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Post by patientzero on Apr 8, 2010 15:22:45 GMT
"Not really," Iris said, "But maybe you can help us, chuck." "With what?" "This analysis," Iris tapped the equipment that had emerged from the glove compartment. "What are you analysing?" "Some glowing vomit." "Lovely, isn't it?" Panda said. "I've separated the glowing substance from the vomit, and I know enough to tell that it's rich in proteins - more specifically, prions," Iris said, "But the prion chains are in a structure I've never seen before, and there are even pieces of unknown organic matter." The Doctor pushed past her to the screen, "Hmmm." "Have you seen anything like that before?" "These prions - they're Ubaram prions." "What the flump are prions?" Panda demanded. "Protein chains," the Doctor supplied, "They get into your cells and interfere with your DNA. Ubaram prions are chains with strong mutagenic properties. They can somehow reach all your cells and change your genetic code." The Doctor sat back, in thought, "But Ubaram prions are extremely rare... what would they be doing in this time and place?" At that point, the dashboard lit up. "Ah," Iris said, "I set Leonardo to crunch back through its databanks for anywhere we found prions like those, and he seems to have found something." The screen activated, revealing a set of coordinates. "Earth?" the Doctor peered at the screen, "The himalayas?" "Of course!" Iris exclaimed, "Shambhala!" "Shambhala?" Panda interjected, "The one Shangri-la is based on?" "Probably," Iris said, running to her bookcases. She ran her finger along the spines, eventually grabbing a slim volume entitled 'The Road to Shambhala'. "Shambhala was the resting place of the Cintamani stone," she said, "A gem that could grant wishes and make you the most powerful man on Earth, but the stone turned out to be a metaphor." "For what?" the Doctor leaned forward, eyes staring directly at the journal. "The Cintamani stone was the largest piece of blue resin ever found in Shambhala," Iris said, "Polished into a gigantic sapphire. However, it was simply a piece of hardened tree sap." "Tree sap? What tree?" "The Tree of Life. Its roots spread all over the city, and were all tapped to produce the blue resin. The resin greatly increased the inhabitants' lifespan and physcial prowess, but over time they mutated. Shambhala was destroyed when a laser got fired into the big pool of resin underneath the tree itself, but I managed to analyse a small sample found in mountain-top temples outside the city," Iris found the page she was looking for - a long string of numbers and letters: the genetic make-up of the prions found in the resin. She handed the journal to the Doctor, who promptly jumped out the window with it and ran like hell.
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Post by captainjock on Apr 8, 2010 16:11:48 GMT
" How peculiar ! " said Iris . " Aren't you going to chase him ? " inquired Panda. " This incarnation wasn't built for speed " retorted Iris " i'm sure the Doctor - if that was the Doctor, will return in his own good time.. ! " So now what do we do ? Panda asked .. ..
Meanwhile ... The Captain awoke to find the Headhunter had divested him of his Roundness Gun and VM and tied him up .. A passing chambermaid exclaimed in surprise " Sacre bleu , zat door is going on your bill M'seiur ! " " Never mind that " The Captain replied " Untie me at once ! " " Non Monseiur ! The maid answered " What you do in the privacy of your suite is your own business but I am not into Ze Kinky Stuff ! " with that she hurried away . " Dang it " The Captain muttered .. at that moment he received a mesage on his implant .. " Hmmm , yes .. I've encountered a wee problem actually ! "he replied .. and winced at the tirade of abuse that was returned ..
Lucie meanwhile was being frogmarched by Karen along a corridor 4 floors down .. " Quicker girl " The Headhunter barked "stop dragging your feet .. " " Lucie wriggled her wrists experimentally . to her delight she felt her bonds loosen a little more .
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Post by patientzero on Apr 8, 2010 18:09:39 GMT
"Look, Karen," Lucie asked, trying to keep her distracted, "What are you and the Headhunter doing here?" "De Carnac cheated us," Karen huffed, "He hired to us to get something, then refused to pay us." "Why would he do that? What did you nick, anyway?" "He wanted the Cintamani stone," Karen said, "We got to Shambhala in the warp-ship, but the city started exploding - Headhunter said it was some sort of explosive resin. Anyway, we got the stonr from its temple as the buildings collapsed, then stuck on an extra price for the exploding city." "And he didn't like that?" Lucie asked, sliding one wrist free. "Not one bit," Karen laughed, "So he told his moving statues to get rid of us." "Hang on," Lucie said, frowning, "The statues belong to de Carnac?" "Yeah." "But the Doctor said they were friends of his..." "Lucie?" Karen asked, "What do you mean-" Lucie kicked her shin and ran, belting through the corridors, until she ran straight into Captain Jock, pieces of rope still looped around his arms. "Jock," she panted, "Quick - the Headhunter's here! She's coming after me!" "You leave her to me, wee girl," the Captain said, listening to his implant, "Just wait here." The Captain headed off, pausing to open the dumb waiter, where a laser gun was waiting for him - a little presnet from de Carnac. He turned and pointed it at Lucie. She sighed. "Oh piggin' hell!" The Captain fired, the last command ringing in his head. Bring them all to the lab...
