Eye of the Storm

Episode One
by esherrouse

The rain pelted the pavement cleansing it as best as it could of the polluted stains which remained after a day in a sinful world. The water flowed in a microcosm of streams down toward the underworld. No longer an underworld ruled by Pluto or even Satan, but one dominated by it's primary denizen, rats. They scurry in and out of the darkness and dimly lit shadows. The only item of beauty is the result of the sinful union between these two worlds, the waterfall. It falls steadily down from the street
gutters and offers some sense of respite to an otherwise lost world.
The figure turned the corner and looked nervously over his shoulder. His overcoat was drenched from the last hours deluge. Another day, he thought. His hat acted only as a mild deterrent. There was no one there. He began to walk steadily down the next street with the occassional glance over his shoulder. Nothing. His pace increased as he appeared more anxious. His was the only figure on the dimly lit street. The buildings on both sides offered some light from their windows, but nothing that would allow reasonable vision in such weather. As he turned the next corner, a street light flickered. He paused again and looked down at a metal
case in his left hand. It was old and rusted but seemed to be wrapped in a series of chains and locks. One of which was fastened around his gloved arm. He continued. Step after step.

"I am telling you for the last time, Barbara. He hasn't got a clue how to steer that ship of his. We may as well be lost at sea." Ian argued as he emerged from a Blue Police box.
"It's called the TARDIS, Ian, and we have not even given him a chance. He is our only hope of getting home." She followed him out. Both soon found themselves soaked in the showering rain.
"He can't even keep the monitor working properly. Sunny beaches indeed!"
"Ian!" Barbara interjected, as she began to take notice of their surroundings. "Can it be?"
Ian looked up at the buildings around them. "It certainly looks it." He then began to try and take in as much of their surroundings as he could see.
"Well do use an umbrella you two." The Doctor emerged from the TARDIS with Susan and handed them an umbrella.
"How did you know it was raining, Doctor?" inquired Barbara.
"You can smell it. There is an unmistakeable scent of precipitation. Anyone should have noticed it." He then looked at Ian with a disappointed glare. "hmph".
"Are we home, Doctor?" Ian asked excitedly as he ignored the Doctor's last verbal jab.
"To soon to tell my boy"
"Well it certainly looks like Earth, grandfather." Susan responded.
"It may well be, Susan, but all we have to go on are these architectual similarities. There are only so many ways you can build a building, child. Sooner or later things get repeated, random or otherwise.
"That is a very good point, especially when that looks nothing like any language I have ever seen." Ian pointed at a sign on the corner of a building. It had a series of dots and dashes mixed with some sort of sublayered images that may or may not have been texts. "Unless it is some sort of Morse code mixed with Hieroglyphics."
The Doctor looked closer at the sign and then pulled out his note book and began jotting down notes. "Very astute, Chesterman," he snipped. Ian looked at Barbara as she held back her laughter at the Doctor's overt name blnuder.
Just behind them a pair of eyes stared at them from behind a sewer grate.
"I think we should investigate. This is all rather intriguing." The Doctor then set off toward one of the better lighted streets. Behind him Ian and Barbara began to follow until Susan let out a scream. They all turned to see a body fall to the ground in front of her. It's arm was outstretched with a metal box held in it's grip. Barbara ran over and comforted Susan as the Doctor and Ian turned the body over. The face was not too dissimilar to that of a humans only it was made of stone and the eyes seemed to have a faint glow before it died. Then they too looked like stone.
"It looks like some sort of Golem creature."

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Episode Two
by Lord Soldeed

It looks like some sort of Golem creature, said Barbara.

The Doctor examined the box that was attached to the Golemoids arm. Interesting, he said. It was old and rusted, covered by many chains and locks. When the Doctor examined it closely, however, he saw that where keyholes should have been, there were mysterious runelike symbols. These were apparently a different language from the pictograph/morse code-like language of the street signs. He showed these to Ian, Barbara, and Susan. None of them knew what to make of
them.

What do you think killed it, anyway? asked Barbara. You cant exactly kill a man of stone with bullets.

Ah, but maybe they have weapons here more powerful than bullets, said the Doctor gravely.

We arent even sure that its dead, observed Ian.

Ian took a look at the Golemoid. His clothing was thoroughly drenched by now. That doesnt seem to have done him much good, he said, pointing to the sopping wet hat. But as he did so, he touched the hat slightly and it fell off, revealing a bald stone forehead engraved with a strange rune like the ones on the box.

Unless, that is, it wasnt intended to protect him from the rain, commented the Doctor. He seemed to have been wearing it partially to hide that symbol. Curiouser and curiouser We have a world that looks just like Earth with technology--or something more powerful than technology--that can create a man of stone, and also power that can kill it. And now, there are these runes.

That Golemoid seems to have been taking great lengths to not be detected, observed Susan. He was walking out at night, in the middle of an incredibly nasty rainstorm, when no one else would possibly be about. Whatevers in that box must be more powerful even that what the people here already have, otherwise he wouldnt be trying so hard to hide it.

Looks like weve got quite a little mystery on our hands, eh, Doctor? said Ian with forced cheerfulness. You know, Doctor, maybe I should take a closer look at that box.

I wouldnt recommend that, Ian. That box, as Susan noted, is probably extremely powerful. Being a Time--being a scientist, I am more qualified to examine the box. Humans always seem to rush into situations that they have no idea about.

Ian was bothered by the way the Doctor had made that last comment. What was it that he had almost said but suppressed? But Ian did not press the issue. Instead, he bent down to pick up the box.

