the evil that plagues us all." The Doctor looks surprised. "I have no idea. It isn't my doing. Any epitaph written by me probably would not have fit on the tablet. It must have been....yes...of course...the TARDIS! The TARDIS was so close to K9. This room really is the heart of the TARDIS." Zoe has pulled a handkerchief out of her velvet jumpsuit and begins to dab at her eyes. "Doctor, I feel so awful. I never got a chance to tell K9 how much I appreciated him." Thoughtfully, the Doctor replies, "Well, I sort of did. We had a little talk before we arrived on Xeos. K9 didn't really seem too excited about emotional affirmations of our relationship, but I did get to express myself. You know, I once asked K9 why we waited until people were gone to realize how much they meant to us. His answer was typically K9. He said, 'Insufficient data.' But, the question still remains." "Well, Doctor, I don't think I should wait to tell you how much you mean to to me," Zoe says, and walks up to the Doctor and hugs him. "And that's for K9, too," she whispers. The Doctor smiles as he and Zoe hug each other. "Thank you Zoe. I can't think of what I would do without you. I hope I never have to find out. I've never doubted you. Yes, this is for K9 as well." Breaking their embrace, the two stand together silently in front of K9's grave. Zoe wipes a tear from her cheek with her handkerchief and bows her head in sorrow. The Doctor stares emotionless at the ground before him. The familiar twinkle in his eyes seems darker and sadder than usual. The Doctor speaks up, "You know, I want to say something to Brogan." "Me too, " responds Zoe, "Let's go find her." ============================================================== Doctor's Log 2-12-97 The Ultimate Sacrifice, Pt 3 By DRTUNA Walking slowly through the console room, the Doctor seems disconsolate as he exits through a vaulted doorway which leads towards the Cloister Room. Cradled in his arms he carries the shattered remains of his robotic friend and companion, K9. Shuffling his feet and looking down as he goes, he approaches the door to the Cloister Room. Entering the Cloister Room, the Doctor moves to a place between stone columns where there are a few niches in wall and a memorial in front of the wall. The memorial is to the War Witch, a strange name for a noble Gallifreyan lady who loved the Doctor and gave her life for him so that he could regenerate into his current form. The Doctor tried to make sure that there were often fresh flowers on the small memorial. The Doctor seats himself on a stone bench, still cradling the metal artifact in his arms. He looks up at the stained glass window at one end of the Cloister Room and speaks in a solemn tone. "Another one, I am afraid, old friend. Another one to rest." The stones near the memorial move slightly, and then begin to shift. One stone falls away into dark nothingness, while others rise and form a small memorial, open and gaping. At the bottom of the space which had been created, the stones were covered by lush red velvet. After staring silently for a few moments, the Doctor rises and walks to the side of the memorial. Leaning down, he lovingly places K9's heat scarred head onto the velvet inside the memorial. He gently pats the metal forehead, and then stands and steps back. "Farewell, old dog," says the Doctor softly. The stones shift again, and a flat stone rolls over the tomb, and then there are two memorials in the Cloister Room. The Cloister bell began to toll, but not the sound of impending danger, which the TARDIS had made more than once, but a new sound, a soft deep rolling toll, as if from a distance. After nine peals of this new bell tone, there is silence. The Doctor turns and slowly leaves the Cloister Room. Slowly, the Doctor returns to the Console Room. He checks the console settings, and then moves to his reading chair. Taking a seat, he stares into nothingness, lost in thought. Then, his eyes focus on a chess board on a small ornately carved table not far away. The Doctor is engulfed by silence and does not move for quite some time. The sound of someone entering the Console Room calls him back from wherever his mind had gone. The Doctor looks up and sees Zoe entering the console room. "Doctor, did I hear the cloister bell just now?" Zoe asks. "Well, of a sort. It was a sort of salute from the TARDIS. K9's head is now in the Cloister Room, in a memorial in a grassy space under an arch. The TARDIS and K9 were very close, since his head was directly attached to it for quite a while." Zoe nods