inferno fiction 14: ruler of the fourth dimension page 3

The Doctor looked up at him, a scowled look of anger crossed his face at what it was he was hearing.

'And I did. Look around you, Doctor. After a trip backwards to this year, I managed to create all this in an abandoned lab. All this. I adopted the name Zxarr as soon as I heard that familiar police box sound. I didn’t want you to find out who I was straight away. And now that you have, I, Adam Mitchell am the ruler of the fourth dimension! The best way to take revenge on you, don’t you think?'

'You don’t realize what you’re doing, Adam!' snapped the Doctor, 'You idiot. YOU IDIOT! You’re going to single handedly destroy time, just so you can make a bit of money? How does that work anyway?'

'Simple. I'm sure you know how it works, Doctor. With control over time I can move back and forth staking claims on lands, buildings, cities, worlds. Absolute control of everything I survey throughout time. It would make me rich beyond any man's dream! I have complete control of time at my fingertips.'

'Your fingertips? You mean like this?'

Instantly the Doctor clicked his fingers and I watched in horror as a door opened up on Adam’s forehead. Adam clicked his fingers in response to close the opening as the Doctor struggled to retrieve his sonic screwdriver, and in doing so it dropped to the floor. He dashed to pick it up and managed to operate its controls just before the opening on Adam's forehead closed.

'The door is now permanent. Everyone will see it. You'll never be able to close it again. That’s the fury of a Time Lord for you, Adam Mitchell. Let that be a warning. Next time it could be worse.'

'This changes nothing, Doctor. I still have control of time and time will obey me!'

While he was confused and unable to close the aperture on his forehead, we headed back to the TARDIS. The Doctor was way ahead of me but it didn't take long for me to get the message and catch him up.

~~~

When we arrived back at the TARDIS, the Doctor quickly set up the TARDIS controls to scan for any weaknesses in Adam’s machines. He was trying to find a way of overriding the isomorphic controls, but there were none to find.

'With so much experience you'd think I'd have found away of by passing isomorphic controls by now.' he paused, gazed upward at the time column and declared, 'Okay, plan B!'

'Doctor, do you have a plan B?'

'No, not really, but that makes it more fun.'

It was then that I realised the Doctor was missing the obvious.

'Doctor, Adam touched the sonic screwdriver. He touched it. Doesn't that mean we have a finger print?A sample we can use to manipulate the isomorphic controls.'

'DNA' whispered the Doctor. 'David, you’re a genius! An absolute genius! 150% genius. Let’s get back to the lab. And quickly, before Adam decides to do any more timey wimey…stuff.' He looked awkward as he said this, not sure whether to put his arms around me, or at worst, kiss me, but thankfully he just shook my hand.

'I’ll distract Adam while you use the sonic screwdriver to use the controls. Humanity rests in your arms, David.'

'Understood, Doctor.' I said and as we quickly left the TARDIS and made our way back to the laboratory.

Once there the Doctor slowly walked up to Adam, while I made my way towards the controls.

'Adam, there’s somebody wanting to see you outside.'

'I don’t care, Doctor. I have more important things to deal with.'

'He mentioned something about money.'

'Money? What do I want with money now, when I have everything I've ever wanted and more?'

'Well, it seems that your little scheme here has been rumbled.'

'What? By whom?' Adam rushed out of the room, and with a nod from the Doctor I pressed the “reset” button.

'I’ve done it. One thing I don’t get, though, Doctor. Surely he could just set it all up again?'

'Not if I do this. The sonic screwdriver please.'

I returned his sonic screwdriver to him. He manipulated the controls again and aimed it at the machines. 'Now the sonic screwdriver has a sample of Adam’s DNA, I can do this.' A whirring sound emitted from it and instantly the machines blew up.

Adam had heard the noise and rushed back in. The aperture still open but the look on his face was priceless. Anybody would’ve thought a family member had died. We headed back to the TARDIS in triumph, safe with the knowledge that Adam will never be able to change time again.

~~~

'So, what did he mean it was all your fault?'

'He tried to change the course of time. He left details of the future on an answer machine recording. He even had a computer microchip implanted into his brain. His stupidity almost caused the TARDIS to fall into the wrong arms. So I dropped him off back home. His mother saw the door in his forehead and it seems he's never forgiven me. I don't know why. Still, it was of his own doing.'

'You saved time, and you just did it again.'

'The first time, yes, but I think the second occasion was you, not me. If you hadn’t come up with the idea with the use of the sonic screwdriver and used the controls, time would’ve always been in his hands.'

'Thanks, but I’m nothing compared to you. You’re amazing, Doctor. I can see why my brother travelled with you.'

'Don’t be daft, David. You’re just like your brother. Incredible. Absolutely incredible. In fact, on the scale-of-incredible-ness, I’d say you’re at about 1pg5. Wait, that’s not a number. I don’t suppose you-'

'Suppose what?'

'You fancy travelling with me for a bit? Through time and space?'

'I’d love to, Doctor, but I can’t, sorry. I’ve got a job interview to focus on. I’m applying to be Donna Noble’s personal assistant.'

'Donna Noble?' He looked at me alert, yet worried at the mention of the name.

'Yeah. What’s wrong with that?' I asked

'Nothing. It’s just….one of my companions was called Donna Noble and she was from the twenty first century.'

'Could be a relative.'

'Yes…relative.' The Doctor didn’t sound too convinced. Now, as I think about it, Donna Noble did seem to be wearing strange clothes when I met her; certainly not from this era. Thou this was the sixties and fashion was changing very fast.

It wasn't long before the Doctor had dropped me back off in the 1960s. I never saw him again. I don’t think I ever will. And if I don’t, then know this: If you meet a man, a young man, dressed in a bow tie, join him, travel with him. Even if it’s just for one adventure, do it. Because that man truly changes your life.

My name is David Chesterton and I saved time itself.

written by

SEAN BASSETT

COLIN JOHN

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