The Eye of Fire

The sea was calm and crystal blue. There was a shape moving through the air and it hit the surface with a splash. Waves rippled over the surface and quickly dissipated.

Peri picked up a second stone and casually threw it further out. It was a slightly larger stone and small droplets were thrown up to fall like a miniature rainfall. "Like that one Doctor?" She hoped it was similar to what the Doctor had explained.

"Yes, when the spaceship struck the Earth massive clouds of dust and water vapour were thrown up into the atmosphere and beyond. I remember one time I actually found a piece of it on the Moon. Well actually Polly discovered it but that's another story; another segment of history I would like to alter."

"The first law of time?"

The Doctor frowned. "Yes, one of the higher standards we Time Lords must aspire to. Thou shalt not change the course of history. Some days I imagine Rassilon dressed in sackcloth and carried two huge lumps of stone. That's what it's like sometimes, unfeeling, unmoving, uncaring. Just like that stone you threw in the sea."

"Well rules are for a good reason, Doctor." Peri put her hand on his shoulder. Some days, such as today, it was as if all the pain and sorrow of the universe was made manifest in his soul.

"I know Peri, I know. Come on, lets go somewhere less melancholy."

They walked slowly along the beach towards the TARDIS. Peri stubbed her red painted toenail on a pebble. "Ow." She bent down to pick the stone up and throw it far away however a glimmering light distracted her and she slipped it inside the pocket of her shorts. "Hey what's that?" She pointed at three shimmering figures.

"Not what Peri! Who? I do wish they would stop interfering. I've had enough of your dirty secrets, your whispered secrets and half-truths. I'm not your errand boy anymore, I'm your President and I say leave me be."

Two of the three shapes resolved themselves into Celestial Intervention Agents. "Doctor, we need you. There is a disparency in the space-time continuum and we cannot resolve it without exposing our hand."

"Go away." The Doctor adopted a grandiose position.

"Doctor, we suspect the hand of an ancient force. There is cold cunning behind the disparency and our technology refuses to identify it. Only one exists who could have reason to cause this: Omega."

"Omega is dead. I saw him consumed, I killed his copy of my body."

"He still exists Doctor and he must be stopped. You must help us, help everything to survive him."

"What do you mean by that illogical statement?"

"Before our instruments failed we discovered part of his plan. He intends to travel back in time to Event Zero and alter the nature of creation."

"What's Event Zero, Doctor?" Peri was fascinated by the conversation and wanted to keep up with the technical details.

The second C.I.A. agent spoke with the voice of Peri's mother. "Child, Event Zero is the beginning of everything. All things come from it, sand, sea, star, being, life, death, emotion, logic and you. It is the source of everything."

"I see, I think. What the people of my world call the big bang."

"Big Bang? Big Bang? No wonder Earth is barely a grade III world by the beginning of what you call the second millennium." The Doctor smiled his most apologetic smile.

"Well then, how can we succeed when you failed? Your stuff has to be better that the Doctor's TARDIS."

"True my child, but all is of the same basic design. The disruption must be reduced. If we shield your TARDIS systems then you can try where we have failed."

"Well then, we had better get started, hadn't we?" The Doctor pulled out his key and walked over to the battered blue police box that was in reality a disguised type 40 time travel capsule.

"We sense you prefer a bloodless outcome to any situations. You never use violence unless absolutely necessary."

"Of course."

"That is why we asked for someone to accompany you. A partner if you will."

"What could I possibly need a partner for?"

"Because my dear Doctor you are a weak and spineless fool!" The Master announced as the third figure resolved itself in his sinister visage.

"Oh no. Not him! Pick anyone else but I am not working with the Master." The Doctor waved his hands dismissively and turned to leave.

"Doctor, he is the perfect choice. A pale creature of base desires and shallow sincerity. He does not shirk the responsibility we have asked of him."

"He's an evil monster and a brutal killer."

"Such flattery, my dear Doctor. That is exactly why they asked me. They know you can get me there but lack the spirit to see the job through. I am the one who gets the blood on his hands. Besides I cannot allow another to obtain that which I desire."

"You still want to rule the universe don't you?"

"Of course, my vision will usher in a golden age of peace and progress."

"Peace? All you do is destroy!"

The first Agent coughed politely. "Perhaps you can argue and debate ethics afterwards?"

"Oh very well, but at the first sign of treachery I'll leave you stranded out of harms way."

"Hey don't I get a say in all this?" Peri wondered.

"Come on Peri, we've got work to do." He pointed at the Master. "You, just don't press any buttons."

"I wouldn't dream of it Doctor!" the Master laughed.

The TARDIS dematerialised into the vortex that was no time and all-time, nowhere and everywhere.

"Do you think they will function together?"

"No, but they must. History needs this alliance to work."

