The Time Gambit ( The Tenth Doctor Adventures ) By Jeff Walker Part One - On a distant planet, out in the far reaches of the galaxy, a race of green scaley like humanoids monitor a massive screen in the central citidel in the main capitol. They look on as they see the odd light flashing on the big screens infront of them. On them are charts of the galaxy and of spiral shaped grid lines that funnel all over the place. The two creatures eyeing the massive star map soon detect a new light flashing, one of them taps onto the blinking source with its finger, which causes a huge holographic sub-screen to pop out of the large monitor. It's red eyes gaze at the information scrolling down and turns to another one of it's kind standing behind him. " Another one has appeared my lord. It's definately the one we've been looking for. ", the creature says in a rather human sounding voice. The one behind him, in more royal outfittings, smiles with its scaley green lips and comes closer to have a look, " Excellent. I'll inform our patrons of its pending arrival. Well done......Grab hold of it and send it to section 12, level A3. I'll go and...Greet our guests when they land.", it says as it continues to smile away. Meanwhile, somewhere out in space and time, the Tardis spins away as the Doctor and Andrea stand around the console room as it travels. Inside the off white, perfierated room, the two play a game of chess. Andrea seems to be losing by one, while the Doctor sits and thinks about his next move. She sighs as he holds on to his rook, his eyes peering away at the board, looking for his big break. Wearing his usual oversized maroon smoking jacket, black and white checkered trousers, mis-matched shoes and a checkard brownish vest. The Doctor leans in for an even closer look. Andrea leans back in her chair, she is wearing a cream coloured long sleeved shirt, the sleeves are rolled up to her elbows, a pair of tight fitting dress slacks that are flared at the bottom and black, open toed, platformed heel shoes. " Come on Doc....you've been sitting like that for hours. Make a move already....", she moans impatiently. The Doctor hushes her, " Shhhh.....the point of chess is cunning my dear girl....cunning. The right move in the right spot.....and the game is set. " She sighs again as she continues to watch on, " Very well....if you say so. I can't wait till we land, oooh I'm looking forward to seeing the waters of Tessek Prime. From what you told me, a cruise on their ocean liners will be relaxing.", Andrea says folding her arms behind her head. "Mmmm.....they do make a rather ripping purple nebula drink. I think I'm taking you to too many resort planets, we should try the outter dimensions sometimes.....", he says as he still looks at his chess peice. Andrea looks at him as he suggests the place, " Really? Do they have room service there? ", she says to him jokingly. He just gives a look to her, knowing full well shes having fun with him. But then he soon makes a out burst that snaps her out of that cocky attitude. " AH HA! ", he blurts out, " Rook.....takes knight......and behold.....Checkmate! ", he says with confidence. Andrea looks totally unhappy with his victory, as she pouts at him for taking her only defence left. He smiles at her, " Sweet victory.....I never tire of it. " Just as he revels in his win, the Tardis begins to shake violently, the room angles all over the place, causing some of the furnishings to topple, including the table where they just finished playing chess. Andrea tries to hold on as the place rumbles, she is soon holding the wall trying to get a grip. The Doctor manages to sprawl to the main controls of the Tardis, and tries to stablize the craft as it spins out of control. With another quick jolt, Andrea is finally hurled to the control center as well, the look of panic in her face is hard to see as the room warps around them. " What's happening?!!", she screams out. " I can't....get the stablizers working......", the Doctor says with frustration, " ....Damn....I think we've been caught in some sort of spacial distortion field. Hold on Andrea....Hold ON! ", he yells at her. The vortex outside warps away and splits off into a new direction, the craft whips and turns on all angles as it draws near it's new destination target. Soon it begins to materialize, the wooshing of the Tardis sounds forced as it appears on a cemented parking structure with a lush looking environment in the distance. Inside, the two of them finally get their wits about them, the quick landing catches them off gaurd as they both look to each other with concern. Andrea grabs hold of her head, and wipes the messed tangles of her hair out of her face. " Ow...oh my head.....what was that? Don't tell me you broke this thing again? ", she moans at him. The Doctor punches a few of the buttons and opens the main viewer ahead, " Hm....well by the look of things, we've landed......but not on Tessex Prime. ", once again he fiddles with the controls and looks to one of the side monitors built into the controls, " Definatly not Tessex.......how odd.......we're off course by 333.254.0 mark two. ", he says with a confused look. Andrea also looks confused, not understanding what all of that just ment, she dares ask him, " Sooo....what....thats a shade or too off a few lightyears or somethin? " " Hardly my dear......Never the less.....I think we should have a pop out and get our bearings." , the quriky Timelord says to her. He lifts up the control that opens the doors, the hydrolic sound of the built in movable door panels swing open inward. Grabbing his red cap laying near the floor, he slaps it on his head and gestures with his finger for her to come with. She just straightens herself out, fluffs her hair and follows the man that just patronized her with his motion. Outside of the blue box, the Doctor pops out of the door, sniffing in the air and holding is finger up for wind. Andrea soon follows, closing the door behind her. Surveying the area, they see the large smooth parking lot like structure they're situated on. In each part of the surface, are small markers on the ground, perimeters