Repeat Performance, Yet Not...

The Doctor

....

Before anything else, I am aware of at least one thing for certain. Somehow by means I cannot begin (as of yet) determine, my Time Sense tells me that I am in another universe. First time I ever felt this particular sensation (not particularly disorienting, but quiet different from I have dealt with as a Timelord). It's something I've grown very familiar with as a Champion!

But while I know that and I get a distinct feeling I've seen this style of architecture before.

Yes, I know we are inside, but beyond that and a feeling I've seen this style of architecture I have no idea where we...

"This . . . is Gauda Prime!" a familiar voice says behind me. I turn and see that at least Avon (and the unnamed human pilot of that crashed ship, I believe) has come along for this journey as well.

.....

"Oh bloody..." I mutter, realizing just what this means.

If events in this universe are anything like those in my universe (those barbaric times after the Atomic Wars . . . which I had rescued my granddaughter from right before my exile) . . . . Yes, while perhaps in some ways the time of the... .er the time of what Betty would call Blake 7's Federation (must remember that the Star Trek Federation is much different) wasn't as deadly dangerous as the years after the Atomic Wars (with wide spread famine and plague) in some ways, but in quiet a few others....

We all could be in a largish spot of trouble, to put it mildly! Especially if we should run afoul of those genocidal fools, Federation soldiers....

.....

Right, first things first! Reaching into a pocket I pull out a particular piece of equipment that over the years I've found rather useful. The combadge is the perfect tool I can use to locate the others and.....!

A series of beeps and squeaks plays out of the combadge as I activate it. It's not quiet on the same frequency as what I have the badge tuned to, but rather enough bleed-over exists that we can hear. While it has been quiet a while since I last have visited this time period (not that I particularly care for it), I at least recognize it as being telemetry from a Federation lander vessel! Too bad that I am not conversant enough in this particular brand of machine code, or else I'd be able to perhaps have more of a clue as....

(Author's Note: don't read the next part in italics if you haven't seen the episode of Glake's 7 "Blake". It's a major spoiler on how that series ends, alas).

"Wait," the pilot hisses, "the timestamp section of the telemetry . . . . it can't be right! That date is around the time that you and Blake almost got captured by Servalan! Back before your big breakout from Gauda Prime and overthrew the Federation! Right before Arlen turned on...."

"And how would you know about....?" Avon starts to snap at the pilot, only to turn pale as he looks at me and then at the pilot.

"Time travel . . . oh god," he whispers, and then without warning he goes shouting down the corridor for this Avon to stop!

....

He thinks that we've traveled back in time!! It's the only thing that it could be and he is remembering how he'd thought he'd been betrayed by Blake to his enemies, the forces of the Federation. If events here are following what had happened back then, in my universe, then this realm's Avon is going to shoot Blake dead only to find out that another had betrayed him. Betty told me that the series ended with all his friends laying at his feet, shot down (either dead or stunned, nothing was sure) in the back by Federation troops and him raising his hands in surrender with Federation guns in his face.

Never saw the show so don't know the full details, but I shall bet you that he's running against time, thinking to prevent history from repeating itself!

Even if he's mistaken about the time travel bit (and he must be nearly out of his mind, not realizing the dangers he'd be facing if we actually had traveled in time properly and he succeeds), he's off to stop a murder!

Well, cannot just let him go in alone, can I? Probably am being foolish myself, but my sense say that it's the right thing to do.

It's a Time-sense thing. Even a reality displaced Timelord can still sense such things like that.

So, we all run down the corridors, rushing into danger and trying to outrun the invading forces. Quickly, we come upon a taboo that I believe that somehow is different that what had happened to "my" Avon.

Rather doubt that the other Avon could shoot this reality's Blake with his own gun on the ground where it's at!

My, isn't that that one...?

Holy....

That other figure from the crash sight (the one not a "Roughneck" from the looks of it) . . . is a GOLEM! Been around my own wife and her family to tell!

The gem in the forehead (amongst other things) is a pretty good clue! Non-glyph type, really. The type that, if they have some kind of metaphysical gift, would be psionic in nature. One to be wary of, perhaps.

For the most part, Golems are not a hazard to other people (high ethics) and . . . .

....

Sigh, I believe that there is some darker meaning, sometime, to the trite phrase . . . the only answer that Inquirer gave when I idly asked on such a matter on less than ethical Golems.

....

She'd said: "We take care of our own."

Well, whatever the case, he's hanging back a bit to be out of sight.

Yes, he's hiding something....

Ah, but that's not quiet the important thing right now. We have more dire things to take care of here as we come into the room.

"Stop!" screams Avon (with me in tow), running into the room, recognizing this place (and what it all means). "STOP!!"

He cannot stand going through this a SECOND time, of course. And of course his unexpected entrance has caused quiet a stir!

"She's the d*mn betrayer!" the elder Avon shouts, pointing straight at a woman who looks exactly like that other Arlen, back years ago. And she looks rather guilty as she goes pale and dives, trying to draw her own weapon when she thinks that her cover has been blown prematurely. Maybe the others going for their guns (as a precaution, I'm sure).

"Give up and I'll...." she begins, only to stare stupidly at her weapon as she fumbles it.

....

You know, for an Intelligence Officer (or whatever), she could have played it smarter. Could have done it where she could have used the trust she'd gotten from Blake to play it against this stranger ("my" Avon) who's just come out of the blue. Could have perhaps turned tables and make the others believe (just for enough time until her friends arrive).

...

"Oh, was that really necessary?" I shout after what happens next.

1. But as it stands, the only thing that Arlen will do is sleep here in a second! Courtesy of that pilot, if you must know. Why? Well, when a person get's pistol whipped from behind like that.....

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