Bucky O' Hare In Journey Through Time Episode II - Of Centurions and Chronatons By Andrew Norris Starring Patrick Troughton as The Doctor SCENE ONE Genus, Year 2005 Everything on Genus matches the Roman era, down to cobbled streets and the Public Baths. BUCKY and JENNY, in their modern suits, stand out from the crowds with togas. BUCKY: (Mumbles) This is probably the only time I feel weird in battledress. JENNY: I feel like I'm inside a history documentary; and we stick out from the rest. They are approached by a HARE dressed as a Roman Cavalryman, who looks rather stern. CAVALRYMAN: Are you two minions of the Gods? For no mortal may fly up to the clouds like thee. BUCKY: (Nervously) Err...yeah, we're, erm, the minions of... He notices a sculptor nearby working on a statue of a lion with the word "TRICEA" embossed underneath. BUCKY: Tricea! Yes, we are the minions of Tricea! CAVALRYMAN: (Smiles) Then you are Qardo and Bicalia, the yielders of strength and agility! JENNY: (Slightly confused) We are? CAVALRYMAN: Of course! Your arrival has brought blessing upon this town! We must alert the Senate at once! Some more Cavaliers arrive to escort BUCKY and JENNY to the Senate, while the civilians all bow down in respect, but JENNY is nervous. JENNY: (Whispers) Bucky, are you sure we'll be fine? BUCKY: (Mutters in response) Don't know, Jen. All we can do is see what happens next. CIVILIANS: (Chanting) All hail the minions of Tricea, protectors of the stars and servants to the almighty God of Power. BUCKY and JENNY are escorted to the Senate. SCENE TWO The Graham Institute, Genus, 3226 FRANKENSTOAT and COMMANDER DOGSTAR are overlooking the Chronaton Manipulator, whilst DOGSTAR clasps his maser pistol in his one hand. DOGSTAR: (Concerned) Are they OK? FRANKENSTOAT: (Examines instruments) It would seem so, but until the Astromans move away from the Chronaton field, I can't get Bucky and Jenny away. DOGSTAR: What's the big deal about these Chronatons anyway? FRANKENSTOAT: You see, Commander, everyone has at least one Chronaton attached to their biopatterns, and that is how Bucky and Jenny are able to travel back and forth in time. DOGSTAR: So why can't you transport them when other people are around? FRANKENSTOAT: The Chronatons can move through time so long as the Manipulator is from the same time-zone. If I was to lift someone out of time who isn't from the present, it could end up damaging the space- time continum. ADMIRAL HUDSON and FLEET ADMIRAL RYGAR BLADE arrive and COMMANDER DOGSTAR salutes. HUDSON salutes back and RYGAR looks at the two with a serious look on his face. RYGAR: (Sternly) Commander, would you mind telling me if what Hudson tells me is true? That this "time machine" has lifted one of my space captains out of time and we have to rely on this buffoon to get him back? DOGSTAR: I'm sorry to say that it is true, sir. Inasmuch I wish it wasn't, Frankenstoat is the only person who can operate the machine. FRANKENSTOAT: (Hurt) Buffoon? I'll have you know, Admiral, that at my trial I was acquitted! RYGAR: By a civilian judge, Frankenstoat! Don't forget that you still have military crimes to pay for! But, I will be lenient on you. FRANKENSTOAT: Lenient? This is a major turning-point, isn't it? HUDSON: (Snaps) Quiet, Frankenstoat! RYGAR: (Calmer) It's OK, Hudson. If you are able to get Captain O' Hare back in the next 12 hours, I shall drop the military charges as well. FRANKENSTOAT: All 32 charges, Rygey? RYGAR: All 32 charges, but only if it's within the next 12 hours. Until then, I shall be at the Admiralty. Both he and HUDSON turn to leave. RYGAR: (As he leaves) And don't call me "Rygey"! Dogstar, Frankenstoat is your responsibility for 12 hours. FRANKENSTOAT: (Sarcastic) Great (!) 12 hours to perform one of the most difficult science experiments in this field! He sets to work on the Manipulator. FRANKENSTOAT: (Continued) Well, no beating about the bush, let's see what I can do. SCENE THREE The Senate, Genus, 2005 BUCKY and JENNY are led into a large room like a rotunda, where several mammal SENATORS are gathered around the benches nearby. THE CAVALRYMAN speaks up. CAVALRYMAN: Members of the Senate, I bring forth to you the minions of Tricea; Qardo and Bicalia, who have travelled from the Palace of Clouds to teach us the wisdom of their master. SENATORS: (Bowing down) All bow down before Qardo and Bicalia! JENNY: (Nervously) I'm not enjoying this very much, Buck. THE CONSUL steps forward. He is a WHITE HARE dressed in a flowing red robe. CONSUL: (Dramatically) O, great servants of the mighty God, Tricea, we bestow