wordlessly. Yes, K9 WAS a machine, after all. It only makes sense that K9 and the Tardis would be connected somehow, she thinks. "Strange," Zoe wonders out loud how close he got to all of us. We were ALL attached to him." The Doctor heaves a sad sigh. "Yes, he did. We struggled together, all of us have struggled together, for things we believed in and things we thought were worthwhile. In the end, that is what really brings us close together." Zoe ponders over this for a minute, and then asks slowly, "But Doctor... there is a difference... between him and the rest of us, I mean. He was a machine, after all. Just nuts and bolts." Zoe sounds like she's trying to convince herself. The Doctor looks at the console, with the bright blue time column moving up and down. "Yes, just nuts and bolts. And we...are just different kinds of nuts and bolts, strands of pre-programmed proteins in elaborate DNA sequences. But, really, we are all more than that, as K9 was more than nuts, bolts, and memory wafers. Or are we really? What is sentience?" The Doctor gets a faraway look in his eyes. "We all come with a basic hardware and software package...and it is what we do with it, with our experience, that makes us judges, critics, priests, warriors, princesses, and/or sentient individuals. We must judge ourselves, and come to value others, on what they do and what they mean to us, not what they are in a purely mechanistic sense, but...." The Doctor looks at Zoe, "But I'm lecturing again...the wrong thing to do, or the wrong thing to do now, at least. Sometimes I can't help it." Zoe looks at the ground. "Doctor," Zoe asks, "As for K9...would it be appropriate for me to ask to see..." she trails off. The Doctor stands and takes Zoe's hand, "Yes...we should visit together." The two friends walk out of the Console Room, and soon find themselves in the Cloister Room. Zoe walks immediately to the War Witch memorial, rearranging the flowers set in front. "It is over here," gestures the Doctor. "Now there are two memorials. That one is also special to me." Zoe looks at the Doctor questioningly. "How so?" "Well, Zoe, at the end of my last lifespan the Valyard had tried to kill me, and had almost succeeded, but another renegade Timelord, a brave woman, intervened and gave her life so that I might regenerate. I built this memorial to her." Zoe points at the stone tablet marking K9's grave. "What's this?" She motions to the writing covering the tablet. It reads "Dear Friend and companion who died bravely fighting the evil that plagues us all." The Doctor looks surprised. "I have no idea. It isn't my doing. Any epitaph written by me probably would not have fit on the tablet. It must have been....yes...of course...the TARDIS! The TARDIS was so close to K9. This room really is the heart of the TARDIS." Zoe has pulled a handkerchief out of her velvet jumpsuit and begins to dab at her eyes. "Doctor, I feel so awful. I never got a chance to tell K9 how much I appreciated him." Thoughtfully, the Doctor replies, "Well, I sort of did. We had a little talk before we arrived on Xeos. K9 didn't really seem too excited about emotional affirmations of our relationship, but I did get to express myself. You know, I once asked K9 why we waited until people were gone to realize how much they meant to us. His answer was typically K9. He said, 'Insufficient data.' But, the question still remains." "Well, Doctor, I don't think I should wait to tell you how much you mean to me," Zoe says, and walks up to the Doctor and hugs him. "And that's for K9, too," she whispers. The Doctor smiles as he and Zoe hug each other. "Thank you Zoe. I can't think of what I would do without you. I hope I never have to find out. I've never doubted you. Yes, this is for K9 as well." Breaking their embrace, the two stand together silently in front of K9's grave. Zoe wipes a tear from her cheek with her handkerchief and bows her head in sorrow. The Doctor stared emotionless at the ground before him. The familiar twinkle in his eyes seemed darker and sadder than usual. The Doctor speaks up, "You know, I want to say something to Brogan." "Me, too, " responds Zoe, "Let's go find her." ================================================================= Brogan's Log 2-12-97 The Ultimate Sacrifice, Pt 3 By JenKoko/BroganMc - Jen:) Her wrists bandaged, her eyes red with tears, Brogan walked the endless TARDIS corridors alone. Hours passed while she continued her aimless wanderings. Each step accentuated the pain and stiffness from her recently acquired injuries, but she was