Star Trek - TOS
The Doctor's Trek
by James Clelland
(mercury-64@hotmail.com)

The Doctor's Trek

Captain's Log: Stardate 17619.1.
We have now completed a somewhat uneventful patrol of the federation neutral zone and are now plotting course for Starbase 11. Commodore Stone has granted us "dry-dock" time in order to carry out some minor upgrades to our deflector and sensor array. Mr Scott has already has the crew allocated to the task, which will begin in approximately 3 standard earth days.

James T Kirk sat back in his chair and looked around his quarters. The past month had been very quiet in terms of encounters with hostile or friendly elements. The patrol of the neutral zone had been a welcome relief for the crew after the events of the last deep space tour of duty.

Kirk's eyes rested on the display on the nightstand. The images changed slowly, but as he looked the face of his brother Sam looked back. He smiled at the thought of his times back in Iowa as they both worked long and hard into the evenings feeling the warmth of the sun on their skin. He could almost feel the coolness descend as the sun began sinking and the semi-darkness covered the landscape. How long had it been since they had both been home? It had to be...

'Bridge to Captain Kirk'

Damn. The moment had gone and reality had returned. He pressed the key to activate the desk mounted viewer. 'Kirk here, what is it Mr Spock'.

Spock spoke calmly but with a hint of emotion that over the years only Kirk could detect. 'We are about to go to yellow alert, Captain. I thought it only correct to inform you before doing so. We are in the proximity of a minor temporal anomaly'.

Kirk raised his eyebrows at the face on the viewer on his desk, with a small grin he said 'Well, thank you Mr Spock'. He rose from the chair, picked up and pulled on his command tunic over his work vest. He directed is gaze to the viewer and informed Mr Spock he would be with him in a few minutes. He closed down the viewer, exited his quarters and headed towards the nearest turbo lift.

Jim Kirk entered the bridge. He detected the quiet activity of every member of his command crew. The only real indication of anything out of the ordinary was the repeated blinking of the alert condition status lights, currently yellow. If things stayed that way, he would be happy, but he knew his crew would rally when the call came and the panels went red. As Kirk stepped down to the command deck, Spock had already vacated the centre seat, which Kirk assumed. 'Status report Mr Spock'.

Spock had moved to his customary position at the Library Computer and Science Station, looking through the viewer he said: 'We appear to be encountering a minor rift or tear in the fabric of space/time. It is localised and should not expand beyond the area we see. As you can see Captain, the rift is taking the form of a vortex'. Kirk smiled slightly, 'Like coloured water going down a drain'.

Spock looked up from his station, and raising an eyebrow said 'An interesting comparison, Captain'.

Kirk's smiled broadened, 'so what do we have Mr Spock? Do we know what's causing it?'

Spock returned to his viewer making minor, refined changes to the settings. 'There appears to be an object located at the centre of the vortex, but as yet our sensors cannot give us an accurate reading'.

Kirk studied the image on the main viewer and considered his next move. 'Is there any immediate threat as far as you can make out, Mr Spock?'

Spock contemplated the data before him, evaluated the risk and informed Kirk that as long as they did not get too close to the object, he could perceive no danger, but caution was always wise. 'Mr Chekhov...' Kirk looked at his young Conn Officer, '...raise shields. Go to Red Alert. Instruct phaser parties and photon torpedo crews to ready themselves'. As he spoke the orange panels dulled to a glowing red and began pulsing.

Chekhov said, 'Red alert, Sir. Crews ready at your command, Captain'.

'Mr Sulu...' Hikaru Sulu half turned to face his commanding officer, 'take us towards the object at full impulse, but be ready to pull away at warp speed if it starts getting threatening'. Sulu responded and began altering settings and moving the ship into an intercept course.

The object at the centre of the vortex was almost visible on the viewer, but the sensors were already building a picture of it shape and size.

Spock raised his eyes from the library computer viewer and raised his eyebrows. 'Curious.' Spock had not realised he had spoken aloud until Kirk said 'In what way Mr Spock?

