Episode 7: Fragmented Part 1

Gerry Bates clunked down the steps into the operating theatre. The light was coming from here. He pulled the curtain shut, and ran his finger over the blackouts. Outside the German planes soared overhead, dropping bombs on London. World War Two was an interesting place to live in. Gerry left the operating theatre, switching off the lights.

“All’s quiet tonight,” he said to himself.

The lights flickered down the corridor. Everything happened very fast. There was a ripple of air, halfway down the corridor. The temperature of the air rose, and suddenly Gerry found himself stood in a room. Metal twisted up the walls, growing like roots. Everything looked different, foreign. But it was more than that. It was alien. Gerry gave a gasp of surprise as he saw the piles of gold.

“Gold…” he muttered. “So much gold!”

Then the gold began to melt. It formed a liquid at the centre of the room. Gerry stepped backwards in shock, as the liquid took the shape of a man. The humanoid body looked at him, tilted his head sideways, and then brought a solid gold fist smashing down on Gerry’s brain. He was dead before he hit the floor. The golden man tilted his head again, before melting back into liquid.

Vworp, vworp!

The sound of the universe exploded into life as the TARDIS materialised into existence. Inside the small, wooden, police box was the last member of an ancient race, and his two human companions.

“Where are we?” Georgia asked excitedly.
“I’m not sure. The TARDIS was sort of pulled here. Weird… Probably nothing.”

The Doctor sounded concerned. His eyebrows arched into a frown, his jaw set with concern.

“Oh well if the Doctor doesn’t know something, we’re all doomed,” Conner said.
“Thanks for that Conner,” Georgia said sarcastically. “You’re always the optimist.”
“I know,” Conner laughed.
“Right,” Georgia said. “I’m going outside. You two can wait, I never get to do this on my own.”
“It could be dangerous,” the Doctor warned.
“All the better,” Georgia said.

She turned around and walked out of the TARDIS. She was stood in a corridor, and the air smelt faintly of hospitals. It was early morning, and people would soon be arriving. Georgia walked down the corridor, listening for sounds. She loved the excitement of stepping out into an unknown place for the first time. She heard a noise as she turned a corner. Hurrying to the door, Georgia ducked behind it.

“We’ve got new patients coming in everyday,” a male voice said, clearly a manager or boss. “We can’t cope!”
“Is it true, about Mr Bates?” a cool female voice inquired.

The voice probably belonged to an old nurse.

“It is,” the male voice replied. “He disappeared last night. The police are looking for his body but they doubt anything will come of it. He was a good man.”
“Yes,” the female voice replied, somewhat sourly.
“Anyway I’d best be off,” the male voice said. “The first casualties will start pouring in soon, and we’ve got that new nurse coming in an hour.”

Georgia quickly stepped back and flattened herself against the wall as the door opened. A doctor stepped out and walked down the corridor.

“Come on,” the Doctor said. “Let’s go.”
“She’s bound to have had enough time to look around,” Conner agreed.

They began to make their way to the door, when the TARDIS shook. Conner slipped on the grilled floor and fell onto his knees, and the Doctor slipped backwards onto the console. Steadying himself, the Doctor looked at the console scanner.

“Something’s happening!” he cried. “We’re moving…”
“What could move the TARDIS?” Conner asked.
“I dunno! We’re slipping!” the Doctor said in disbelief.

Vworp!

Georgia looked up in shock as she heard the sound of the TARDIS. It only usually made that sound when it was dematerialising…

“Doctor!” Georgia screamed; running back around the corner.

Why had it only made that sound once? If it was leaving, the TARDIS would have vworped several times…

Georgia entered the corridor the TARDIS had parked in. It was gone!

Title Sequence

“But you can’t!” Georgia spluttered. “You left me behind! I’m still here!!!”

The TARDIS steadied again, and all was silent. Conner pulled himself off the floor.

“It’s all quiet…” he muttered.
“We’ve moved!” the Doctor said, peering at the scanner.
“Where are we?” Conner asked nervously.

Surely whatever was out there was deadly – it had been strong enough to pull the TARDIS after all. Conner stepped behind the Doctor and peered over his shoulder.

“Oh God, it’s a fleet of Daleks or something,” Conner guessed. “Maybe some Gasolemu?”
“Actually…” the Doctor said.
“Slitheen?” Conner asked.
“No,” the Doctor said. “It’s another corridor. And it’s empty.”

The door to the TARDIS opened and the Doctor and Conner stepped out. The Doctor scanned the pictures on the walls as Conner walked down the end of the corridor.

“Doctor!” he cried. “There’re people coming!”

The Doctor turned around in surprise to see four armed men and one armed woman holding Conner.