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Post by captainjock on Apr 12, 2010 9:48:55 GMT
The Headhunter sucked her fingers as the captains shot disintegrated her own laser pistol . OWW ! She said . OWWW ! OWWWW ! OOOWW ! " she moaned . "Turn around very slowly ...." said The Captain "and put your hands up .. ! " Karen , who had just come around the corner ran forwards . The Captain fired to one side .. " My instructions are to take you to the lab dead or alive , now no more funny business ! " Lucie took advantage of the distraction to squeeze into the Dumb Waiter and press the down button . " Bring the other two " said the voice in his head " We'll find the Miller Girl ourselves you useless oaf ! " The Captain gestured to Karen and the Headhunter to enter the Service Lift .
Meanwhile
" Do ? " said Iris , first of all I'm going to make a subspace call to Ottiria . I believe they have that book transcribed to their archives . she said dialling as she spoke ... " Hello " she said " Is that you Lutra ... ? Little job for you .. What do you mean , Unpaid fines ? ! " She gestured to Panda " MY Galactic Express card is in there somewhere ..... Panda found it and handed it to her . She reeled off the numbers . " Now , she said . " I believe you have The Road to Shambhala on file . You do . Marvellous . Can you transmit the file to me on a secure channel ? What's that Lutra ? No , i'll pass on the 2 for 1 offer bundle with Fly Fishing by J.R . Hartley , just the Shambhala booklet please.. " She took the phone away from her ear . "Never stops talking " she said to Panda " Lutra dear , I'd love to reminisce but i'm rather busy . speak to you soon . MWAH MWAH . she made kissing noises into the mouth piece and replaced it on the cradle . Now , she said while we're waiting for that to download I'll rig up some kind of prion detector . I'd like to know exactly who's WHO around here ! "
Lucie had arrived on the ground floor in a small scullery which she soon found out was locked . she looked around for some other means of egress . " Bl**dy Ventilation duct again I suppose ! she groaned .. removing the cover . ...
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Post by patientzero on Apr 19, 2010 18:50:40 GMT
Iris examined her prion detector with pride. "Well, I do say," she said, "This incarnation's more technically minded than I thought!" "Can we go and get this over with now?" Panda asked, "I really think I need a total sensory emulsion." The door to the bus opened, and the Captain stepped in. "Jock," Iris said, smiling, "Did you get Lucie? And what happened to the Headhunter?" "Yes," Jock said, "I got her. And I've been ordered to get you too." "Wha-" Iris began, before Jock shot her. "You bast-" Panda began, before Jock shot him.
A short time later...
Iris woke up. "Hell!" she gasped, struggling against the straps holding her into the chair. "Iris?" Panda asked groggily awakening next to her. "What?" said a new voice, as the Heahunter woke up to. "Where are we?" Karen asked as she regained consciousness. You are below. "Who said that?" Panda demanded. "De Carnac!" The Headhunter yelled, "Where are you?" "De Carnac is not here yet," said the Doctor, stepping out of the shadows. "Doctor!" Iris cried, delighted, "Let us out of these straps!" The Doctor shook his head. The door slid open, shedding some light into the shadowy room, and De Carnac entered, followed by the Captain and several statues. "The Miller Girl," he yelled towards one of the dark recesses," She's escaped!" She is of no consequence, said the voice from the recess, The synthesis of the serum is complete. I believe you decided the call it 'Cintamani'. "It is complete..." de Carnac walked towards a machine, from which a blue-glowing vial was released, "The sap of the tree of life... recreated..." "So that's what you wanted," Iris sighed, "The Tree of Life from Shambhala." "I knew of no Tree of Life," de Carnac snapped, "All I knew is that the Cintamani stone held the power to cure me, but it turned out to be nothing but hardened tree sap," he shot a venemous glare at the Headhunter, "But when I analysed the sap, I discovered that the resin had many properties which went far beyond curing my cancer. The sap would increase physical prowess and lifespan, and if I could use it correctly, make more of it..." "You'd become the richest being in the galaxy," the Headhunter finished, eyes fixed on the vial of sap in de Carnac's hands, "Possibly even the universe." "Yes," de Carnac said, "I grow tired of you, woman. Doctor, kill her." The Doctor started forwards, hands reaching for the Headhunter's neck...