in yellow with strange alien symols on them. In some of the areas other weird objects sit, some look like small space crafts, others look more alien. " Doctor? What is this......looks like a parking lot or something.", she observes. " Yes......I wonder if we have to pay for parking here.", he says rather oddly. Soon coming out of a large sliver tube, resembling more like an elevator of earth's standards, the green scaley creatures come to greet the Doctor. The one infront wears the royal looking clothes, while the others behind him have armored covered jackets and paints. Each one of the security looking bunch is carrying a alien looking weapon of all the same shape and design, relaxed at their sides, the gaurds look unthreatening. The royal looking creature spreads out his arms and joyfully smiles as he walks towards them. " Welcome my friends......I greet you on behalf of my people.", the being says. The Doctor smiles back and gleefully shakes the beings hand, " Oh why thank you very much.....uh....I wasn't aware that you were even expecting us. Can you tell me where we are? ", he asks the smiling scaley green man. " But of course....this is the planet of Shalarus. I am your host Kelarr....", the creature says with enthusiasm. The Doctor turns his head away for a second, the planet's name sounds familiar to him but can't quite place where he's heard it before. Andrea meanwhile, looks nervously at the gaurds, too many times have they been greeted by hostile forces so its only natrual that she be a bit edgy. Kelaar looks at them both and moves his arm to gesture towards the elevator, " Please come and stay with us.....I will show you to a place of rest and refreshments. ", he says to them in the same jolly voice. The Doctor, not one to turn down a nice invitation, folds his arms together behind him and bows to the host in agreement, " Splended! Thank you very much......we could due with a spot of tea and some sandwiches.", the beaming Timelord responds, " Come along Andrea.", he commands at her. She still is unsure about the whole situation, but tags along with the rest as they slip into the elevator and head downwards. As the lift moves down, the Doctor asks questions to his genierous host, " Tell me.....do you always approach perfect strangers with such open arms? " " You are no stanger to us, Doctor ", Kelarr speaks as he stares at the slightly taller man then him. The Doctor seems shocked that he knows who he is, " You called me Doctor....." " We know all about you Doctor, your a Time Lord from Galifrey, you travel in your Tardis, and you've regenerated to your....uh.....seventh form? ", the red eyed being says with an inquizitive lull. " Ninth actually...", the Doctor states to him in a serious nature. " Oh dear...", the creature says, " ....your Ten now......I must inform our record department, it seems they're a bit behind. " The elevator stops, the doors swing open and reveal a bustling community of the Shalarians, they walk out and head towards a large building a few feet infront of them. The gaurds stationed at the doors give both Andrea and the Doctor a minute of pause, but soon walk in with the rest of their escort as they see the beautiful interior. A vast hotel like inside, hollow in the center all the way to the top, and full of lush forrestry and greenery. They continue over to a set of large metallic shiny doors, as they open automatically, they all walk in. Inside it looks like a futuristic lounge room, full of comfortable funishings and plant life all around. To the right of them is a large open window area that looks out from the building and out into the lush valley of the planet. Andrea walks in and takes a seat on the rather soft chairs, kicking her feet up and leaning back, much more relaxed then a few moments ago. The Doctor stands a few feet away from the entrance and takes in the sight. " Beautiful.....", he comments. Kelarr bows to him for the compliment, " Thank you, we do take pride in our planet's richness. As I said, you are our guests here, please feel free to whatever your hearts desire. But I must insist on one thing....", the creature then says to the Timelord, "....you must never go back to your Tardis again. " That hit a cord with the Doctor as he quickly turns to him with confusion, " What? Why not....", he demands. The gaurds then quickly bring their weapons up and point them at him, in more of a defence posture rather then a threatening one. The creature stands next to his arm security, " Doctor, you and your companion are here as permanent guests on this planet. Any attempt to flee in your Tardis will be useless.....a dematerialization force field is currently around your ship, so leaving here would be a futile effort. " The Doctor grows angry as does Andrea, his fist clasps and manages to point his finger out to the alien man, " Now look here......you have no right to do this!! I demand to see your superiors!! Who made you do this?! ", the Doctor screams at him. Just then, a female voice booms out from behind one of the room's pillars, a figure stand hidden from them behind it, " Tsk tsk, Doctor. You should be more relaxed, these people went out of their way to make you right at home.....after all.....", the woman pauses as she soon steps out into the light for them to see. " You are a guest of the Shalarians.....hmmm...", she says to him. The Doctor's eyes widen, as he sees her. She's of mid-height, wearing a white blouse with black leather pants, the vest she sports almost matches her pants and the long brown, velvet like, high heel boots she wears almost comes up to her knees. The caucasian human looking woman, gazes at him with her pretty eyes, the short reddish hair gives her an almost sinister look. The Doctor looks deeper, and soon realizes who this woman is, all too many times has he bumped into this one, for she as been just as bad as his previous Timelord rival The Master. " The Rani....", he says softly in a defiant tone. The Rani stands there laughing at him, Andrea soon looks over at her and the Gaurds by the door, and feels that once again.......they're in deep trouble. End of Part One