Peri watched the Doctor. He was deliberately trying to ignore the Master's presence. It was funny in a strange way, almost like watching two guys trying to work on a car. Each was intent on their own agenda and hoped the other would realise they were in the way.

"Just bypass control circuit epsilon, cross wire to junction fourteen and that should do it."

"Junction fifteen."

The circuit board burst into flames and smoke poured into the transparent central column.

"Maybe it should have been junction fifteen, Peri."

"Now if you had listened to me you would have gotten it right first time."

Peri could remain silent no more. "Look you have to work together otherwise we may as well give up now."

"Me, work with him?"

"Why Miss Brown that's the most sensible suggestion I've heard so far."

"Look Doctor, can't you put aside your feelings for just ten minutes and let the Master help you?"

"I can't trust him Peri. He'd betray us in a second."

"Normally Doctor I may consider it but until we defeat Omega I have no plans in that direction I can assure you."

"That's supposed to make me trust you?"

"Yes."

"Oh very well, consider yourself on probation. The first sign of deceit and it's bye-bye Master into the Vortex. Is that clear?"

"I'm glad we can come to an understanding Doctor. Honesty is the best policy."

"Ha!" The Doctor returned to adjusting the controls.

They spent what seemed like hours adjusting the controls and fine-tuning them. Finally they were finished.

"So is it finished?"

"Yes Peri. Now stand back." The Doctor entered the temporal co-ordinates and their journey began. Blue light coursed over the console tracing a pattern around the instruments.

"What can we expect to find at this Event Zero, Doctor?"

"Nothing Peri, an empty eternity of neverness, an island of non-existence."

"That sounds exactly like your singing."

The Master laughed. "I tried telling him that three centuries ago Miss Brown, but he never listens."

"Scoff all you want Peri, but I'd draw the Masters attention to who came last in the Alpha Centauri karaoke competition."

"That was my first incarnation. I was never much of a singer back then I can assure you. The Doctor entered me in the contest and got me inebriated on the local fermented vegetable produce."

"Yes well those were different times, I was very different back then."

"Yes Doctor, you were an unruly youth and I was the sensible mature one who held your excesses in check."

Fortunately the TARDIS arrived at its destination before the reminiscing got any further.

The TARDIS had materialised on a plateau of nothingness, which felt spongy underfoot.

Peri found her heels sunk into it and so she removed them. She turned to put them inside the TARDIS when it dematerialised in front of her eyes. "It's vanished. The Master betrayed us."

"I can assure you it was none of my doing. Why would I want to trap myself here?"

"It's a precaution Peri, in case our bearded friend decided that three was a crowd once our task is completed."

"A wise decision Doctor, I do believe you're learning about life at long last."

"Where is this Omega going to be anyway?"

As if on cue a large grey figure emerged from the nothingness under their feet. "I have always been here. I always will be here."

"Doctor?" Peri gasped as the figure of the Doctor's previous incarnation stood in front of her.

"That's not me Peri, it's Omega. He's managed to retain the bio data information he stole from me."

"Not your best incarnation I'm sure you'll agree, Doctor."

"Maybe, but I defeated you in that duel."

"Hey I liked that version, he was nice and very polite."

Omega sneered at the three sent to stop him. "You Doctor cannot hope to defeat my plan. Behold my castle of anti-matter." Omega gestured to a growing mass in the middle distance.

"What's that, Doctor?" Peri asked, looking at the twisted and distorted building.

"Pure anti-matter Peri, more than enough to tip the scales to a reality where everything is made of anti-matter."

"What's the big deal with anti-matter anyway?"

"Anti-matter is the total opposite of matter, Peri. Not just an inversion of matter but a totally inimical version of matter."

"I don't understand what that means."

"Imagine the Earth, Peri," the Doctor started his sermon. "It has metals right? Gold, silver, iron? Well metal can be eaten by acids and melted by heat but those are processes that still involve matter. Anti-matter is not just opposite to matter, it is totally alien to it. They have nothing in common at all. When they are brought together they annihilate each other in a massive, massive reaction. Both are consumed and destroyed utterly. That amount of anti-matter would totally change the course of the universe. Everything we have ever known would never have existed. Instead a regime with Omega as its god would dominate everything, forever. That is what you mad demented types want, isn't it?"

"Of course Doctor, I shall rule everything. My name will be on the lips of all my devout followers. I shall shape and create existence for all eternity. Behold my time approaches." Omega pointed towards a dull point of red light. "The old Universe has ended and now I shall create the next." The castle of anti-matter moved towards the brightening point of light.

"Doctor, stop him," Peri shouted, almost screaming.

The Doctor threw himself at Omega but it was too late. As their bodies collided they cancelled each other out in a smaller explosion. The orangey yellow point of light exploded and the universe came into existence. A universe of anti-matter. The Master and Peri were obliterated in a microsecond, their bodies turned into quarks, tau mesons and radiation. The creation resembled a giant expanding eye of fire.

