The Peri Brown Picture Show
A short story by Keith Redhead

Third Varga Story
Part of the Sixth Doctor Fiction collection

Jang Felkin adjusted the sensors once more, these readings had to be wrong. They were showing a steady build up of chronometric particles and peppermint quarks. "These readings simply can't be right. It would mean a second capsule was about to phase into this very room."
On cue the blue police box shape of the TARDIS materialised with its habitual vworpesqe soundtrack.

Felkin backed away from the strange box as the door swung open and two figures emerged. "Please don't kill me, I surrender." Pleading for his life seemed the best bet he hoped.

The taller of the two strangers smiled. "We're not interested in all that invasion nonsense my dear sir. We're here to investigate some illegal time travel experiments. My assistant Miss Brown will give you any more information you require."

"Thanks a lot Doctor." Peri whispered quietly. "Now if I could just take your name sir, for our report."

"There's going to be a report? Felkin, Jang Alang Felkin."

***

Elsewhere inside the complex other visitors arrived. They brought with them a very special cargo which needed the base's facilities.

***

The Doctor examined the equipment and sucked air through his teeth like a mechanic about to treble the price of the bill. "I'm afraid this is going to have to stop. This equipment is far too dangerous. The Maxiquillizoth drive is leaking and the Hooperafizza seems to be missing entirely, very nasty."

"Nasty?" Felkin enquired.

"Oh yes, this machine is a menace to anyone who uses it."

"We've had ten test flights and the pilots have all been checked out."

"Ten? Then it's worse than I feared. The Time Lords must be aware of the problem. I can only hope their agent is already at work."

"Doctor, remember Telos?" Peri had a bad feeling about the whole situation.

"What about Telos? Oh I see. No, I won't do it. Not again. I refuse to be the one who does your dirty work anymore!" The Doctor could feel them watching him somehow; like a goldfish in its bowl.

***

The others set about their task, the necessary equipment was acquired and made ready for the grand experiment.

***

"Who built this shoddily constructed pile of clapped out spare parts?" the Doctor asked.

"Erm I'm not sure, we sort of found it and brought it here."

"You sort of found it?"

"Yes, it was floating around in the middle of a load of pieces of spaceships, almost as if it had been on a ship that was involved in a collision of some sort. We found a few of these as well." Felkin removed a sheet to reveal an assortment of broken Dalek shells.

"Daleks. From the look of these colourings two separate factions of Daleks. Exactly like the ones we saw on Necros Peri. Two Dalek ships collide either by accident or design. This pod is found later on, along with the remains of several Daleks." The Doctor paused. "That doesn't explain the seeds though."

"Maybe the seeds were in the time machine."

"That's not a time machine Peri, it more a sort of temporal storage unit. Of course, the Daleks would carry any biological samples in stasis to prevent growth. Bacteria, seeds, the occasional prisoner before execution."

"Did you find any seeds, Mr. Felkin?" Peri asked.

"Well it's not really my field but if there was then the biolabs would have them."

"You had better take us there. Varga plants are highly adaptable to all lifeforms."

***

The experiment was ready to begin. The sonic oscillator was cranked up three notches and the various other devices began to kick in. Streams of coloured liquid filled the tank containing a heavily wrapped body.

***

The Doctor and Peri followed Felkin into the main biolab. It was full of agitated cacti.

"We're too late. Some of these people must have been like this for months." The Doctor pointed to the large pile of torn clothing on the floor, indicating a number of recent victims.

Peri stifled a scream as a thorn was fired into her arm.

"We should leave and have this room flamed, it's the only way, I'm afraid."

"Yes Doctor, you're right. I'll contact the departmental head and get permission."

Peri tried to tell the Doctor she was infected but she couldn't speak properly. The Doctor put his arm around her thinking she was more upset than she actually was.

"Lets get back to the TARDIS, I think we've seen enough for now. We can trace the flight paths of the two Dalek ships from there."

***

Felkin watched in amazement as the blue box vanished in the same manner it had arrived.

***

Inside biolab two the experiment was at an end. The bandages were cut away and the bandaged body stood up. The bandages were cut away and Peri smiled.

"How do you feel Peri?" the Doctor asked.

"Human again." Peri smiled as she got dressed, but the recent events would give her nightmares for months to come...