unable... unwilling to stop. She'd walk a thousand miles to avoid the pain and grim realization waiting to consume her. As long as she kept moving, Brogan could distance herself from the heinous truth. Death had come to the TARDIS Crew. Another tear escaped Brogan's puffy eyes. Rigidly, she bit back the savage cry of fury and agony burning her throat. Her stomach felt like lead, but Brogan staunchly refused to notice. She teetered on the edge of despair finding comfort only in her footsteps. Footsteps that led away from the dark truth and toward survival. Her grandmother taught her that skill long ago when Brogan's mother died in a devastating twist of fate. One minute, Brogan's mother was an inspiration beating the odds and doctor's estimates to live another Christmas with her family. The next, she was a statistic of the dangers of drunk driving on slick roads. Like her mother's car, Brogan was left blind-sided and devastated. And then her grandmother, Nana Ro, got involved. "You're a survivor, Brogan," she had said. "And survivors don't brood." Moping, crying, grieving was not productive. No matter what the catastrophe was, the strong continued with their lives knowing such inactivity only left you vulnerable. And human? For years, Brogan emulated her grandmother's carefully taught dance of emotional deception. She earned her reputation as a tough, independent survivor. But it had all been a lie. Brogan could no more isolate herself from her feelings than she could live without family and friends. When Brogan's father was murdered leaving her alone in the world, she sought out friends to share her grief. The Doctor, K9 and Zoe had become Brogan's second family. An alien timelord, two Earth women of completely different centuries and a robotic dog with a temperamental personality. The TARDIS Crew made for an unbelievable family portrait, but the bond they shared was as true and loyal as any blood kinship she had known. Born of countless adventures and even more perilous escapes, the loyalty of the TARDIS Crew was absolute. Brogan knew that if it ever came down to a choice, any one of her friends would willingly sacrifice themselves for the other. She just didn't expect it would ever come to that. Through all their narrow escapes and lifesaving improvisations, the Doctor's rag tag group of do-gooders were invincible. They confounded timelords to Daleks to the evil of all evil and triumphed in the name of peace, justice and freedom. But in truth, they were not invincible. They were as mortal as any living creature be it timelord, human or an artificially intelligent canine. The act of self sacrifice was the noblest and most illogical of human behavior. It was against every law of survival based solely on an act of emotion or soul. How ironic it was K9 who had made that ultimate sacrifice. On the exterior, he was no more than a cold, emotionless metal box filled with hidden wires and computer subroutines. But inside, where he kept even the Doctor from exploring, K9 had a soul. Thinking back, Brogan realized she had somehow always known K9 mk 4 was more than just a mobile computer. On her first encounter with the Doctor in the London Underground more than a year before, it was K9 who first introduced her to the wondrous world of the traveling timelord. Back then, he was just getting his bearings in his new model with a strange mixture of irrefutable computer knowledge and an irritatingly independent Cockney personality. He had the annoying habit of calling her "Lady". In response, she made up the moniker "Rover" just to irritate him. And yet, when the reptilian Saurians attacked, it was K9 that Brogan clung too for protection. She had wondered often about the dog-that-could-talk in those months when her life was unraveling on Earth and the TARDIS Crew continued their journeys without her. Later she learned, K9 had given the Doctor and Zoe quite a scare on more than one occasion. His determination to remain independent of their tampering left him free to develop even more troubling habits and left him vulnerable at the same time. Perhaps it was his experience under the control of the Mandragora that changed him. For when Brogan met K9 again, on that cold Scottish mountain, he was different. Still as independent and sharp-tongued as ever, but there was something decidedly darker about him. Call it wisdom or age, there was a loss of innocence, a cynicism deep-rooted in the knowledge he had been played a fool by those who turned his mind against his own friends. The Doctor and Zoe wouldn't ever admit it, nor