If Spock had been human he would have blushed, but his Vulcan discipline held back the emotion. 'Sensor information identifies the object as being made from a hard, fibrous, lignified structural tissue produced as secondary xylem'. He returned to his viewer. 'Further more the structure is approximately 8 feet tall by 4 feet wide, and four sided. It registers as a heterogeneous, hygroscopic, cellular and anisotropic material. It appears to be composed of fibers of 40% - 50% cellulose and 15% to 25% hemi cellulose impregnated with 15% - 30% lignin.' He looked up from his viewer towards Kirk and said 'It would appear to have a spectrum dominated by energy with a spectral wavelength of roughly 440-490 nanometers'.

Kirk looked at him. 'Mr. Spock, are you trying to tell me it's made of wood?'

'It would appear so Captain. And it's blue'

* * *

'Doctor, what's happening?' Martha Jones gripped the console with all her might. 'Have we lost them?'

The Doctor looked more confident than he actually felt, he held on with one hand, bracing himself with one foot as he struck part of the console with a rubber mallet.

'It's fine Martha.' He yelled above the groaning and grating of the time rotor. The great centre stock of the console rising and falling and grating and groaning added to the nauseating effect of the console room twisting and bending.

'Doctor!' Martha felt the floor beneath her warp and twist as the TARDIS rode the wave of the temporal vortex.

The Doctor, holding onto the console table watched as the great organic growth of the TARDIS compressed and expanded. It brightened. Its walls becoming white and flat, and then changing to oak panels of the Victorian era. Where Martha had stood, now stood another woman. Another doctor. 'Grace?' The Doctor was wide eyed with amazement. Grace Holloway was stunned and seemed to gasp for air. Then she folded as did the rest of the room.

White walls again and roundels markings jutting in and out of the flatness. A hat stand shifted and twisted as time/space bucked and buckled,

Sarah Jane Smith lurched towards the centre of the now much smaller room and dropped at the feet of the youngman in the pin-striped suit and training shoes. He helped her to her feet as another wave passed over the TARDIS.

'Doctor?' Her voice was on the edge of tears, 'is it really you?' She gasped for air and threw her head back convulsing. The head sprang back again, but now Barbara Wright stared at the young man in the suit and training shoes.

The motion had stopped. The TARDIS and all around were still. The time rotor groaned gently filling the small, white roundel room with a comforting noise.

Barbara backed away. 'Who are you?' she demanded, 'where's The Doctor?'

The young man in the suit and training shoes said, 'I am The Doctor'.

Barbara looked at the man who said he was The Doctor, and just for a moment, for the flicker of a heartbeat the young face changed.

The short dark hair was gone replaced by flowing white locks. The soft smile became a poised, determined look, but the eyes stayed the same. Powerful. Trustful. Eyes that had seen so much.

'Doctor?'

The Doctors face broke into a wide grin, then a smile; he raised his arms, took her hands in hers and said, 'It's been a long time.' She looked the same as he last remembered her. Her lovely soft face. Her dark hair and large brown eyes. 'This happens to my species. Time passes, we pass on and we regenerate. We change'.

She knew, felt The Doctor she had known, something in her mind told her he was The Doctor, but so many others seemed to be there as well. She looked about her and said, 'Well, at least the TARDIS hasn't changed'; the white walls reflected the interior light. The umbrella stand stood in the corner and the familiar objects she knew should be there were.

'Ah. Well...yes...and no', The Doctor said, 'our TARDIS is the same, but mine is different'. Barbara looked confused, 'I...don't understand', she shook her head slightly.

'You see,' The Doctor began, 'I, we, us, shouldn't be together. Not like this. Of course we were when I was, eh, me. But not as I am now, which is of course...' he stopped for a second, '...eh, me'.

Barbara smiled at him that lovely warm smile he remembered. This younger Doctor was so full of life and energy, so rapid and, so oddly dressed. What was he wearing on his feet?

'Doctor, please slow down'.

They both laughed.

'Where are the others? Ian? Susan?'

For a moment she thought she saw the old mans face appear looking saddened at the name Susan, but it only lasted for blink of an eye. He looked at her and said, 'Where the should be, I imagine...', then drifted off slightly, looked around him and continued in a lower voice, 'which should be here'. Now it was The Doctors turn to look confused.

'Anyway! We are here now in your/my/our TARDIS, what do we do next?'

She began laughing again. He would tire her with his enthusiasm never mind any adventure. 'Where or when are we Doctor?'

'Brilliant! Brilliant question. I wish I had thought of it, but would have eventually because, lets face it, I am brilliant myself! But you asked it first, so that makes you more brilliant than me, well, for now anyway.'