At that moment, a blast of light came forth from the box. Ian fell to the ground, screaming and clutching his forehead in pain. Barbara saw that the box was no longer attached to the Golemoids arm. Instead, it was attached to Ians.

Barbara bent down to Ian. Ian, are you alright? she asked.

Ian was still clutching his forehead in pain. Tanvir...the eye of the storm... he said hoarsely. Barbara then saw Ians forehead. Apparently painted on it in green paint was the same rune that had been on the Golemoids forehead.

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Episode Three
by davros41

"Tan'vir," croaked Ian again. "Mas'son ti wend'im!"

"Ian, you're making no sense," Barbara told him, shaking him by the shoulders. She stifled a scream and let go.

"What's wrong, Barbara?" asked Susan, noting the surprise on her friends face.

"When I touched him," she gasped, "his arms! They were like stone!"

Ian was still muttering under his breath in the strange language. The Doctor stood by, taking everything in and thinking furiously.

"What's happening, Grandfather?" Susan asked, concern for her friends etched into her young looking face.

"I really don't know, my dear. But there's something I can try." He reached over and grasped Ian as Barbara had and looked the young man straight in the eye.

"Now, look hear. You are Ian Chesterton, from the planet Earth. You are a science teacher and you are travelling with me, Susan and your colleague Barbara Wright in the TARDIS. Does this make any sense to you?"

The faraway look in Ian's eyes started to clear and the rune like symbol on his forehead faded a little.

"Yes," he said slowly. "Yes, I remember now."

"Oh, Ian, I was so worried," Barbara told him.

"What happened, my boy? What took you over?"

Ian still looked uncertain. "I think it was whatever is in here," he told The Doctor, holding up the case, which was still chained firmly to his arm. "It wants to go somewhere called The Centre. The Eye of the Storm."

"Yes, you said that shortly after it took you over," The Doctor mused. "Any idea what The Centre is?"

Ian shook his head. "Just an overwhelming urge to get there and a knowledge of the way."

They all stood in a circle for a moment, lost in thought. Then Ian screamed and closed his eyes.
When Ian opened his eyes, they were completely blank. The rune symbol on his forehead positively glowed and his skin had taken on a harsh texture.

"Tan'vir," he said again, but it wasn't Ian's voice. It was deep and powerful and full of menace.

"Oh no, it's got him again," groaned Barbara.

The Doctor snapped his fingers in front of Ian's face. "Come on, Chesterton, snap out of it!"

In better circumstances, Barbara would have smiled. The number of times she and Ian had speculated that The Doctor got Ian's surname wrong on purpose. Well, he certainly remembered it well enough in a crisis.

Ian turned away from his friends. Barbara grasped his free hand to haul him back. She dropped it quickly. It was like the hand was made of stone.

"Don't go Ian, we're your friends," shouted Susan, standing in front of him.

He looked down at her with those blank eyes, then for a moment, clarity returned.

"Must reach The Centre," he croaked. "It must reach The Eye of the Storm." Then the blank look returned and he lurched off into the rainswept night.

"We must stop him," Barbara cried, starting after her friend.

The Doctor caught her arm. "I don't think we could stop him now with a Dalek army," he said gently.

"But we must do something," the distraught woman wailed.

"We will," The Doctor promised. "We'll follow him at a discreet distance. That way we can find where this Centre is, and look out for anybody that may want to harm him."

"Harm him?" Susan questioned.

The Doctor nodded. "Remember the Golem creature? It had been killed. Somebody may not want whatever is driving poor Chesterton to reach The Eye of the Storm. Now, come on, or we'll lose track of him."

The two women followed The Doctor as he set off across the street in the wake of Ian, who they could just see up ahead in the rain.

*

A shadowy figure detached itself from a nearby wall. It had seen everything, from the death of the Golem to the departure of the travellers. Now it set off in cautious pursuit of The Doctor and his friends.

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Episode Four
by Lord Soldeed

Several hours later, the rain was still pouring on. It felt like it would never end. The Doctor was getting rather worn out, and even Barbara and Susan were getting tired. But the thing that had been Ian still moved on, as tireless as the rainstorm itself, its mind dominated only by one thought. It must reach the Centre at any cost.

"I'm tired," said Susan, voicing the way everyone felt. "I hate walking around in this horrible rain. We need to stop and rest."

"I would prefer to follow him around. We don't want to lose Chessman, or whatever he was called. But perhaps we should. I'm not ready to regenerate just yet, my dear Susan."

Barbara didn't know what to make of that comment. Probably, she thought, she had misheard what he had said because she was so tired.

The Doctor, Susan and Barbara stopped to take a breath. The golem stopped in its tracks.

"Now why'd it do that?" asked Barbara.

"No ideas here," said Susan. "Maybe it needs us for something."

"Perhaps it does," said the Doctor. "Something killed that stone man. Maybe the being who is in the box has an enemy of equal or greater power, and enemy who doesn't want it to reach the Centre."

"But is this being who took over Ian good, or evil?" asked Barbara. "What does it want? What is this planet, anyway?"

"Those are indeed good questions, questions that we must solve before making a move" said the Doctor. "But how?"

Then, the figure who had been observing the Doctor and his companions made its move...