our humblest greetings upon thee on this day, the Ides of Octember! BUCKY: (Stutters) Err...well, thank you. And, err...Tricea blesses you all and, err, and promises great tidings for all! The Senate fills with applause. CONSUL: You are the second to have descended from the heavens to save us. JENNY: Second? Who's the other minion? CONSUL: Dear Bicalia, surely you are aware that The Doctor is here? BUCKY & JENNY: (To each other) The Doctor? It can't be! A gong sounds, and the SENATORS and CONSUL bow down again, as two GUARDS bring in THE DOCTOR on a chair. THE DOCTOR has changed into a gentleman with checkered trousers, a large black coat and black hair fashioned like a Roundhead from the English Civil War. DOCTOR: (Middle-pitched voice) Ah, erm, hello! He gets out of the chair and steps forward. JENNY: (Gasps) You're the Doctor?! BUCKY: It can't be! Last time we saw you, you were shorter and your hair was brown! DOCTOR: Was it? That must've been my future self. JENNY: So we met your future self in the past? DOCTOR: It's a bit hard to explain. I imagine that you've been scooped out of time. JENNY: Well...yes. How do you know? THE DOCTOR lightly rubs the fabric on BUCKYs' shirt. DOCTOR: The form of fabric on your clothes won't come into existence until the Industrial Revolution in 2096. JENNY: So, what are you doing here? DOCTOR: Just a minute. He pulls out a small wooden recorder and the SENATORS begin to chant again. SENATORS: Hail the Magic Flute of Doctor! THE DOCTOR plays "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" on the recorder perfectly. BUCKY and JENNY become impatient. SCENE FOUR The Graham Institute, Genus, 3226 FRANKENSTOAT and DOGSTAR are still working on the Chronaton Manipulator. It has been 1/2 hour since RYGAR was here, and DOGSTAR is getting impatient. DOGSTAR: Where you aware, old chap, exactly how lengthy a process your demonstration would've been if all had gone well? FRANKENSTOAT: (Adjusting controls) I can't help that! The molecular plotting unit wasn't ready in time. DOGSTAR: Molecular what? FRANKENSTOAT: Molecular Plotting Unit - MPU. It was like a lifeline in case a situation like this ever happened, but I never had time to finish it for the demonstration, so I have to keep doing this! DOGSTAR: (Gruffly) Well, hurry up! I've been sat here watching you fiddle with buttons and switches for a whole 2 hours, don't you know! FRANKENSTOAT ignores the comment and continues to work on the console. SCENE FIVE The Senate, Genus, 2005 BUCKY, JENNY and THE DOCTOR are all talking in a private room with no- one else around. JENNY: You still haven't answered the question, Doctor. What are you doing on Astroman Genus? DOCTOR: It's a long, complicated story, Jenny. How can I put it? Erm...have you ever heard of the legend of Terra? JENNY: Yes, why? BUCKY: And why has it to do with this? DOCTOR: (Philosophically) Well, in the legend, Terra and her love Garfedius defeated the Darker Mortal, and it is said that someone called "Doctor" helped them. BUCKY: (Amazed) You helped the Goddess Terra? DOCTOR: Well, she wasn't really a God, Bucky. She was merely a girl with a special gift, and the Darker Mortal wished to control that gift and use it to usurp the Emperor Nairdah. JENNY: But legend said that Terra died! DOCTOR: I'm afraid they did. The Darker Mortal used his last energy to kill her so no-one else could use her gift against her. But he stupidly turned to stone himself afterward! BUCKY: So, what part did you play in this? DOCTOR: The metamorphosis was a result of Minera-Colliosis. Its' a kind of disease that kills people and displays symptoms of whatever sixth sense a person might have. I isolated some of the bacteria that was still on Terra and used a Microozka to inject it into the Darker Mortal. JENNY: (Changes the subject) So, could you get us home? DOCTOR: I can try. It will take time, but I can try. Besides, all the Gods return to Olympus as one, eh? He nods over to two guards standing outside and chuckles slightly. DOCTOR: (Gets up) Come on, I'll take you to the TARDIS. That's a... BUCKY & JENNY: (In unison) Time And Relative Dimensions In Space. DOCTOR: (Disgruntled) Yes, well, I must make sure my future incarnations don't get too cocky, eh? As they turn to leave, BUCKY whispers to JENNY. BUCKY: (Mutters) I think I prefered the old Doctor. JENNY: Don't you mean the new Doctor? Seeing as this is his past self? BUCKY: I don't know what I mean anymore, I just want to go home! Outside, THE DOCTOR is addressing THE CONSUL. DOCTOR: My dear Consul, I'm sorry we haven't stayed too long, but we