He began adjusting controls, activated the viewer and hit a panel with the palm of his hand making it work again and studied the readouts. She walked over to him and stood at his side. The Doctor could smell fresh soap, and what was that, ah yes, school chalk. He grinned at her, 'It really is good to see you again, you know'.

Barbara smiled back, almost embarrassed at his warmth. 'Well my dear Barbara,' it was almost like hearing two voices, the old man and the young man together, 'we appear to be in a minor temporal vortex'. His face became serious for a moment. 'I had hoped we had out run them, but the old girl's picking up a ship of some kind. If I can just...' he realigned a dial here, a switch there, hit the console again. 'Hey presto!'

The monitor currently showing the swirling mass of colour and stars began to focus on an object. A small white, glittering object. Was it a disc? Was it...? No! The Doctor was almost relieved when he noticed that it was not the pattern he was looking for. If not them, then who?

'Doctor?' Barbara was studying the screen as The Doctor looked down to his instruments. 'Is it getting closer to us or are we getting closer to it? He looked up to see the saucer gradually increase in size. A slight tilt in its angle revealed two "stocks" and cylindrical attachments above the main body. The saucer was mounted on a "swan neck" which rose from the main body.

The image was increasing. Red and green running lights could be seen on either side of the saucer section and, written across the front of the saucer were the words "U.S.S. ENTERPRISE NCC 1701"

Captain's Log: Supplemental.
Our somewhat uneventful patrol of the federation neutral zone has now become something of a mystery. Our sensors have detected a minor space/time rift and at the centre of the vortex a very unusual object to say the least.

Kirk stood next to Spock at the Science Officers station, 'It's a wooden box?'

Spock looked at Kirk, 'To be more accurate Captain, it is a blue wooden box. As I have said, its dimensions are...'

Kirk held up a hand to indicate the exact specifications were not required. Kirk sighed, 'Never mind that for now, Mr. Spock. What is it currently doing and are there any life signs?'

Consulting his view screen again, and making adjustments he stated that two life signs were detectable. One human female and one male humanoid.

'Lieutenant Uhura, open hailing frequencies and try and establish contact. Explain who we are and offer assistance if they require it'.

'Aye, Captain'. Uhura turned to her communications board and carried out her instructions.

Looking at the viewer the bridge crew could see that the object at the centre of the vortex was becoming more stable. It had ceased to twist and tumble and was now merely rotating. Notices could be seen on all four sides. What appeared to be a beacon, flashed on and off on the top of the box. It also appeared to have two doors.

'Captain'. It was the voice of Pavel Chekov.

Kirk turned from his science officer and made his way down to the command deck and stood behind his conn-officers. Kirk could see what his young ensign was indicating. The vortex was decreasing in size; the object at the centre appeared to be pulling away but was being pulled back.

'Mr. Spock. Can that "wooden box" withstand a tractor beam?' Kirk thought back to an incident with a jet fighter from earths 20th Century, which began disintegrating as the beam took it in tow.

'The object would appear to be more substantial than our sensor suggest. There is a temporal inter-dimensional element to its structure.'

'I'll take that as a yes. Mr. Chekov, lock a tractor beam on it before it vanishes into the eye of that wormhole.'

From beneath the saucer section the grappling beam moved towards the object, engulfing its diminutive shape and drew it from the ever decreasing swirl of temporal instability.

* * *

Inside the TARDIS The Doctor had just decided that all was going well. Barbara was studying the young man with interest. As he adjusted and pushed and pulled elements of the console and as he smiled and spoke, glimmers of the old man would come through. She could see the keen eyes scanning all, the hands deftly working at the console.

Then it hit. Whatever it was, it held the TARDIS firmly in its grip. 'No! No, no, no!' yelled The Doctor, 'I had it under control and then you went and...', he broke off as he slammed his fist down on a control that Barbara never remembered working properly before. It promptly sprung to life. He rushed around the centre console switching and clicking and thumping.

'What's happening, Doctor?' Barbara was anxious but not frightened. She felt safe with this Doctor, her Doctor but not hers at the same time.

'Will you stop with the...', The Doctor raised his hands above his head, he growled, 'just...stop...the...trac...'

It was then that the TARDIS lurched and The Doctor and Barbara were thrown to the floor.