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Episode Five
by esherrouse

The figure scurried out of the darkness and grabbed the closest person to it, Susan. She let out a slight scream as
the Doctor and Barbara turned. The figure was short, about half the size of a normal human, and covered in smut.
He had humanoid features, but this was barely recognisable under the thick caked on dirt.
"What is it?" Barbara asked the Doctor trying not to reveal the true fright she was feeling at the time.
"It appears to want our attention." The Doctor responded coldly as he gestured to the creature which was dragging
Susan into the shadows and signalling the others to follow.
"Away." It muttered as it began to disappear in the darkness.
"What about Ian, Doctor?"
The Doctor looked at the statuesque Ian and then back to Susan. Ian was still standing completely still in
the middle of the road. For all practical purposes he was a statue. "I think the boy will be fine. We have to stay
with Susan." With that he headed after the creature. "Come on." He motioned to Barbara. She looked at Ian for a moment
and then back after the Doctor.
She followed. What choice did she have really. The only hope was that Ian would not be harmed.

As the approached the enclosure where the creature was holding Susan, it released her and spoke, "See". It then
gestured toward the street where Ian remained motionless. Susan ran over to the Doctor,"Grandfather" she whimpered. He held
her to his chest for a few seconds and then turned to witness what the creature was referring to in the street.
Ian's body remained motionless. The rain pelted him and all around him. Then a ring of light shot up from the ground
encasing him in a cylinder of it's brilliance. He did not move.
"We have to help him!" Barbara said excitedly.
"Stay" The creature said reaching for her arm.
"I think it is best we do as our little friend here suggests." The Doctor frowned as he watched on.

The light cylinder was sparking from the rain colliding with it. Jolts of energy shot through the container
penetrating Ian's stone coated body. He remained firm as the bolts of electricity shot around his body. Then his body
collapsed. A series of spotlights erupted from around him in what suddenly revealed itself to be a city square. They focused on
Ian's image. A clattering of voices began, "This is not a Vastril!" The voices echoed each other until one finally
announced, "Silence! Take this creature and discover his origins."
With that command the cylinder of light vanished and a group of creatures came out of the darkness. They were identical to each other. They had a smooth surface which appeared to be something like crystal. It was a clear crystal which reflected all of the lights as prism would.
"They look like Greco-Roman Statues made of crystal, Doctor" Barbara began in amazement. "They are beautiful."
The crystalline creatures did have an aesthetic beauty that had not been found in the first Golem or even the
dirty little creature which had captured Susan. The only response that their guest could offer was a slight hiss
as he began. "They were waiting for him."
"A trap?" The Doctor looked intrigued.
"Follow me" It then opened a hatch that appeared to descend into a sewer system.
"Well do as he says, Susan."
"What about Ian, grandfather?"
"There is nothing we can do for him now, perhaps our friend here can explain what just happened as well as what is
going on here. It all looks most exciting." With that he followed them down the hatchway.

It was dark, very dark. They reached the bottom and found themselves in ankle high water. Their guide continued on,
motioning them to follow. It took a fairly complex navigation through the underground network before they reached what appeared to be a hide out. There were crates and weapons strewn about and a few similar creatures sitting around. One ran over to them and raised his arm in some sort of salute to their guide.
"They have taken it?" he asked, already knowing the response from the expression on his comrade's face.
"They did."
"What are these creatures?" He looked at the Doctor, Barbara and Susan.
"I am the Doctor and this is Susan and Barbara." He gestured toward the others.
"Forgive me, I am Cl'anvir and this is D'ot". He looked at his colleague."We are Vastrils."
"The element infected their friend. It somehow made him transform into the Golem that absorbed Le'orne."
He looked back at D'ot.
"What?" The creature was amazed and startled.
"The element?" Barbara inquired.
They both looked at her for a moment and then Cl'anvir spoke,"The Box which your friend held. We call it the element."
"What was it?" Susan began.
The too stony faces looked at each other and then back at the girl. The question seemed to make little sense to
them.
"We do not know. We discovered it shortly after one of our parties were destroyed by the B'aht. It was found mixed in with the rubble. They had destroyed the entire camp. No one was left alive."
"This Element, What does it do exactly?" The Doctor inquired with raise eyebrows.
"We do not really know. When we found it the first of our people to touch it was turned into the Golem. He went mad."
"What do you mean?" Susan said with a frightened tone.
"He was taken over by some other force. Something in the box. The element. We thought that we could control it and then use it as a weapon against the B'hat, but the more he struggled the more he was lost. He became the Golem."

"Hmmm. Very interesting." The Doctor mumbled as he paced about the room.
"Cl'anvir continued,"We tried to detain him, but nothing we did could stop him. He kept saying that he must reach
the Eye of the Storm."
"Just like Ian." Barbara said excitedly.
"He left camp last night and I have been following him all evening as he ran through the streets."
"But, we found your Golem friend dead in the street. Something must have happened to him." The Doctor interrupted.
"I was there when he collapsed. It was nothing. He just collapsed to the street. Before I could get to him, you
arrived and I thought perhaps you had killed him or were agents of the B'hat. I was afraid to approach you."
"Understandable my dear fellow." The Doctor responded.
"So you followed us to see where we would take the box." Susan said with a curious smile.
"Yes, I had thought that perhaps I could find out what the secret of the element was. But when I noticed your friend
was also infected by the element, I knew that you were nothing more than innocent bystanders."
"That indeed we are my little friend, but what do we do now about rescuing our friend and trying to remedy
this situation?"
"I am afraid, Doctor, that if the element does not absorb him completely as it did our comrade, then the B'hat will
surely kill him."
Susan looked to Barbara and exchanged a look of horror.