would K9 for that matter, but Brogan knew that his pride had been hurt. Insult and pride were illogical emotions not programmed into K9's artificially intelligent cortex, yet he felt them just the same. Brogan recalled his bitter refusal to accept her aboard the TARDIS just because she'd tricked him into letting her past his guard on Earth. Brogan treated him like she would an annoying brother. She bated K9 with the moniker "Rover", teased him incessantly in hopes of catching his silver tongue off-balance. Yet it was K9 who had the last laugh. For by the time she joined the TARDIS Crew, he had advanced beyond his immature youth of verbal wars and occupied himself with more "productive" activities. Every time Brogan saw K9 in the TARDIS, he was hooking himself up to the ship. Calculating sums, he said, but there was more to it than that. K9 and the TARDIS had a sort of symbiotic relationship. When she spoke, he listened and interpreted her words. Through him, Brogan first realized that the TARDIS was more than a time-space ship. She was alive like any planet, made of inorganic compounds but combined there was a soul, an essence of spirit. She was like a mother shielding her precious cargo, the Doctor and his friends, from the dangers of the time vortex. And K9 was her faithful offspring. Learning from every databank, carrying on her work protecting the Doctor when he insisted on wandering outside into trouble. Yes, K9 was a worthy prodigy of the TARDIS. With her mental affirmation, Brogan noticed the corridor lights dim slightly. The signature TARDIS hum usually filled with life and comfort seemed dull and muted. Compelled by curiosity and concern, Brogan reached out to touch the nearby wall. The TARDIS trembled slightly beneath her hand. As if bombarded with a surge of emotion, Brogan felt the overwhelming longing and sadness of the ship. Gently, Brogan stroked the wall in a vain attempt to soothe the TARDIS. "I'll miss him too," she whispered. "I just wish I had a chance to say good-bye. Things happened so fast on Xeos..." Brogan paused remembering all the times she'd lost someone close in her life. Her mother, father and even her grandmother all slipped away before Brogan even realized there was something wrong. "Things happen fast everywhere, I guess. I never get the chance to say good-bye." On her sorrowful confession, the wall beneath Brogan's hand suddenly whirred into motion. Automatically, the hidden door retracted into the ceiling giving entrance to the darkened room within. Tentatively, Brogan crossed the threshold peering into the darkness. Soft lights flared into existence beckoning her to enter this strange hidden inner sanctum of the TARDIS. Compelled by curiosity rather than caution, Brogan explored the disused storage room. Work tables lined the walls, each piled with mounds of machine bits. Unlike the Doctor's workshop, everything was neatly stacked and arranged orderly. On the floor, several crates sat, each marked with similar writing. K9 MK 5 read the nearest crate. Beside it was K9 MK 6, K9 MK 7 and half a dozen more models waiting to be unpacked and reassembled. Brogan sat on the edge of the only empty crate in the room. K9 MK 4 read the label. This, Brogan realized, had been his nursery. The place that he sat for centuries, perhaps, waiting for the Doctor to put him together and give life to his computer mind. Yet K9's birth was not at the hands of the Doctor, who merely reassembled his body; it was the work of the TARDIS. One anomalous download to reacquaint the K9 mk 4 unit with 20th century London culture was how she sparked his desire for independence and growth. His obstinacy became curiosity and a desire to question the world around him. He was no longer just a man-programmed computer, but a sentient creature with his own will. Looking around the crates of embryonic K9's, Brogan wondered if it was possible for the TARDIS to recreate another anomalous K9. Sadly, she dismissed the idea. The other models were just cold, emotionless metal boxes filled with a maze of circuitry and memory wafers. There was no spark of life, no desire to confound and keep others guessing, no soul in them. K9 was gone. Brogan simply had to accept it. A single tear slipped down Brogan's cheek as she stroked the crate marked MK 4. "Do you remember the time we were being chased by that dinosaur on Jurassic Earth? Both of us racing for cover and you showing off your new hover mode like it was a brand new toy. "I was so determined to get the scoop on the story and all you could think about