and the minions of Tricea must return to the Gods. CONSUL: (Nods once) I understand, O mighty Doctor. Go in peace, and we hope you are pleased by our humble offerings to you. DOCTOR: Oh, we are. (To Bucky) Qardo, would you care to give some advice to these mortals. BUCKY: (To Consul) Erm...don't do drugs. They walk off quickly behind THE DOCTOR. THE CONSUL looks confused. CONSUL: (To himself) D-rugs? The Gods speak a strange tongue. SCENE SIX Graham Institute, Genus, 3226 FRANKENSTOAT overlooks the machine and finally finishes. DOGSTAR, who has been drinking coffee in the seats in front of the stage, gets up. FRANKENSTOAT: (Pleased) Well, my dear Commander Dogstar. I do believe we're ready to go! DOGSTAR: (Unoptimistically) Lets' just hope that you get it right this time, Frankenstoat. He goes through the procedure again, and the beacon lights start flashing again. But suddenly, an alarm goes off, and a red light flashes continuously. DOGSTAR: (Groans) Now what?! FRANKENSTOAT: (Confused) I...I don't know. The alarm intensifies and sinks into a drone. FRANKENSTOAT: (Reads instruments) There's another Chronaton manipulating device there! It's trying to cancel us out! DOGSTAR: Take it to maximum, then! FRANKENSTOAT boosts the power, and waits to see what happens. SCENE SEVEN The TARDIS THE DOCTOR has invited BUCKY and JENNY into the hexagonal console room and the TARDIS console hums quietly. DOCTOR: Impressed? JENNY: (Looks around) Not really, we've been here before, if you remember. DOCTOR: (Frowns) You mean I WILL remember, Jenny. Anyway, I suggest you sit tight. Travelling through time isn't really the fastest mode of transport, you know. BUCKY: Yes, we do know! THE DOCTOR pulls out his recorder and plays "On top of Old Smokey". JENNY attempts to change the subject. JENNY: So, do you have any travelling companions? DOCTOR: (Stops playing) Only Ben and Polly, they're both tucked up in the next room. BUCKY: Tucked up? Are they ill? DOCTOR: No, not really. We've just gotten out of a spot of bother with the Daleks, and they're taking a rest. JENNY: (Frowns) Yes, the Daleks can be very tiresome. DOCTOR: Indeed. He resumes playing the recorder. BUCKY notices a small light flashing on the console. BUCKY: (Points to light) Doctor, should that be flashing? DOCTOR: (Puts away recorder) What's this, then? The TARDIS suddenly jerks and groans. BUCKY and JENNY suddenly dematerialize in front of THE DOCTORS' eyes. DOCTOR: (Gets up) Re-dematerializing outside of time? I don't suppose...a SIDRAT perhaps? The TARDIS jerks again and THE DOCTOR is thrown about like a toy. OUTSIDE THE TARDIS... In the large, psychadelic time vortex, BUCKY and JENNY watch as they are thrust quickly in one direction and the TARDIS is flung in the opposite way. JENNY: (Distorted) Bucky, what's going on? BUCKY: (Garbled) The TARDIS must've malfunctioned! I'm just hoping that we actually get home this time! They continue to speed along at an incredible speed, making their fur stand back, and their eyes almost stretching out of their sockets. JENNY: If there was something wrong with the TARDIS, the Doctor is a terrible mechanic! They eventually reach a light at the end of a tunnel. SCENE EIGHT The Graham Institute, Genus, 3226 FRANKENSTOAT pulls back a lever with as much strength available, and then falls back against the stage. As he checks the instruments, DOGSTAR glances at the clock; 1 hour has now passed and little has changed. DOGSTAR: (Sternly) What happened now? And this had better be good news! FRANKENSTOAT: (Worried) I can't be sure what happened, but I'm guessing that the Astroman time-machine cancelled out the Manipulator and the two shot off in two directions of time, like two magnets when you push the same poles together. DOGSTAR: And where have these two magnets gone? FRANKENSTOAT checks the instruments. FRANKENSTOAT: The Astroman machine has landed in Scotland on Earth in April 1746. Bucky and Jenny have...oh. DOGSTAR: What? FRANKENSTOAT: (Stammers) I...I just don't believe it. How is it possible to travel so far in time? DOGSTAR, being impatient and angry, grabs FRANKENSTOAT by the shoulders and lifts him into mid-air. DOGSTAR: (Barks angrily) WHERE ARE THEY?!?! FRANKENSTOAT: They're in the year 187 Billion, and if my knowledge is correct, they will probably see an Aniverse even we can't possibly imagine. DOGSTAR: SO GET THEM BACK! FRANKENSTOAT: (Quieter) That's the trouble. After that problem, the Manipulator has been damaged further. I don't even know if I can get them back... TO BE CONTINUED... NEXT EPISODE: PART III - PLANET OF THE ONIVOIDS