In a brilliantly lighted cell, a statue stood silent. It's eyes glowing with life, but it's body restrained by coils
light wrapped around each limb...

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Episode Six
by davros41

Floating. Drifting. Thoughts. Memories. Swirling. Mixing.

A woman's face, concern etched into it. A name goes with the face. Barbara.

The violent clashing of colours in an ever spinning vortex. Atoms ripping themselves apart and reforming in ever changing patterns.

A magnificent temple, an everlasting monument to Aztec architecture.

Breathtaking images of the void of space as it is displaced by the passing of a ship.

Looking out across a glass beach at a sea of acid.

The white hot furnace of creation, an alien sun, seen in filtered close-up.

The crisp, clear air of a snowy mountain top.

A planet, spinning slowly in space, unaware of the rest of the universe surrounding it.

A vast, devastated plain and a futuristic city. A fascinating contrast.

Rushing trails of condensed water vapour passing as the ship spiralled out of control.

An impossibly large and futuristic control room housed inside a Police Box shell.

The destructive force of impact on a bare, rocky plain.

An incredibly bright but also incredibly dim pupil, her origins shrouded in mystery.

The harsh light and crashing sound of reality returning with force.

*

Ian squinted against the glare. He was confined by what appeared to be beams of light, bent around his body, keeping him firmly in place.

As his eyes adjusted, he saw that he was inside a control area. Strange creatures moved about, creatures that appeared to be made out of glass or crystal. They seemed to be excited about something.

Fragments of memory were returning to Ian now. The Golem creature, the case, the alien presence in his mind, the overwhelming desire to reach the centre. Tan'vir.

He now knew that the crystal beings were called B'aht. They were examining the case. One reached out towards the handle, probably with the intention of trying to open the case.

Ian tried to shout a warning but his throat refused to work quickly enough. By the time it was ready to form words, it was already far too late.

An unearthly glow formed around the case. The B'aht that was reaching towards it tried to draw back, but was instead pulled towards the case by a power beyond his control. There was a flash and he was a prisoner of the case, just like Ian had been.

The alien's skin immediately started to roughen and a rune like symbol started to glow on it's forehead. The other B'aht drew back from their transformed fellow.

"Tan'vir," the creature croaked, starting to stumble towards the exit. "Tal wend'im fro'sen," the B'aht muttered.

One brave B'aht tried to stop his former comrade. The possessed alien swung around, hitting it's former friend squarely in the face with the case chained to it's arm. The B'aht crashed backwards into a bank of controls.

As the control panel started to hiss and spark, Ian felt his bonds loosen. Massaging his cramped wrists, he started planning his escape.
The B'aht control chamber had dissolved into chaos.

When the B'aht/Golem creature had left, a number of it's fellows had followed. A handful remained to try and stabilise the damaged controls.

Ian had managed to slip away from his confinement and was currently hiding behind a large bank of machinery. Peering out, he saw his route to the doorway clear.

He was relieved when he made it into the corridor unseen. He paused, trying to decide which way to go.

A small voice inside his head chose this moment to speak up. "Tan'vir," it whispered.

Ian groaned as he realised that he wasn't completely free of the alien influence inside his mind. A part must still remain, lodged in his head. Letting it guide him, in the hope that it would remove itself if brought back into contact with it's host, he set off down the corridor.

*

"We will strike at the B'aht control centre," Cl'anvir announced to his followers and the TARDIS party. "It will be lightly populated at this hour."

"He seems remarkably well informed for the leader of a downtrodden people," Barbara whispered to The Doctor.

The Doctor beamed at her, like a teacher to a particularly bright pupil who had just solved a difficult problem.

"You've noticed it too," he commented. "I was hoping someone else had picked up on that."

"What do you make of it?" Susan asked him.

"I'm not sure. He must be getting information from somewhere, but he isn't sharing the source with us."

"What should we do?" Barbara wanted to know.

"Well, I think you and I should go with the raiding party and look for young Chesterman. Susan, I want you to stay here."

"But Grandfather..." she began to protest.

The Doctor held up a hand to silence her. "Your task is very important, Susan," he assured her. "There will not be many Vastrils left here. I want you to look around, find out what you can. Discover the source of Cl'anvir's knowledge, if you can."

"Yes, Grandfather," she agreed, though she still didn't look happy about it.

Cl'anvir was finishing rallying his troops. "It is time to take the fight to the B'aht!"

A great roar arose from those around the room. Cl'anvir led them out into the neighbouring basement, towards the surface.

"Good luck," Susan called after The Doctor and Barbara.

*

Grandfather had been right. After Cl'anvir and his followers had left, there were only three Vastrils left in the large room. None of them seemed to pay her any attention, so she left by a side exit that led towards the room they had been given.

When she saw no other Vastrils in the surrounding corridors, she began to explore the complex.

Over half an hour later she had found nothing, only empty rooms. She was becoming disheartened when she heard a sound from behind the door she was passing.

She listened at the door for a minute, but no further sound came. She pushed the door open quietly.

She gasped at what she saw. Chained to the wall, covered in bruises, cuts and something that must have been blood, was a B'aht. She had found the source of Cl'anvir's intelligence.

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Episode Seven
by Lord Soldeed

Susan gazed in shock and horror at what she saw before her. The being was beautiful, tragically broken, like a butterfly whose wings had been pulled off by a cruel child.

Are you alright? she said to the Bhat, then realised what a ridiculous question that was. Of course he was not alright.