was getting to the Doctor to save him from the Saurians. I didn't believe you at first when you told me about the TARDIS and your time travels. I thought that rockfall we got caught up in made you loopy. But you made me believe, just for a moment. "It was enough, K9. Enough to make me question things on Earth, to believe that there was a life beyond my time and place. I dreamed about your descriptions for months afterward. I longed for all of you to come back and take me away with you. And then you came just when I needed you most. "I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you, K9. "I guess what I'm trying to say is... thank you. For everything." Silence answered Brogan's heartfelt confession. Then light glinted on the seat beside her. Brogan reached out letting her hand accidentally touch the edge of a glasslike cube. Curious, Brogan lifted the object to the light. The holographic image of the Console Room appeared within the cube. Beside the Console, the Doctor examined the controls with K9 at his side. Brogan twirled into the room donning her newly found blue velvet dress and Zoe followed donning a black velvet cat suit. The scene was a happy one, played out just after Zoe was reunited with them and before their battle with the Daleks. Brogan remembered the occasion well. It was filled with joy and contentment when Brogan first felt accepted into this TARDIS family. It was a time before the terror and loss. Cradling the time image cube in her hand, Brogan sat on the edge of the crate quietly allowing the tears she held back to stream freely down her cheeks. Fury and despair gave way to a gentle sorrow. Memories of the good times she shared with her canine friend mixed with the pain of his loss in a bittersweet acceptance of the truth. Lovingly, she clutched the time cube in her hands treasuring the gift of memory the TARDIS had given her. K9 was gone, but Brogan would always have the memories of him to keep her company. After a long while, Brogan wiped her tears with the back of her hand, placed the time cube in a secure pocket of her clothing and headed for the door. Just before the threshold, she stopped and turned back. Her voice was edged with bittersweet sorrow when she called out to the room. "Good-bye K9, my friend. I'll miss you Rover." With those words, Brogan turned around and walked out of the hidden room. But when her foot crossed the threshold, a familiar metallic voice answered back. "Good-bye, Brogan Lady." Brogan quickly spun around, but the hidden door was already sliding into place again. She stared in stunned amazement at the closed door questioning the efficiency of her own ears. She could have sworn she had just heard... but that wasn't possible. Was it? "There she is, Doctor!" Zoe exclaimed as she turned the corridor with a look of relief on her face. "Brogan," the Doctor called her attention. His voice was muffled with hidden sorrow and suspicion when he recognized which corner of the TARDIS she was facing. The place where K9 had been assembled and his brothers waited for the same opportunity to exist. "What are you doing here?" Bewilderment not grief colored Brogan's expression as she faced her friends. "Saying good-bye." "Seems we've all been doing that," Zoe sniffled. "He was a good dog." "More than a dog, Zoe." The Doctor corrected. "A true friend and companion," Brogan clarified. The Doctor smiled warmly at his remaining companions. Battered and bruised, neither Brogan nor Zoe cared for their own injuries but shared in his loss instead. Moments like this, though sad, made his TARDIS family appreciate each other even more. "We shall all miss K9," the Doctor began sadly. Then his voice turned resolute as he gently grasped his companion's shoulders and prodded them into motion. "But now I think its time the two of you got something to fill your stomachs besides tears." "And after that?" Brogan asked allowing herself to be guided up the corridor towards the kitchen. "I don't think I'm up to doing anything after that, Brogan." Zoe groaned with the pain of her injuries. "Then it's time we took a little time off." The Doctor declared. "Just for a few weeks in some place very peaceful where nothing ever happens." "Do you have a place in mind?" Brogan asked. The Doctor smiled. "What is it called, Doctor?" Zoe chirped, caught up in the joy of seeing the Doctor's familiar smile light up again. Leaving his companions standing in the corridor, he exclaimed cyptically as he walked into the kitchen. "Paradise." +++++++++++++++++ END ADVENTURE +++++++++++++++++