Captain's Log: Supplemental.
We have successfully rescued the object from the centre of the eye of the temporal anomaly. It is currently being transported to shuttle bay two awaiting examination. I have asked Doctor McCoy to join us just in case the two occupants require medical assistance.

The shuttle bay doors were now closed and the area pressurised. The members of the crew in the viewing gallery made their way towards the blue box. It appeared dull and drab standing next to the shining white hull of the shuttlecraft Galileo.

Kirk, Spock, McCoy and two members of security formed a semi-circle around what appeared to be the "front" of the blue box.

'Mr Spock. What is a "Police Public Call Box" anyway?' it was McCoy who spoke.

After Leonard McCoy's words, the hum of Spock's Tricorder was the only noise in the cavernous room. Spock began to slowly circle the object examining each area, digitally enhanced images downloading from the hand-held device to the main library computer. Thermo-graphic images being recorded and logged for future reference.

'Well Mr Spock, how do we proceed?' Kirk looked at his science officer, waiting on an insight that he himself did not have.

Spock switched off his Tricorder, closed the flap on the instrument and said, 'I recommend we...' he hesitated then continued'...knock'.

Kirk wasn't sure what answer he was expecting, but it certainly wasn't that. 'We knock? He queried.

Spock raised an eyebrow, 'I believe that is what I suggested Captain. I see no other method of ascertaining information about this object other than asking the occupants. Sensor reading are to see the least..."sketchy".' The word appeared to be difficult for the Vulcan to say and Kirk knew the effort that must have been involved in the use of such a human word. He looked at Spock and then at the object and walked towards what appeared to be the door. He raised his hand, this time it was Kirk who hesitated, then wrapped three times on the surface with his knuckles.

* * *

The Doctor and Barbara had just risen from the floor when they heard a thumping noise from outside.

Barbara's eyes widened with surprise. 'What was that Doctor?' He looked at her in a distracted way, 'Sounds like someone knocking to me'. He then made his way towards the doors. As he passed Barbara she took him by the arm, 'What if they are hostile?'

He gave her a mischievous smile, 'How many hostile invaders do you know that knock at the door? Hmm?' She saw the twinkle in the old/young mans eyes, then he said 'But yes, you're right my dear Barbara. Better safe than sorry'.

He made his way back to the console and switched on the viewer. The scene before them was a surprise. A large, white room, a hall perhaps. Then he saw the shuttlecraft, 'Ah, lets see now', the viewer image began moving round and there, in the middle of the screen, stood five figures. All of them wore black trousers and black boots. Two of the figures wore red shirts, two wore blue shirts and in the middle one wore gold. 'Are those uniforms, Doctor?'

The Doctor began to smile, 'They are indeed. Those were, are, will be in your future anyway, the uniforms of Starfleet. Kind of like U.N.I.T. of the 23rd...? 24th...? No definitely the 23rd Century!'

'U.N.I.T.?' Barbara asked.

The Doctor looked at her, 'Oh, yes. Sorry, after your time, not many years but still after. It had a great leader at one time in the U.K.', as an aside he put in 'Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge Stewart. Scots. Splendid chap. If you ever meet him let him know I said so, anyway, the matter in hand'.

The Doctor walked to the doors, Barbara now behind him, and slowly the doors began to part.

* * *

James Kirk moved back as the doors of the blue box slowly opened to reveal two figures. The female was dressed in a white blouse, a grey skirt and flat back shoes. The male had a brown suit, with fine white stripes, white shirt. Was that a neck-tie he was wearing? And on his feet, was that some kind of sports shoe?

'Hello!' said The Doctor with an energetic smile, 'I'm The Doctor and this is my companion Barbara Wright', The Doctor placed his open hand out in front of him, noticing the sleeve insignia on the gold shirted figure 'and you are, Captain...?' Although not a tall man, this man with the sandy brown hair and hazel eyes had a presence.

Kirk was taken aback for a second. This stranger was taking command of the situation. He stood his ground for a moment staring at the enthusiastic face, the out stretched hand, the soft warm smile of, what was her name again, oh yes Barbara, and relinquished his momentary distrust. He took The Doctors hand and said, 'Kirk. James T Kirk. And you are?'

'As I said, The Doctor', said The Doctor, 'that usually does'.

He turned from Kirk to face his companion. The tall proud figure in the blue shirt looked at him quizzically.