Help me, Outworlder, he said, his voice pathetic and broken. Help me.

Susan realised that she had no idea what to do to help him. It wasnt exactly like she could take him to the local hospital. How can I help? she asked.

Hear my words, Outworlder. I have something I must tell you. Susan noted that his voice had assumed a different quality now, sounding more strong and confident.

Alright, Susan said.

I was left by my people for dead, for worse than dead. I could no longer venture into the land of my people, I was cursed as an outcast, thought a madman. The Vastrils found me, tortured me, forced all sorts of information out of me. But I did not tell them the greatest secret of all. That I have reserved for you alone, Outworlder. For you are one of the Chosen Ones, the four who would come from beyond, to help us win our war.

You mean help you defeat the Vastrils? Susan was not sure, if she had to take a side, which she would take. At first, it had seemed like the Vastrils were the good guys, the noble oppressed under the thumb of their Bhat oppressors. But she was not so sure now.
No, Outworlder, said the Bhat. A far greater war is being fought on this world, a war which our minds cannot fathom. We of the Bhat and the Vastrils have been fighting for so long that we have forgotten our true enemy.

And who is that? The Element?

The Bhat didnt answer. He seemed to be losing concentration, gradually slipping away into incoherence. I was called a madman, left for dead, yes. For I have seen that secret which my very genetic code prevents me from telling to Bhat or Vastril. But I can tell it to you, Outworlder. I have seen the greatest secret of my people. I have seen that which is the greatest pride and the greatest shame of both the peoples in my planet. I have seen the Centre. I have seen the Eye of the Storm.

That certainly got Susans attention. What is it? Where is it?

The Bhat now sounded like he was reciting something. In the shadow of the Crystal Mountains, by the light of the moon in the Convergence Time, the door shall be seen. Those who seek, shall find, but beware, oh traveller, for the day of reckoning is at hand. He then slipped away from consciousness, a peaceful look on his face. Susan didnt know this aliens biology, but she could tell he was dead.

Then, Susan heard footsteps. She was startled. Behind her, a Vastril guard had arrived. He saw the dead Bhat on the floor. I think, he said, you have seen too much. He aimed his gun at Susan...

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Episode Eight
by esherrouse

Fear was written across Susans face as she stared into the barrel of the Vastrils gun. She wanted to scream, but the guard grabbed her before she could react.
Cl'anvir was right to suspect you and your friends as spies. He announced. His face was marked by the scars of the war. It is a pity your friends will not return to see you off to the next world. He smiled slightly, revealing the remnants of what were once teeth.
She tried to struggle, but achieved only a firmer grip around her neck. She winced in pain and made muffled squeal.
As the Vastril removed her from the room a loud noise echoed in the hall. Susan felt the body of her captor fall to the ground behind her. She turned with a start and saw Dot standing over the body.
Perhaps you are a spy, but I fear that the greatest threat to the Vastrils is that of Clanvir. Any thing capable of that, he motioned toward the tortured body in the cell, is a threat to all of us. He then raised his eyes to face Susan. He too had the look of the war-torn soldier. His look was different however. It was one of pain and suffering. He had seen death and invited it upon many that he saw as enemies, but time had shown him that death was as blind as justice, and pain was eternal.
We have to save Grandfather and Barbara. Susan appealed to Dot.
We shall. He responded as he led her away from the cell.

************

Ian had watched as the Baht scurried around trying to decide what they had to do to stop their wayward friend. He was much too powerful for them. The process of transformation was complete and he was now muttering the very same words that Ian had muttered only moments before. Tanvir. The new Golem fought through the mass of Baht guards. They fell to the side like dominoes. Ian was close behind him as it marched down the corridor for the exit.
When it reached the exit, another pair of guards descended upon him only to be shoved to the side. One of them fired an energy blast into its back, but it only seemed to stun him momentarily. Ian ducked down another corridor fearing the same reaction as he watched the Golem disappear in the external light. He kept thinking of the Centre. He still had the need, the desire to be there. He lacked the ability now. He had once had the power and strength of the golem, but no longer. Now he would have to hide and await his moment when he could escape outside. There was enough chaos occurring that he knew he would not have to wait long. He backed into an open doorway and closed it behind him.

************

The attack party was well prepared for the battle. Clanvirs fortuitous insight had seen to that. The Doctor and Barbara were in the middle of CLanvirs group. They approached the Baht base and noticed very little resistance as predicted.
I would say that CLanvir is very well informed indeed. Whispered the Doctor.
You will find that I am well versed in many things my dear friend. CLanvir responded to the silent conversation.
Both the Doctor and Barbara looked up at him a bit surprised. CLanvir merely smiled momentarily as he raised his hand for silence. The assault was about to commence.
Whats that? Barbara said in amazement as she pointed toward a hill in the distant. The image of the Golem appeared forcing its way forward as it pushed aside each Baht that attempted to restrain him.
The Element! CLanvir exclaimed. Destroy the B'aht! He lowered his arm with a thrust that sent every one of his men into battle. The Golem paid little attention to the attacking units as it continued to press on. The Baht were caught by surprise and as they struggled to regroup found themselves being ripped to shreds. The Vastrils were merciless. Every Baht that they encountered fell before them. Many of them were already stunned from their battle with the Golem.
Death to the Baht! CLanvirs face revealed the nature of his soul. He was swimming in blood and loving it. He raced forward into the thick of battle and with his bare hands strangled one of the dying Baht. His eyes glowed with the reflection of death.

