"The Dark Tower, as I understand it from what I've read of the series
by King," Stacy began in a soft voice, "serves as a huge control complex
that prevents the uncontrolled overlapping of different universes."
You know, I think I'm going to have to read this some day. the Betties
think to themselves, idly. It sounds very much like something I'd enjoy,
and I do rather like King's writing.
"There are several facts here." Stacy continues, still looking ill.
"One is the fact that some worlds are suffering under a biological weapon
that got released by (you guessed it), Randal Flag. You may have heard
of this germ warfare weapon, Captain Trips? It's a super flu that had been
created in the book by King called The Stand."
"Ah, yes," the Doctor says, a little worried now (as well as the others),"that
I've read."
"As did we," the Betties and Inquirer say together, ill at ease at where
this is going.
"Now, to risk repeating myself," Stacy says. "The Dark Tower, as I understand
it from what I've read of the series by King, serves as a huge control
complex that prevents the uncontrolled overlapping of different universes.
Now, due to the machinations of a demon by the name of Randall Flag, the
functions of the Dark Tower (which looks like an impossibly tall version
of the Leaning Tower of Piza, from what I read) have begun to malfunction.
This is leading to tears in reality, "thinies", that allow uncontrolled
crossings between universes. It's not a good thing, a thiny. See, it's
not recommended to dwell a long time near a thiny....for the noise they
give off (something akin to a damned soul or some such).....is bad for
mental health. Also, if one gets to NEAR a thiny one runs the risk of staying
IN a thiny. Basically, it acts like a siren song and whammies you into
willingly walking into it and staying. Bad news. If one moves quickly enough
through it, one can live. However, if one just STANDS in it, as I read
it, it has the ability of absorbing you utterly (as in CONSUMING you)."
People are looking at the Rule and Agent, aghast.
"The number of Thinies had been growing at a frightening rate throughout
various parts of the multiverse, causing the problems she mentioned before."
Rule 1 sighs. "They also cause OTHER problems as well. In one of the books
of the Dark Tower series, King had the heroes pass through a thiny into
the world of "The Stand." Ah, but what of it?
"While a human may have difficulty passing safely through a thiny, the
same is NOT true for a brainless germ!" the Agent sighs. "In other words,
that disease is spreading to other Earths in other universes....and other
worlds entirely. Another effect that I am to reveal is that if a TARDIS
passes too close to one, a time/space throwoff is produced and thrown into
various alternate universes. In this case, in a universe that follows the
Dr. Who series to a "t", the fourth Doctor got duplicated several times.
His twins lands on Leela's world - the one of this and the other
Doctors in this TARDIS, and set up the situation that will eventually lead
to Leela. But by the nature of the duplication these twins soon dissolve
into nothing, preventing that duplicate from rectifying the problem he
caused. Rules and Agents.....we aren't too thrilled with Thinies, and want
the Dark Tower repaired ASAP to prevent more disasters caused by them."
"The good news is that we neutralized Flag, a would be set of three
goddesses, and a man who'd.....been called Thaobath before becoming a monster
called the Brazen Man." Rule 1 growled, remembering. "Still, the
Thinies threaten the Grand Design and it threatens mortals. It threatens
us. There is a bit of altruists in our desire to repair the Dark Tower.
There is also a real sense of self preservation in there (thinies aren't
exactly healthy for Agents or Rules in a way that's a bit metaphysical
and will remain unnamed...for there is AGAIN no real words in this language
you have for it). Let us just say that the Dark Tower.....serves as something
like a....well.....Home Office."
The Agent and Rules look directly at the Doctor, who looks....a bit
green around the gill by what has been said.
"Doctor....we tell you of this for we do not wish to appear domineering,"
Rule 1 says softly. "Yes, we are powerful.....but we are also very much
humble servants to those all powerful gods or god that I and Agent 1 won't
reveal by name. We do not wish to appear as gods, for we are NOT. We wish
to fulfill our duties....as we see them. There is a lot not being said
here, for it would be.....betraying trusts. But let it be known that as
things are now, we Rules and Agents share a stake in what also effects
you and your friends. We know that what you'll be doing appears to be.....
extremely coercive, but believe me....it's the best we could do."
Silence.
Then the Doctor nods slowly, and the Rule and Agent sigh and nod also.
"And I think we have a few more questions," Rule 1 sighs. "Fine, but
I'll answer them right now before they are asked....the other Doctors are
really wondering just WHY they aren't getting anywhere. As for the question
of will the Doctor and Companions be able to visit Betty 2's world after
all this is over, the answer is no. The sad fact of the matter is once
the Doctor completes his task....he'll become an Eternal Champion...who's
assigned area is the universes of Terra Prime, his original universe, and
the universes of the original Doctors. FYI, you will need to get the other
Doctors and anyone who got dragged into this universe by what the Master
did off this TARDIS before you attempt departing the universe. You'll just
strain the ship for nothing. Ditto for attempts for them to leave via other
means....just too anchored to this universe....afraid. Yes, Betty 2....I
don't see why not you can't get your cats and Blake 7 videos, but don't
miss the bus when the TARDIS leaves....since you're just dying to be his
Companion. Yes, the other redhaired Betties are stuck as they are. Well,
the other Doctors may complain about being stuck here in Terra Prime, but
they jolly well better remember that they're alive anywhere! No, I nor
my counterpart have any objects at who stays or goes as Companions, Melissa
who is now an elf. Yes! Wendy Fletcher went out and dated Richard Pini...and
eventually married him. Oh, and they formed Warp graphics and produced
Elfquest. Yes, Kuriel IS from that universe that mimiced Elfquest.
Eh, what happened? Well, sorry. That's something you'll have to ask him
in a bit over eight years. He and his friends need to get born again and
all. Yes, on Terra Prime....best place we could put Kuriel and the other
Elfquest elves on short notice." "Don't, by the way, ever try merging the
TARDIS with it's earlier of later self so that they occupy the same space
at the same time," Agent 1 murmurs to the Doctor. "That's another thing
we needed to tell you personally. Had a serious problem with that a bit
ago."
The Doctor, knowing what such a temporal and physical paradox could
do to a universe as a whole.....just turns white at the very thought.
"It's too horrible to contemplate," he whispers to himself, shivering.
"Finally, as for the Doctor....a bit of good news about the meddling
Author C (for Chump) Scott Chen," Rule 1 finishes up. "Instead of turning
the Romana against you, Scott's meddling backfired on him and the young
Time Lady (a title they really should make official) got to really like
what she learned of you.....got bit by the same bug that bit you....and
now is actually wandering the universe.....your universe....meddling in
affairs to make things better. That's why you have two of those small tokenized
TARDISes instead of three."
"Good luck and my you do well," the Agent says with a final bow (oddly
courtly in his biker garb). Rule and Agent vanish......
-
 There
is a loud double THUMP heard throughout this TARDIS as the other
TARDISes finally are allowed to re-materialize...and the situations on
those TARDISes are.....
Go Back
|