TTV Series Episode 4: Bait

The TARDIS materialised on the Asteroid Bazaar, and the Doctor slipped casually out. He staggered over to Podmore’s stall, falling into it.

“Oi!” Podmore cried. “Wot’cho think your doing?”
“I’ve had a little bit too much to drink,” the Doctor laughed, rolling over.

Back by the TARDIS, Madame Rene nodded at Amelia, and pushed her through the doors.

“I say, what’s the rumpus ace?” she called.
“What?” Podmore snapped, trying to kick the Doctor. “Wait – you! You’re…!”
“What, skip?” Amelia asked casually.

Podmore raced over to her, and pulled out a teleport. Quick as a flash, the Doctor and Madame Rene had grabbed him, and all four of them had vanished. They hit the floor, and Podmore pushed them away.

“You woz bait, wasn’t you?” he scowled at Amelia.
“A damn fine capture, I might say,” Amelia beamed.
“God, you’re annoying,” the Doctor muttered. “Where are we? This isn’t the Inner Circle.”
“We’re on a Travesty spaceship!” Podmore gasped. “The teleport must have gone wrong. We need to get out of here before he find us!”
“Finds us,” Madame Rene corrected him.
“Ssh!” the Doctor hushed. “Everyone keep quiet, maybe the Travesty is asleep!”
“I’m not,” a voice boomed. “I can hear you.”

There was a flash of light, and a ghost-like figure shot through a near wall. Amelia screamed, and began to run. Madame Rene tore after her, leaving the Doctor and Podmore on the floor.

“I gotta go,” Podmore muttered, vanishing with a flash.
“Doctor, watch out!” Madame Rene cried.

The Doctor dived sideways as the Travesty lunged at him. Its chilled hand touched him, and before he could cry out, the Doctor had sunk through the floor.

“What happened lady?” Amelia asked in amazement.
“The Travesty passes on its traits, such as being able to pass through solid objects via touch,” Madame Rene explained. “We’d better run – it might pass being dead onto us!”

She turned and ran down the corridor, Amelia following. The Doctor opened his eyes, which had been screwed tight shut, and realised he was lying on the floor. He stood up, and reached out to a wall. His fingers were no longer able to pass through it.

“Weird,” he muttered.
“Hello?” a voice called. “Is that someone there? Can you help us?”

The Doctor followed the voice, and found a room, sealed shut. He placed an ear to the door, and heard voices.

“Please, the Travesty has captured us!” one man’s voice cried.

The Doctor looked in through the door, but could see no bodies.

“Who are you?” he frowned.
“We are the souls of the dead,” the man replied. “I once used to be called Lewis Morgan, but now I am an immortal. The Travesty used to live in the Salvation Realm, but it left, capturing us and taking us with him for comfort. He’s had us locked up ever since.”
“When was this?” the Doctor asked.
“Recently,” Lewis said. “Time is hard to count in here. I miss the Salvation Realm.”
“Did you know a Crystal Harris there?” the Doctor asked quickly. “Dyed red hair, pretty…”
“Crystal, yeah, I knew her,” Lewis said. “Friends with Catherine Howard, a right pair they are.”

The Doctor fell silent, and leant against the door. He thought about this for a long time. Suddenly, he smiled.

“Wait!” he cried. “The Travesty was able to leave, right? Can others leave?”
“I don’t know,” Lewis said. “I’ve heard it’s possibly, but I’ve never known anyone – except us here, of course.”
“And is it possible to go to the Salvation Realm without dying?” the Doctor continued.
“Again, I’ve heard of it, but never seen it,” Lewis replied. “I’d like to return myself, but I can’t.”
“We’ll see about that,” the Doctor smiled.

Using the Sonic Screwdriver, he blasted open the doors, freeing the souls. As they flew around the ship, they laughed, and sang, and headed towards the Travesty that had hurt them.

“Come on!” Madame Rene cried. “Climb!”

She urged Amelia, who was a few rungs on the ladder above her, on. The Travesty was slowly drifting up the ladder towards them, and Amelia was scared.

“I can’t do it lady,” she whispered.
“You’ve got to!” Madame Rene cried. “Otherwise we’ll both die!”

She pushed Amelia once more, and, to her relief, the immortal began to climb up the ladder. Within seconds, she was up onto a new level, and Madame Rene was right behind. The Travesty emerged, but quickly recoiled as Lewis and the other immortals appeared, their bodies almost completely reformed.

“Get him!” Lewis cried. “Attack!”

He and the other immortals charged, chasing the Travesty down the ladder. Amelia watched in awe, and a hand clasped on her shoulder.

“Sorry that we didn’t get to the Inner Circle,” the Doctor sighed. “You did really well.”
“Thanks, mister,” Amelia smiled. “But we’ll get there. Just wait five minutes.”

Sure enough, about a minute later, Podmore appeared, out of breath.

“The Inner Circle want to talk to you,” he said, handing over a teleport. “Hadrius told me to bring all of you.”
“We’re almost there, Doctor,” Madame Rene smiled.

With a flash, all four of them disappeared, and appeared at the Inner Circle. Hadrius Andes was seated furthest away, and clasped his hands together.

“Welcome,” he said. “To the new, improved Inner Circle.”
“What’s different?” the Doctor frowned, taking a seat.
“We’re about to get a new member,” Hadrius smiled. “Tina, tell them what we know.”
“Well,” Tina smiled. “You want Crystal back, and we can help, if you give us Amelia Earhart.”
“Do we have a deal?” Vivian asked.
“Let’s talk,” Madame Rene nodded, taking a seat.
“Good,” Dennis smiled.
“Very good,” Selden chuckled.
“Typical,” Mercedes muttered. “Another skinny white girl…”
“So,” Hadrius said, ignoring her. “Let us begin.”

To Be Continued…