Barbara tried to shelter her eyes on the Doctors shoulder. He held her as he watched the atrocity unfold before him. Now, now child. He said soothingly. He had seen such bloodbaths before, but perhaps this was not the place for Barbara. He put his arm around her and began to lead her away from the battle and into the Baht settlement. Come, well try and find refuge in the city. They headed toward the now unguarded entrance.
As they were entering a familiar image emerged.
Ian! Barbara exclaimed. She ran forward excited to see her long lost companion.
There you are my boy. Now we need to leave this place and gather Susan. The Doctor turned to return to the Vastril camp only to be faced with CLanvir standing over another dead Baht.
I am afraid I can not allow that, Doctor. Your friend knows the mind of the Element and he will led us there and to total victory! He levelled his gun at the group.

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Episode Nine
by davros41

The new Golem had beaten off its attackers and was back on the path, heading out of the city. The rain had eased to a downpour since the previous Golem had been captured by the B'aht. Ahead, at the edge of the city, loomed the Crystal Mountains.

"Tan'vir," muttered the Golem, head down, picking up pace as it left the paved roadways behind and moved over the uneven ground towards its ultimate destination.

***

Susan and D'ot watched the failed attack by the Vastrils from the shadows of a building across the street. They saw the ferocity of the attack on the B'aht, The Doctor and Barbara slip away, Ian appear from the building they were entering and Cl'anvir turn his gun on all three.

"We have to help them!" Susan exclaimed, starting forward.

D'ot held her back. "If Cl'anvir wants them dead, there is nothing we can do to stop it. All we would do is throw away our own lives."

Susan's struggle subsided as she realised she wasn't going to break his grasp. Silently, the two of them watched events across the street unfold.

***

Ian's first instinct was to stand protectively in front of Barbara, but he found The Doctor already there. Despite the seriousness of their situation, he allowed himself a half smile.

"What do you intend to do with us?" The Doctor demanded. Ian marvelled at the fact that the old man could sound so defiant when looking down the barrel of a gun.

Cl'anvir sneered at him. "Your friend here will lead us to The Element. If he does not, we will kill you two." The Vastrils moved in around them, forming a menacing circle.

The Doctor looked at Ian. "Can you lead them to it, Chesterton?"

Ian nodded. "I still seem to have a piece of it lodged up here," he said, tapping the side of his head. "I can feel it pulling me now."

"Then go," ordered Cl'anvir, waving Ian forward with his gun. "We shall be close behind you, with your friends. And don't forget, we still have one of you as a hostage."

"Susan," The Doctor murmured as they set off after the Golem.

***

Susan smiled as the group moved away. "I thought he was going to kill them," she sighed with relief.

"He might yet," D'ot told her as they stared to follow, keeping to the shadows.

"But why didn't he do it now?" Susan wanted to know.

D'ot shrugged. "He must need something from them. He is ruthless. Usually."

"Well, so long as he needs them, there is hope," Susan said. "We just need to be there when he's finished with them."

***

The Golem had reached the foothills of the Crystal Mountains. It began to climb, only slightly hampered by the case chained to it's arm.

Eventually it reached a cave opening. Without hesitation, it entered the cave.

Following a twisting path in pitch darkness, it found it's way to the particular cavern it wanted.

A glow emanated from the cavern, produced by the crystal walls, floor and ceiling. In the centre was a flickering pillar of energy.

"Tan'vir," the Golem said, triumphantly.

***

Ian led the group of Vastrils through the wet streets of the city, following in the footsteps of the possessed B'aht. Cl'anvir had decided that Barbara was the one he was most likely to protect, so he kept her with him in the middle of the party. This allowed The Doctor to walk beside Ian at the front.

"How are you feeling, my boy?" the old man asked.

Ian thought for a moment before replying. "Actually, I'm feeling fine," he said. "Fitter than I have for quite a while. Strange that."

"Hmm. I think it might be a residual effect of your encounter with The Element. You say you can still feel it inside you?"

"Yes. A fragment is still lodged in my mind. I can feel it pulling me towards those mountains." He point to the range clearly visible now as they left the city.

"Ah. So The Centre is located there. That's very interesting. We all thought it must be at the centre of the city. Fascinating."

"Where's Susan?" Ian asked suddenly, realising the girl was nowhere to be seen.

The Doctor frowned. "I asked her to stay behind at the Vastril base, hoping she could find some information for me. I fear I have left her in grave danger."

Ian tried to comfort the older man. "She's a very resourceful young woman. I'm sure she will be just fine until we get back."

"I'm sure you're right, Chesterman," The Doctor said. He patted Ian's arm. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, Doctor," Ian said, smiling himself at The Doctor's usual mispronunciation of his name.

***

The object of The Doctor and Ian's conversation, namely Susan, was just leaving the city with her Vastril guide. The rough ground was harder on the feet but easier to find cover for their covert pursuit of Cl'anvir's party.

"Where are they going?" Susan asked after they had been following the Vastrils for what seemed like an age.

"They seem to be heading for the Crystal Mountains," D'ot said. Something in his voice alerted Susan to the fact that this was not a good thing.

"You make that sound bad," Susan said.

D'ot turned his sad eyes towards the girl. "There are legends among my people, legends that say the Crystal Mountains are haunted by the spirits of our dead. They say that they are trapped there, in eternal torment, until they are released at the end of the world. Needless to say, the Vastrils do not venture there very often."

"Well, Cl'anvir and his army are venturing there right now," Susan pointed out.