“Who are you?” they shouted. “Are you one of the Kritzanthians?”
“No, I’m the Doctor,” the Doctor shouted back. “Sorry, the what-ians?”
“It seems unwise to reveal strategy and information to two strangers,” the woman warned as one of the men began to reply.
“Then show me,” the Doctor said. “But let my friend go. He’s unnecessary.”
“Oh thanks Doctor,” Conner said.
“I’m afraid we will be keeping him for a while,” the woman said. “Until we can be sure to trust you.”

Conner saw the Doctor give a slight nod, so he raised his elbow and struck the nearest man in the crotch. He doubled up in a pain, and his grip weakened on Conner. With a quick ‘sorry mate’ Conner broke free of the men and legged it around the corner and off down the corridor.

“Harris, Nott, Rollins, get after him,” the woman ordered.
“Yes ma’am,” the men replied, running after Conner.
“Roux, with me,” the woman said. “Doctor, you will come with us.”

“Are you alright darling?” a voice asked. “Let me help you up.”

Georgia felt a soft, warm pair of hands pull her up off the floor. She was led numbly out of the room, down a corridor and into another room. She was pulled onto a chair, where she sat, blinking the tears out of her eyes.

“What’s the matter sweetheart?” the same voice asked again.

Georgia looked upwards to see perhaps the prettiest woman she had ever seen. She was around 24, had slightly curled blonde hair, faintly coloured cheeks and perfect red lips, which formed a concerned expression.

“The Doctor…” Georgia said. “He’s gone. He left me…”
“He’s probably gone to get your uniform,” the woman replied soothingly. “You are the new nurse aren’t you?”

Georgia was confused. Which doctor was the beautiful woman on about? Her Doctor didn’t want her to be a nurse. Or maybe he did – maybe he needed her to do this, but hadn’t told her because he knew she’d complain…

“Yeah,” Georgia said. “I’m Georgia. Georgia Bell.”
“Great,” the woman smiled. “My name’s Pippa Blackwell.”
“So where’s my uniform?” Georgia asked, standing up off the chair.

She looked around more closely at the hospital she was in. She noted the blackout curtains and the posters informing patients Hitler would send no warning.

“Second World War…” Georgia muttered. “Thanks a lot Doctor.”
“Sorry?” Pippa asked, bemused.
“Nothing,” Georgia said hastily.
“Let’s go get your uniform,” Pippa said excitedly. “You’ll look gorgeous!”

Pippa took Georgia’s hand, and pulled her excitedly from the room. Conner burst round another corner. Harris, Nott and Rollins continued to pursue him. The Doctor was nowhere to be found; presumably he’d been captured. Conner rounded another corner, and spotted an office. He flung open the door, and ran through it, slamming the door behind him. And suddenly he was somewhere else. And he’d fallen over.

“What the…?” Conner muttered, pulling himself to his feet.

He looked around. It seemed he was in a hospital. It looked like the same one the Doctor had shown him on the TARDIS console scanner. The one Georgia had gotten lost in. Suddenly the door to the small room was opened. A young doctor walked appeared in the doorway.

“Hello,” he said.
“Hi…” Conner said.
“What’re you doing here?” the man asked.
“Who are you? Do you know me?” Conner asked, confused.
“My name’s doctor Jeremy Hutchinson. I understand you must be worried,” he replied.
“About what?” Conner laughed.
“The war of course,” Jeremy replied. “But it’s okay. I’ll drop you off at the station on my way to our medical supplies... giver.”
“You’d sound a bit silly saying medical supplies supplier,” Conner grinned. “But what do you mean, drop me off?”
“Come with me,” Jeremy said. “I don’t understand what a young gentleman like you is doing here.”
“What do you mean?” Conner asked, stepping backwards.
“I know your secret,” Jeremy said. “You shouldn’t belong here.”

Conner stepped backwards again. How could he know that Conner belonged in 2011, and not 1945? Was he an alien? Or did he know Conner from another time, another place?

“I…” Conner stuttered.
“Come with me,” Jeremy said.

Conner felt Jeremy’s hands clasp around his shoulders. He was led down a street, wondering if Jeremy was about to reveal himself as an alien. He soon realised that wasn’t the case, when Jeremy stopped a street down, at a train station.

“Here we are,” Jeremy said.
“What are you gonna do with me?” Conner asked. “Where am I going?”
“To the countryside,” Jeremy said, as if this should be obvious. “You’re only a child; London is no place for a child in these times.”

He led Conner to a carriage, and nudged him inside it. He shut the door, and the lock clicked.

“Where am I going?!” Conner cried, banging the glass.
“You’re being evacuated,” Jeremy said, slowly and clearly, as if Conner was simple.
“Let me out!” Conner shouted. “Doctor! DOCTOR!”

But Conner was helpless, as the train drew away from the station, and headed to Conner’s new life, alone.

To be continued…