'A Vulcan' said The Doctor. Then a moment of total clarity hit him. 'Did you say James Kirk?' he looked back at Kirk, who nodded and replied slowly 'yes...' the full force of The Doctors smile was visible and he looked at Spock, using the Vulcan hand sign of peace said, 'Live long and prosper, Spock'.

An eyebrow was raised and a small grin crossed Kirk's face at Spock's confusion.

'Doctor, who are you? How do you know my First Officer?'

The Doctor turned to face Kirk again, 'As I say, The Doctor, just The Doctor, it's what everyone calls me. Isn't that right Barbara?' Barbara Wright could not help herself from smiling. The enthusiasm of youth was radiating from this man. 'Yes Doctor' was her only reply.

'How do I know your First Officer, well he is, will be, depending on what page of the temporal book you are reading and, indeed where you started or indeed or finished or indeed...', he barely seemed to breath, 'where was I again? Oh, yes, there I am. Mr Spock is a legend. As indeed you are Captain. As your ship, this wonderful ship we are standing in at the moment will be'.

The Doctor stopped, 'But I can't say anymore, the laws forbid me, and indeed who am I to break the laws, although I was on the High Council of Gallifrey, then there was the Presidency thing, but...' The Doctor stopped as Barbara touched his elbow.

Kirk was almost bowled over by the man's energy, but when he was eventually stopped talking; Kirk said 'Maybe we should relocate to a conference room. But before that, please wait until our chief medical officer examines you both. Doctor McCoy, if you would please...'

The Doctor smile filled his face again, 'Leonard H McCoy?' Kirk looked at him, 'Yes...how...do you know...' but before he could finish The Doctor said, 'Legend!'

* * *

In the conference room The Doctor, Barbara and McCoy sat at one side of the table facing Kirk, Spock and Yeoman Janice Rand. Rand sat recording the events for the ships log. The Doctor became serious as Kirk asked his question.

'What were you doing in that wormhole?'

The Doctor sat forward in his seat, 'It was not a "wormhole" as you know it Captain, it was artificial. It's what is referred to as a trans-warp conduit'. He waited for his words to sink in.

'How is this created?' it was Spock who asked the question.

The Doctor took a breath and began, 'There are a number of what are called trans-warp hubs. Each hub could connect to thousands of transwarp conduits with endpoints in all four quadrants of the galaxy, giving those who use it an enormous strategic advantage. The structures are supported by a series of interspatial manifolds. These manifolds are protected by force fields'.

He stopped again as Spock raised an eyebrow. No one else spoke.

The Doctor continued. 'It's a method employed by a species of machines that evolved from humanoids, the machine itself still has the life form controlling its actions. Indeed, one of your probes from the 1970s will encounter the planet that these life forms originate from, but my fear is that they will combine forces with another race, from another "machine planet". I was in the process of trying to stop an experiment taking place which could jeopardise your present and...your future' he paused again.

The Doctor continued, 'My ship was riding a temporal wave to a point in history on Earth that would change all, everything that you know, have known and will know'. The Doctor sat back in his chair, 'That future, which because we are sitting here discussing the matter, hasn't changed. Yet'.

Captains Log: Stardate 17620.2.
The travellers we have rescued from the temporal anomaly, or as the stranger who calls himself The Doctor calls it "trans-warp conduit" has certainly given us food for thought. Dr McCoy's examination has revealed that, although the female, Barbara Wright, is most certainly human, and from her dietary and physical results from the 20th Century, the "Doctor" is most certainly not. Pphysiological differences include two hearts which, according to The Doctor normally beat at 170 beats a minute, an internal body temperature of 15 degrees Celsius and a respiratory bypass system.

'Why should we trust you, Doctor?' Kirk asked.

The Doctor grasped both his jacket lapels, a gesture Barbara recognised as her Doctor, and said to Kirk, 'Because you have to. If you want to save your future I am the only one you can trust'. It wasn't a boastful statement, Kirk recognised it for the fact it was.

Kirk asked 'What species are we talking about? Klingon, Romulan alliance?'

The Doctor smiled sadly, 'These people have no idea how bad it could and would get if they got together' he thought. 'No Captain,' he said 'it's much worse than that'. The Doctor leaned forward across the table, his hands clasped in front of him. Kirk thought The Doctor looked like he was praying.