D'ot nodded. "That worries me," he said simply.

***

Ian held out his hand to help The Doctor over a large boulder. The old man stopped on the other side, wiping his face with his handkerchief.

"Thank you, my boy," he said as they waited for the others to join them.

Most of the Vastrils were looking about themselves nervously. Cl'anvir, however, was almost triumphant.

"How close are we?" he asked Ian. He kept a firm grip on Barbara's wrist as he spoke, to emphasise his control.

"Very," said Ian, looking around. "I can feel it strongly now. We are almost there."

Ian stopped facing a cave mouth. The inside was pitch dark.

"Is that it?" Cl'anvir demanded, indicating the cave.

"Yes," Ian replied, starting towards the cave. "Tan'vir, The Eye of the Storm, The Centre." He paused on the threshold. "We're so close I can almost touch it." So saying he disappeared into the gloom of the cave mouth.

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Episode Ten
by esherrouse

As Ian's figure disappeared in the shadow of the cave's mouth Cl'anvir went into a rage.
"This is my victory! The Eye shall be mine!" He raced forward after Ian, forgetting the Doctor and his own soldiers. The Doctor looked back at the Vastrils as they nervously looked at each other.

There was a loud scream which erupted from deep within the cave. It was one of pain. The Vastrils recoiled expecting the worst. The power of their own mythology conjured up images of lost souls devouring their leader.
"They appear a bit frightened. Come over here." He gestured with several waves of his hand. Barbara ran over to him as the Vastrils stood by without challenge. They merely sought to save themselves.
"What was that, Doctor?" She asked worriedly.
"That, my dear, sounded as if Cl'anvir found more than he was looking for. "This is all very peculiar." With that he took a few steps toward the cave opening. Barbara grabbed his arm.
"What if that was Ian, Doctor?" Barbara said worriedly.
"All the more reason for me to get in there. Now, let me go." He then realised that perhaps he had been too harsh on Barbara and restated, "Chestermint will need my help, even if that was not him. You will be safe here. The Vastrils are far more concerned about their own survival at this point." He gestured for her to observe the fleeing aliens.
"Grandfather!" Susan had emerged from hiding with D'ot nervously following. The other Vastril were little concerned with her arrival. The few that were still there, were making their way back down the mountainside.
"Susan!" The Doctor and Barbara said in synchronicity
Susan ran forward to the pair of them with D'ot close behind.
"I am not going to stand around here while the final pieces of this mystery are unfolding just feet away from me."
"Doctor,..." As Barbara turned around, the Doctor was gone.

----

The Doctor continued into the cave. There was a sound that seemed to reverberate in the walls. He held his hand to wall of the cave and then followed the vibrations. Ahead of him were several passageways. He looked at each of them for a second and then heard a slight whimper from the middle one. Cl'anvir stumbled out and onto the floor. The Doctor raced to his side. "Are you alright?"
"Tan'vir. Tan'vir. Tan'vir." Clan'vir mumbled. His eyes were glowing with madness.
"Tan'vir..." came another more familiar voice. It was Ian. He muttered again. He was almost inaudible. "My head." He stumbled out of the shadows and looked down at the Doctor and Cl'anvir.
"What's the matter with him?" Ian crouched next to the Doctor.
"It would appear that he has been to the Centre and not liked what he found." The Doctor retorted. "What about you, my boy, hmmm?" The Doctor looked at Ian who was still rubbing the back of his head.
"I think, our friend here might have knocked me out. I can not say that I remember one way or the other." He then looked at Cl'anvir's face. It was one of madness. "I don't know if I should thank him or what."
"I think, he has received his reward." The Doctor said coldly as he stood back up.
"All the more reason for us to get out of here, Doctor." Ian then remembered Barbara,
"Did you leave Barbara outside waiting?"
"All the more reason for us to press on, my boy. The answer to all of this is right before us. " He looked into the dark cave. "As for Barbara, she is with Susan and D'ot. They are just fine. Without Cl'anvir I feel they are safe among the Vastrils." He then headed into the cave as Ian followed.