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Post by captainjock on Apr 21, 2010 9:40:53 GMT
Meanwhile , Lucie having crawled through several dusty ventilation shafts had quite by chance arrived at a grille opening out onto the side - room where the real Jock was being held .. An Attendant checked his vital signs .. " all functions are within normal parameters " she reported to her colleague .... " "Excellent " said the other " the archetype must be maintained to ensure the integrity of the duplicate .. " They dimmed the lights and left locking the door behind them ... Lucie tested her strength against the grille , To her delight it gave a little , she pushed harder and it started coming away .. Lucie slithered out into the room and hurried over to Jock's bed . " Jock " she hissed "wake up, I need you" She felt a hand on her bottom as she leant over him. " Gotta be the real you ! " she groaned " Now , shift that before i break your fingers mate " Jock started to revive " Oh , ma wee lassie ! " he said " Ah , ve been having such an awfy dream " "Not a dream , Mate " said Lucie " there's another you running about , and he's hot ! ... if you like that sort of thing.." Lucie carefully removed the tubes monitoring Jock's vital signs .. Jock sat up " You're naked ! " said Lucie She searched the locker and found one of the coveralls similar to the ones the nurses wore " One size fits all " she murmured .. She turned her back and Jock dressed quickly . Jock had lost quite a bit of weight due to the creation of the duplicate and now did not look disimmilar to his duplicate though lacking the buffed up physique and chiselled features .. " That's better " he grinned " now , how do we get out ? " " the way I came in , i suppose " said Lucie indicating the ventilator grille " After you lassie " said Jock " Oh no matey " said Lucie " after you ! "
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Post by patientzero on May 16, 2010 13:10:44 GMT
"Wait!" Iris interrupted, "She has something you need!" "Wait, Doctor," de Carnac interrupted, "Well?" "Her warp ship," Iris said. "What?" the Headhunter glared at Iris, despite the fact that the Time Lady had just saved her life. "You hired her to get the Cintamani stone," Iris gabbled, "Because..." De Carnac sighed, "I was desperate. No other treatments had worked, and the myth seemed my only chance... I'd heard it could heal anything, so I had to find it. But when she brought it here, it was just a stone. No special properties. Then... he came." "Who?" I did, said the voice, I believe my name translates as 'Eihort' in your language. De Carnac nodded, "Eihort offered to help me - he needs Ubaram prions to survive, to stimulate the regeneration of the telomeres in his DNA, and the Cintamani stone was made of ubaram prions." I was able to reproduce the prions, Eihort said, But the stone's prions were incomplete. We needed to reform them into an active prion. And that's why we needed you here, Iris. "Ah," Iris said, "Well, I'm afraid you got short-changed on the real treasure, chuck. The Cintamani stone is hardened resin." De Carnac's mouth dropped open, "Resin? You mean there's a source of active prions..." Iris nodded, "The Tree of Life. It grew in Shambhala, and the inhabitants ate the sap. They lived for millennia, became incredibly strong and resistant to disease. If you want some active prions, you need the Headhunter's warp ship to get there. And am I right in thinking the controls are isomorphic?" "Yes..." the Headhunter said, "They are..." "What's that mean?" Karen asked. "Tell you later." But, said Eihort, Earth has been destroyed. So no more Shambhala. "It's a time machine," the Headhunter pointed out. De Carnac frowned, "I have the Doctor's TARDIS and a functioning duplicate to operate it for me. Why would I need her warp ship? We've wasted time. Doctor, kill the Headhunter, then the girl, and then this hideous old crone." "Hideous? Crone? Old?" Iris squawked indignantly. "Thanks a bunch Iris," Karen muttered, as the Doctor moved forward again, ready for the kill.