'The species I am talking about could decimate the entire system and beyond without hesitation. They are unfeeling, have no emotion. One of the species will come from your future and the other from my past. But together our history could cease to exist and every species would become a hybrid of the war that they would start and most certainly win'.

The Doctor sat back in his chair. He looked tired, as if he were carrying a great weight on his shoulders.

'You must help me get back to the point in space where you picked me up. I'll get myself and Barbara back to the right point in time, but you must not, under any circumstances, no matter how bad the situation looks to you, rescue us. I have to stop one ship from meeting another and two species from joining forces'.

Kirk could see the sincerity and earnestness of the young man; he could also see there was a knowledge that seemed older than his years.

'Again I ask, why should we trust you? I need more than your word. You must understand that if what you say is true, the mere word of a total stranger who claims that a blue wooden box is capable of traversing space-time, that he knows the future because he has been there and back is not enough'.

The Doctor sighed heavily. He closed his eyes and rested the palm of his hand on his forehead, 'I was hoping I would not have to ask this but I request', he turned to face Spock 'a mind-meld'.

Kirk turned to Spock who raised an eyebrow.

'Now wait a damn minute' McCoy broke in 'we have no idea what that would do. Physiologically you're similar, but brain wave patterns indicate considerable differences. Spock, if you go ahead with this I can't answer for what would happen. As Chief Medical Officer I forbid it Captain'.

Kirk looked at his CMO, then at The Doctor and then to Spock. 'Well Spock? Give me another way to prove or disprove The Doctor's story'.

Spock looked at the Captain. 'I cannot. If the future is at stake, the risk of one mind-meld is of no consequence'.

'Damn it Spock!' McCoy exclaimed, 'Don't you understand, I can't answer for what would happen. This "man" here has an even more alien mind than you do'. He gestured to The Doctor, 'Mental shields may not be enough to protect you from potential harm'.

The Doctor looked offended, 'I can assure you I don't intend any harm, but I need someone here to know the truth, someone you Captain, will trust, someone who can let me get back to where I was to stop what will happen'. The Doctor's voice had been rising steadily but the touch of Barbara's hand on his had made him calm. 'I'm sorry' he said in a softer voice, 'but it is the only way'.

Spock looked at The Doctor, 'I agree', and he looked at Kirk, 'it is the best and only way to prove what The Doctor has been telling us is the truth or not. I agree to the mind-meld'.

* * *

The conference room was dark. Ambient light from the table viewers giving a ghostly illumination to the proceedings. The Doctor's fingertips touching Spock's temples. Spock's right hand touching The Doctor's face. No one spoke, the only noise was that of the two men breathing, firstly out of rhythm and then as one. The Doctor spoke first, 'My mind to your mind'; Spock spoke next 'Your thoughts to my thoughts'.

McCoy sat watching, waiting for the disaster he hoped would never happen.

'We are as one' both spoke together. A moment passed and the heads moved slowly back. Their eyes closed and their breathing shallow. Spock's lips began to move but no words came.

'Loneliness and...'it was The Doctor who spoke, 'Sorrow. Sadness and...' then it was Spock. 'Joy. Fear...'spoke The Doctor, 'and anger', finished Spock.

'Daleks...Skaro...no...not...' Spock was struggling with the words; these were not his thoughts or feelings. Oh those feeling. There were so many. How many lives's had he/we lived? How many times have I/we lost someone who cares and had cared for us? The thoughts were rushing from and to his mind.

The Doctor felt the heat of the Vulcan suns on his skin. Felt the sandstorms, felt...the loneliness and rejection, but hiding his feelings like Sarek had taught him.

'...Davros...but do I have the right...' The Doctor was speaking, 'Sarah Jane, my Sarah Jane...I am the Doctor, the definitive article you might say...Harry...' it was the voice of Spock.

The Breathing become even shallower, very slowly it began to lose its synchronicity and the two of them began to breathe again. Both faces regained their own features and their eyelids began to flicker. Spock opened his eyes, and then The Doctor opened his eyes. The Doctor smiled a smile of comfort and understanding. Spock looked at him, a tear of joy and sadness appearing at the corner of one eye, which to his relief no one could see in the darkness.

'Captain'. It was Spock, 'we must take them back. What may happen is', he was lost for the word that would convey the scenes he had witnessed from The Doctor's mind and then the word came to him '...appalling'. Kirk knew then what must be done.