***

As they entered, a brilliant pulsating pillar reflected off all of the crystalline walls. "It's marvellous." Ian announced as he stood in awe of the structure. "Tan'vir" He heard the voice in his mind speak.
"Are you alright?" The Doctor tugged at Ian's arm as he seemed entranced by the pillar.
Ian stared ahead blankly.
"Snap out of it!" The Doctor said firmly as he snapped his fingers.
Ian shook his head at the sound of the snap.
"That's it, Doctor. That is the Eye of the Storm." There was still the remnant of admiration for the glowing object in his voice.
"Indeed it is." The Doctor looked at around the object. It was lodged in the floor of the cave. He could see the where the earth had shifted around it. He walked around behind it and found the body of the B'aht Golem with his arm outstretched toward the pillar. The box was lying next to him. Ian walked up behind the Doctor as he was reaching for the box.
"Doctor!" He said worriedly. Perhaps the Doctor had a momentary lapse of his senses.
"It's quite harmless now. I think I just figured out what is going on here." He reached down and unfastened the locks around the box. Nothing happened as Ian stood by watching.
"I think this is much more of a puzzle than I had originally anticipated." The Doctor laughed to himself.
"How do you mean, Doctor?" Ian revealed a look of confusion.
"That's just it." He opened the box and inside was a smaller cylinder made out of the same crystalline material as the pillar. "The element, it's a piece of this Eye here. In fact, I would be willing to guess that it is the eye itself. The pillar is the focal point."
"What are you talking about Doctor?" Ian was getting more confused by the minute.
"This pillar here is the Centre, as it were and it is operating in relation to the Eye here." He held the cylinder in the air. The Pillar is feeding the Eye and in return the Eye is operating as just that...an eye."
"Have you been affected by the crystal, Doctor?" Ian said whimsically while also hoping for more of an explanation of what was going on.
"Watch, my boy." The Doctor placed the crystal cylinder in an open slot at the base of the pillar. The pillar began to hum even louder than before. Ian looked around as the cave was growing even brighter. "Look." The Doctor gestured at the dead B'aht Golem. It's crystal body was shimmering as if becoming liquid. Then the liquid was absorbed into the body. What remained was an attractive humanoid figure.
"He's human?" Ian muttered to the Doctor.
"Perhaps, or at least related to the species it would appear." The Doctor replied as he raised his eyebrows and looked at the pillar more intently. "This is very interesting, indeed. Hmm."
"What's that?"
"Two cultures, both crystalline in appearance are locked in an eternal battle for supremacy of a planet. Neither of them seem to know who started it or why it started. Yet we have this pillar locked in a mountain that both cultures fear and have developed mythos around."
"Are you saying that you think, this thing is some sort of a device that is controlling the B'aht and the Vastril?"
"I am saying exactly that!" The Doctor said with excitement. "Look at him. He is no more a man of crystal than you or I. I would be willing to bet that the other B'aht are going through similar changes. Perhaps the Vastrils are also restructuring."
"Restructuring?" Ian realised what he was saying but 'how?' was more the question he had in mind.
"Yes. Notice here." The Doctor pointed at another small indentation in the ground near the place where he had inserted the cylinder. "This would be where the other 'Eye' would be placed if the Vastrils were to win."
"Win?"
"Have you ever played a game called Capture the Flag?"
"You're not suggesting that ..."
"I am saying that this device here somehow came to this planet and then, either by design or by flaw, released these two cylinders and perhaps more out into the populations of this planet. The result was a giant war which has resulted in the B'aht and the Vastrils being the last survivors. The last two teams, as it were. They were effected by their limited contact with the 'Eyes' and developed a crystalline structure. All part of the 'game'."
"This is ludicrous, Doctor." Ian was far from convinced.
The Doctor looked at him momentarily before continuing, "I imagine it was originally some sort of military training device. There are many cultures that harvest lesser species for their military use. Perhaps this is a wayward device of that nature."
"I have heard of conscription, Doctor, but this...?"
"My boy, why is this so unfathomable for you? I say that we go outside and confirm with our own eyes. The people of this world will be slowly returning to their original form. And once we have the other 'eye' in place this device can be destroyed and they can return to a normal existence."
"What about the military mastermind behind this?" Ian inquired still with a lot of doubt.
"This device is far outdated for anything in the last millennium. I have a feeling it was a miscalculation on their part. I would imagine that their war has already been won or lost. Not something to concern ourselves with." He smiled as he exited the cave.

***

Barbara and Susan had been watching the retreat of the Vastrils after they heard the screams of Cl'anvir. The stories of lost souls and mysterious events that surrounded this mountain were more than military discipline could keep in check. D'ot stood by them. He had apologised multiple times for Cl'anvir's actions. He was still amazed that he had remained a part of the destruction for so long.
"I have only wanted good for my people. They deserve.... " He began to convulse as he collapsed to the ground.
Susan grabbed Barbara tightly,"What's happening?" She hid her eyes.
"I don't know, Susan." Barbara hoped Ian and the Doctor would return shortly. This was more than she had asked for.

***

"What did I tell you, my boy." The Doctor said as he emerged from the cave, closely followed by Ian.
"Doctor, D'ot just..." Susan began before being cut off.
"He will be just fine, Susan. He is reverting to his original state. Look."
"But I thought you said that we would need to find the 'eye' for each group in order to disrupt the effects?" Ian reminded the Doctor.
"I thought so too. But it appears that the pillar needs the two foci to operate properly. Apparently, once one side has 'won' the game the effects are reset until the game can start again."
"What game?" Barbara looked at both of them.
"The Doctor believes that that device in there is some sort of alien probe that breeds military units for use in some sort of galactic fleet."
"Precisely. That device and others like it are used to plant seeds for military conscription on otherwise unwilling or even unknowing planets. It would allow for affordable training of future troops without the traditional costs of raising an army. Quite ingenious really." He seemed to trail off talking to himself.
"Whatever the cause, look!" Susan was excited. D'ot had changed forms and was no longer the smutty charred coal creature he had been, but was now a human.
"What has happened?" D'ot stood back up slowly as he looked at his fleshy hands.
"You and all your people are coming out from a dark cloud." The Doctor smiled.
Ian looked at him with a smirk. It was a subtle joke.
D'ot looked out over the hillside and noticed that both Vastil and B'aht were collapsing and then going through the same process he had just experience.
"There is a lot for us to learn, Doctor. We are a people without a past."
"But you can have a future now as a free people." Susan smiled.
"No longer slaves to war." Barbara interjected.
"It will be a long time before we know who we are." D'ot sounded lost.
"I am sure you will do fine." Susan offered her support.
"You are a good man, D'ot." Ian stated as he extended his hand to shake D'ots.
"We should be going." The Doctor announced as he looked back at the cave entrance.

They then all headed back toward the city in search of the TARDIS....

The End