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Post by captainjock on May 17, 2010 9:53:05 GMT
After much crawling Jock and Lucie had emerged in an ante - room next the one where Iris and the others were being held . Thankfully the arguments and commotion had masked the noise of them climbing down from the ventilation shaft .. They pressed their ears against the door ... and promptly fell through it cannoning into The Doctor sending him flying .... Iris took the opportunity to grab the Cintamini stone and stuff it in her handbag. grabbing Panda by the paw she fled .. Jock and Lucie straightened up sheepishly to find an enraged De Carnac glaring at them ... The Doctor lay unconscious on the floor .. " You , Strap ! " De Carnac said to Jocks' duplicate " Kill them all ! NOW ! The Captain raised his Laser pistol and aimed it at the ensemble " KILL THEM ALL " he repeated unsurely ... Jock stood forward .. " Ye don't have to do as he tells you laddie ." he said " Ye've got a mind of your own , well a mind of MY own .. Ye're no murderer ... " The Captain considered then handed the gun to Jock " I'm with you , James John Everard Hubert Aloysius Strap !" " Everard ! " Lucie snorted ... " Never mind that " said Jock " Tie them Up " Lucie began with The Captain " Not him Lassie , he's coming with us .. suddenly the air began to shimmer " Eihort ! He is coming " exulted De Carnac " Well we're going " said Lucie " See Ya " The Two Captains and Lucie started to back out of the room , Karen and the Headhunter made to follow them " Oh No , said Jock " You stay here ! " Outside Jock fired at the door lock fusing it .. " That should slow em down for a wee while .. Now to find Iris " "Back to the Bus ? " said " The Captain " " Aye laddie , Good idea " Jock replied .. ........ Iris stood panting heavily against Leonardo .. " I've got a stitch " she moaned .. "Hurry up and open the door !" Urged Panda Suddenly around the corner came Lucie and the two Jocks . Hotly pursued by a couple of gaurds .. Iris jiggled her key in the lock and everyone piled in Panda crawled out from under the heap and pressed the dematerialsation button .. Iris straightened up . dusted herself off and looked the two Jocks up and down " Two of you ! " She exclaimed " I didn't know when i was well off ! " "Aren't you all forgetting something " LUcie pointed out "The Doctor is still their prisoner ! " " Dinna worry " Said Jock 2 " as i understand it they have to keep the original alive to ensure the integrity of the Doppelganger Which is why I'll be sticking very close to Old Jock here " " Och , i don't mind ... " Said Jock taking his hand and smiling adoringly . Iris gawped open mouthed " Iris " said Jock " I'm a 51st Century guy ! " "Anyway " said Lucie " Back to the plot ! How doe we find THE Doctor and rescue him ? " " OH " Grinned Iris " I'm sure they'll be following us . ! She pulled the Cintamini Stone from her bag " and for that they'll need the Doctor's Tardis .! Now everybody be quiet . It's very tricky reprogrammin Mid flight - Next stop Shambhala ! " .....
Suddenly The Bus was caught in a tractor beam . " Return at once to the Hotel De Carnac , you are required to give evidence to The Shadow Proclamation .. ! " A deep voice boomed " Bl**Dy Judoon !." complained Iris . Back at the Hotel .. They were all questioned for several hours before being released .. In The Courtyard they saw de Carnac .The Fake Doctor , The Headhunter and karen and a being they presumed must be Eihort being bundled into a Judoon prison Ship " Well that's the end of that " Said Lucie " But where's The Doctor ? " that questioned was soon answered as a rather dishevelled looking Doctor came running towards Lucie and gave her a hug " Gerroff ! " She said .. " Nice to see you too Lucie .. He smiled . " The Judoon are closing this place down until further notice and all the duplicates are tracked down.. " " What will happen to them ?" asked Iris . Plastic surgery to change their appearance .. They are sentient after all , they have a right to exist .. " The Doctor replied " Now who's for something to eat there's arather nice cafe a few minutes walk from here .? " We'll join you later "said Jock " My partner and i have something to do ! " " I've never known him to refuse a free meal before ! "said Iris boggling a while later the two Jocks joined the others in the cafe Jock 2 was sporting Mutton chop whiskers and a handlebar moustache " But how? " said Lucie " A little follicular stimulation " said Jock " Now you'll be able to tell me and Everard apart " " Everard ? " Iris snorted . " We chose it together, one of my middle names " said Jock " and believe me .." " I really don't want you to finish that sentence .." Iris interrupted . " Anyway we're off " said Jock Everyone piled outside . to find what appeared to be a Yellow Reliant Robin van parked outside . " Our very own time vehicle " said Everard " We bought it with the reward money " " There was reward money ? " said Iris dangerously . "Blimey " said Lucie " Delboy and Delboy ! " " So where are you off to? " asked The Doctor "We still need a holiday " said Jock " we.ve had very good reports of a place called Hotel O . ... " Yes , I've heard of it ! " Iris interrupted " Time we were off to " said The Doctor " come on Lucie " " Bye everyone " said Lucie waving " Coming with us? " Jock asked Iris and Panda " We'll follow you in the bus .. " Iris replied . Back in the bus "Iris programmed Leonardo " Those aren't the right co -ordinates .." Said Panda . " I know ! " said Iris " Oh ... " said Panda as the penny finally dropped .
The End ...
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