* * *

'Mr. Sulu', Kirk sat in the Command Chair of the bridge of the Enterprise, 'set a course for the last known position of the temporal anomaly. Take us to a safe position and wait further orders'.

Hikaru Sulu loaded the co-ordinates into the navigation computer and engaged the impulse engines to maximum. 'Co-ordinates locked and impulse engines engaged, Captain' said the helmsman.

'Well Doctor', Kirk asked, 'what is your next step?'

The Doctor was the enthusiastic creature that Kirk had encountered at the beginning, 'Well!', exclaimed The Doctor, 'Barbara and I leap back into the, eh, my ship' he almost said something he did not want them to know, 'scoot over to the event horizon of the trans-warp conduit, get ourselves into position and do what we have to do in order to stop what must be stopped!' He stopped to breath.

'That's all very vague, Doctor'.

The Doctor smiled 'Yes. Isn't it'.

Barbara could see a twinkle in his eyes that made her smile inwardly. How often had he treated people like children? Only telling them what was necessary in order to make things work out in the end. The human race had a lot to learn and The Doctor was teaching it one bit at a time.

Kirk realised that asking anymore questions was pointless. 'Do you need anything before you start? Is there any assistance we can give you?'

The Doctor looked at him, 'I would love a cup of tea!' he exclaimed. 'Earl Grey! Hot!' There was a twinkle in his eye that neither Kirk nor Barbara understood, but The Doctor giggled and guffawedall the way from the bridge to Shuttle Bay 2.

* * *

'Well goodbye, Captain' said The Doctor, 'we won't be meeting again'. He looked at Mr. Spock 'Live long and prosper Spock'; he held his hand in the Vulcan salute. Spock raised his hand 'It has been...' he paused, looking for the correct word 'interesting knowing you Doctor'.

'Miss Wright', said Kirk 'are you sure you won't stay with us until The Doctor completes his task?'

Barbara shook his head, 'No thank you, Captain. This', she gestured to the blue box behind her, 'is where I belong'. She smiled a warm radiant smile. Her dark brown eyes showing no sign of her uncertainty. Kirk thought 'If she is this certain I have no right to stop her'. He shook her by the hand.

'Will we need to transport you to the anomaly?' it was McCoy who spoke.

'No need!' exclaimed The Doctor, 'you get me to the right place, well close enough to make no difference; all I have to do is refine it and "Bob's Your Uncle"'. The Doctor could see the look on the faces of the three men before them, 'It's an expression! It means, eh, well, it's ah..."Bobs Your Uncle!" Do you know something? I've never really bothered to find out exactly what it does mean. Never mind!' The Doctor looked at Barbara, 'Ready?' She nodded. He opened the door to The TARDIS and noted the Victorian paneling. The white room with the roundels' had been replaced by a 19th century library twice the size of the previous console room.

Kirk, Spock and McCoy caught a glimpse of the interior, 'Well I'll be dammed', said McCoy. The Doctor said 'It's bigger on the inside than it is on the outside', it seemed to be all the explanation that was needed. 'Must go, things are starting to change. It must be stopped. Goodbye', and with that he and Barbara entered The TARDIS and closed the door on three very stunned faces.

* * *

'It's all changing Barbara, it's changing', The Doctor was dashing around the central console of the newly expanded console. 'I remember when it used to look like this'. Barbara was transfixed by her new surroundings. 'I never realised...' she stopped then asked, 'Was it always this size and I've never noticed? Or are we in another room?'

The Doctor smiled as he thumped and clicked and toggled his way around the controls, 'Nah, The TARDIS changes, don't you old girl? If you want something else we can', he smacked a control with the palm of his hand and it came to life 'discuss it and then she creates it for me'.

Barbara looked at him 'You speak as if the TARDIS is alive'. The thought made her shiver slightly.

'A TARDIS is grown my dear Barbara, not built'. The Doctor was becoming more animated. 'Aw brilliant! That's really brilliant!' The Doctor was pleased. Barbara stood by his side, now that he had stopped long enough to read a dial. 'What's brilliant Doctor?'

He looked at her with a huge toothy smile and said 'Me!' Then sadness took over again. 'Things are about to change Barbara. We have to part again. I'll miss you. Again.' She could see his genuine sadness and asked 'Why? Why must it change?'

