The Mirror Cracks

It was a quiet time as far as time goes. The air was crisp, the birds chirping and the wind was fresh and fragrant.

This of course was boring The Doctor nearly to tears.

‘Still,’ he thought ‘After things like Daleks, Cybermen and the like, it’s always good to recharge a bit.’

Five minutes later, again – Bored to tears.

He abruptly stood and walked briskly into the TARDIS with his scarf trailing, and the machine began to wail as it prepared for a journey.

A cloaked figure emerged from a nearby tree, and points an instrument at the vehicle as it begins to vanish. The pitch of it’s Time engine changed abruptly,, and after a moment’s struggle finally manages to completely disappear.

As if to an audience, the cloaked figure then spoke aloud. “There Doctor, there. It is there where you will finally understand. And please do me the honor of finally dying, for the last time.”

Malevolent laughter flowed across the glade.

…

The Doctor was struggling to control his machine. Even though he had been meaning to give the old girl an overhaul, somehow time had never given him the chance. ‘Always Time’ he thought as he battled to regain control, ‘I never seem to have enough. So much for being a Time Lord’.

As if in response to his musing, the TARDIS finally settled down, giving The Doctor a chance to relax against the control panel.

“Well,” he said to nobody in particular – useful since he was alone “The summons was particular about getting to Gallifrey as fast as possible. Still – I really must get her repaired. I don’t think they’d mind a very short stopover.”

The Doctor spent a moment looking over his instrumentation, and finally came to a decision, and began to set the coordinates.

“Astra Major,” he said “Just the place. They’ll set you to rights old girl!”

Pressing the buttons, he made for his new destination.

…

“We’ve just seen it in on the scanners, Brigadier” said the lieutenant “it should be arriving momentarily, just as our informant told us.”

“Very good Caleb, very good. As soon as The Doctor emerges – Arrest him immediately. He won’t escape us this time.”

The Brigadier was eager with anticipation. After all the years UNIT had been chasing this renegade across the globe, finally it’s mortal enemy would be captured.

…

The TARDIS materialized without fail, and The Doctor made ready to go and negotiate a contract for her repair. Astra Major had a peculiar monetary system, preferring to use bits of plastic as currency. The Doctor had spent many years collecting just these types of bits in preparation for this day. Confident in his ability to pay, he opened the door and strode through.

And was promptly faced with Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart backed up by 5 UNIT soldiers carrying some of the more lethal looking weapons at their disposal.

“My dear Brigadier,” said The Doctor “A pleasure as always to see you – But I HAD planned on a different place entirely. I was just on my way to…”

“I’m certain of that, Doctor,” Interrupted the Brigadier “But this time your crimes will not go unpunished. In the name of UNIT, The Queen and Earth, I hereby arrest you for crimes against Humanity. Unfortunately for you, your trial was held in your absence. You were found guilty on all counts, of course. The sentence was Death – To be carried out immediately.“

“What?” was all The Doctor could say as the guards led him away.

…

A short time later, a bound Doctor was seated in an interrogation room across from what he considered two of his staunchest allies of late – The Brigadier and Sarah Jane Smith. He has been listening to a list of his crimes, and was aghast. How could these people believe this of him?

“Let me get this straight,” he cried “I am to be executed for murder, kidnapping and being a general menace to the Earth ‘Empire’? What Empire is this – And exactly who am I accused of kidnapping?”

“Miss Smith is the latest of your victims, sir. She has given us quite the account of the terrors you visited upon her during your misdeeds. And please do not claim insanity, Doctor – You know quite well that Earth has been ruled by Great Britain ever since YOU tried to help the Daleks to invade us. Why, if it weren’t for The Master foiling that with help from the Romulans…”

“The Master foiling ME?” exclaimed The Doctor “Oh my – It seems I’ve really done it this time. This is worse than getting to the wrong planet – Brigadier, you MUST believe me – I’m in the wrong REALITY!”

“Oh please, Doctor” said Sarah Jane “Here you are looking exactly as you did after dropping me off in the middle of nowhere – All teeth and hair – And you claim that WE are mistaken?”

“Yes, exactly that. I am innocent to these charges – Although I admit that it might have been me – but not me. Don’t you see?” The Doctor was on guard now, aware that he may possibly be pleading for his very life.

“I’m afraid it is you who doesn’t see Doctor. As I said, you have been tried and found guilty. This reading of charges against you is merely a formality of justice. Execution will be immediate.” The Brigadier went on “Oh, unlike you, we will show mercy and make it a quick death. But you will die Doctor, and you will not regenerate. The Master has given us a device that will not allow that.”

Motioning to the guards nearby, Lethbridge-Stewart had the Doctor taken from the room. “Take him directly to the Wall,” he instructed “And have the firing squad at the ready.”

…

A short while later, blindfolded and bound, the Doctor was left against a cold metal wall. A voice asked him if he had any last requests.

“Yes please,” he exclaimed “Don’t kill me.”

At least this got him a hearty laugh from his executioners. Unable to see them, he could only imagine what was happening around him and what type of weapons they intended to use.

‘Imagine it’ he thought to himself ‘A reality where I am the Villain and The Master is the Hero. I – Well, my other me – Must be quite bad to deserve this treatment.’

A door opened and the Brigadier strode in, followed by Sarah Jane and several others. He showed them to their seats, and took his place near the firing squad.

“Doctor, your list of crimes have been read to you according to our directives, and you have been sentenced to Death. Sentence will now be carried out.”

The Brigadier motioned to the assembled marksmen who then took careful aim.

“Ready – Aim – Fire“

Energy weapons discharged in a blaze of fury.

…

The Doctor awoke with a start. Clutching his chest, he took in great amounts of oxygen, and looked around. He was back in the glade, and with a look of shame stealing across his face realized it was all just a dream. He hadn’t thought of this individual in years, and he found that it saddened him more than he knew to be the last Time Lord.

“What’s wrong, Doctor?” said Rose as she came up to him after exiting the TARDIS “You look a fright.”

“It’s nothing, Rose” he said “But I really must remind myself from time to time that evil isn’t exactly evil in all cases. Have I ever told you about a friend of mine – A chap named The Master?”