'Everything must return to the way it was. When I stop these two species from joining together all things that have deviated from the correct historical path will return to their own timeline. That includes you', he smiled a sad little smile, 'you'll return to Ian and Susan', and he paused 'and to me before you left to be here and now. There will be no memories of this because it won't have happened'.

'Oh Doctor', there was so much sadness in those two words The Doctor felt a twinge in his hearts.

'Never mind', he said 'you have seen that in 300 years from your time the world, the solar system is a far better place. Think of that, hmmm' She gave a weak smile and slowly nodded.

'Now', he said quietly 'we must go on and stop this possible future because it is not meant to be. They experimented with time shift technology for decades and it has to stop!' The Doctor adjusted brass dials, twisted brass knobs and flicked Bakelite switches. He somehow seemed out of place in his modern suit and training shoes, yet he seemed totally at home. He looked as Barbara said 'Doctor!' she was holding her hands out in front of her, the skin starting to glisten and pulse, 'What's happening?' The anxiety in her voice rising as a tingling sensation ran through her body. She dropped to her knees behind the console and out of The Doctors view. He ran to her and helped...Jo Grant to her feet. 'Doctor?' Jo Grant was wide eyed with astonishment 'Where's The Doctor?' The youngman who stood before her smiled 'I am The Doctor'.

She began to back away but his next words caught her. 'Josephine Grant, human, worked for the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce under the command of Brigadier Alistair Gordon Leithbridge Stewart, ably assisted by Captain Mike Yeates', as an aside The Doctor said 'he really fancied you, you know. Anyway, senior NCO was Sergeant John Benton; I believe he became a Warrant Officer. Now,' he stopped for breath, '...will that do for now? As I am really busy!' she looked at him and asked 'Doctor? Who was Bessie?' His smile was wide and radiant 'My car of course! Now can you help me fix this time-line?'

She could see something of her "Dandy" Doctor in this man. Hesitatingly she said yes. 'Good girl. Right, hold, eh, that there', he indicated a lever 'and that there,' a second lever was now in her hand. 'And when I say "GO!" move them both v-e-r-y slowly towards you. Got it?' She smiled back, 'Yes, eh, Doctor'.

The Doctor began to adjust and change and click and switch every item on the control console. Jo suddenly realised her surroundings were far from familiar. 'Doctor, where is this?' in order to make explanations easier The Doctor said 'The TARDIS has many rooms and we are in the library. Nice isn't it?' it was a statement of pride.

'Are you ready Jo?' She nodded her blonde head. 'Go! Slowly now, very slowly'. As the two leavers moved back she felt shivers all over her body, 'Doctor!' it was a cry of alarm.

'Keep going Jo. It will pass'.

It did, the sensation passed over and through her body as the interior of the TARDIS changed to a coral like organic growth. Branches emanated from the vaulted ceiling. The time rotor rising and descending faster and faster.

Martha Jones still held the levers that Jo Grant had taken hold of a few moments ago. 'Martha!' The Doctor exclaimed. 'Did we lose them?' She asked.

'Oooohhh yes! We lost them. Now we have to find the next ship and lose them too!' his statement was cryptic, but Martha had been piecing things together. 'Doctor how did they get hold of the equipment to jump the time-line and join forces? I thought...', then it hit her, 'It was the TARDIS wasn't it?'

The Doctor nodded slowly, still working on the console, he said 'Yes Martha', and he smiled weakly. 'We got caught by a Dalek scout-ship. They in turn used the TARDIS to leap back and forward, joining forces. Two forces that should never have joined together. I managed to get back to the TARDIS, surf the time-line, get back to a point where I could repair the time-rift, change the future and the past, restore the present and...' his voice broke slightly 'bring you back to me, Martha'. Then he grinned, 'Brilliant really when you think about it'.

Martha almost laughed. 'So what's next?'

'Well', The Doctor said 'I'm sorry to say we have to go after the next ship and go through it all over again.'

His big toothy wide grin spread over his face. He smacked the console table, flipped some switches and ran to the other side of the console, stopped, looked at Martha, 'You ready?'

She smiled at him, excitement filled her mixed with anxiety and yelled 'Yes!'

'Here we go!'

He released what appeared to be a car hand-break. As he did this the TARDIS writhed and twisted, bucked and warped through a spiral of colours and stars, clouds of space dust mixing and merging.

The small blue box trailed behind a large black metallic cube and headed towards a rendezvous with time...