The eye of fire blinked and fizzled out.

The TARDIS materialised on a plateau of nothingness, which felt spongy underfoot.

Peri found her heels sunk into it and so she removed them. She turned to put them inside the TARDIS when it dematerialised in front of her eyes. "It's vanished. The Master betrayed us."

"I can assure you it was none of my doing. Why would I want to trap myself here?"

"It's a precaution Peri, in case our bearded friend decided that three was a crowd once out task is completed."

"A wise decision Doctor, I do believe you're learning about life at long last."

"Where is this Omega going to be anyway?"

As if on cue a large grey figure emerged from the nothingness under their feet. "I have always been here. I always will be here."

"Doctor?" Peri gasped as the figure of the Doctor's previous incarnation stood in front of her.

"That's not me Peri, it's Omega. He's managed to retain the bio data information he stole from me."

"Not your best incarnation I'm sure you'll agree, Doctor."

"Maybe, but I defeated you in that duel."

"Hey I liked that version, he was nice and very polite."

Omega sneered at the three sent to stop him. "You Doctor cannot hope to defeat my plan. Behold my castle of anti-matter." Omega gestured to a growing mass in the middle distance."

"What's that, Doctor?" Peri asked, looking at the twisted and distorted building.

"Pure anti-matter Peri, more than enough to tip the scales to a reality where everything is made of anti-matter."

"What's the big deal with anti-matter anyway?"

"Anti-matter is the total opposite of matter Peri. Not just an inversion of matter but a totally inimical version of matter."

"I don't understand what that means."

"If I may be so bold Miss Brown?" The Master interceded. "Imagine your insignificant planet Earth. It has metals does it not? Metal can be corroded by acids and melted by heat but those are processes that still involve matter. Anti-matter is not just opposite to matter, it is totally alien to it. They have nothing in common at all. When they are brought together they annihilate each other in a massive, massive reaction. Both are consumed and destroyed utterly. That amount of anti-matter would totally change the course of the universe. Everything we have ever known would never have existed. Instead an institution of oppression set up with Omega as its god would dominate everything, forever. That is what mad demented types want, isn't it?"

"Of course brother Time Lord, I shall rule everything. My name will be on the lips of all my devout followers. I shall shape and create existence for all eternity. Behold my time approaches." Omega pointed towards a dull point of red light. "The old Universe has ended and now I shall create the next." The castle of anti-matter moved towards the brightening point of light.

"Doctor, stop him!" Peri shouted, almost screaming.

Omega lazily lifted a finger and Peri was lifted up and hurled towards the Castle. The deafening explosion of her annihilation drowned her screams out.

"There was no need for that." The Doctor threw himself at Omega and they were both destroyed in an instant.

The orangey yellow point of light exploded and the universe came into existence. A universe of anti-matter. The Master was obliterated in a microsecond; his body was turned into quarks, tau mesons and radiation. The creation resembled a giant expanding eye of fire.

The eye of fire blinked and fizzled out.

The TARDIS materialised on a plateau of nothingness, which felt spongy underfoot.

Peri found her heels sunk into it and so she removed them. She turned to put them inside the TARDIS when it dematerialised in front of her eyes. "It's vanished. The Master betrayed us."

"I can assure you it was none of my doing. Why would I want to trap myself here?"

"It's a precaution Peri, in case our bearded friend decided that three was a crowd once out task is completed."

"A wise decision Doctor, I do believe you're learning about life at long last."

"Where is this Omega going to be anyway?"

As if on cue a large grey figure emerged from the nothingness under their feet. "I have always been here. I always will be here."

"Doctor?" Peri gasped as the figure of the Doctor's previous incarnation stood in front of her.

"That's not me Peri, it's Omega. He's managed to retain the bio data information he stole from me."

"Not your best incarnation I'm sure you'll agree Doctor."

"Maybe, but I defeated you in that duel."

"Hey I liked that version, he was nice and very polite."

Omega sneered at the three sent to stop him. "You Doctor cannot hope to defeat my plan. Behold my castle of anti-matter." Omega gestured to a growing mass in the middle distance."

"What's that, Doctor?" Peri asked, looking at the twisted and distorted building.

"Pure anti-matter Peri, more than enough to tip the scales to a reality where everything is made of anti-matter."

"What's the big deal with anti-matter anyway?"

"Anti-matter is the total opposite of matter Peri. Not just an inversion of matter but a totally inimical version of matter."

"I don't understand what that means."

Omega laughed. "Imagine a piece of metal child. Metal can be eaten by acids and melted by heat but those are processes that still involve matter. Anti-matter is not just opposite to matter, I am totally alien to it. They have nothing in common at all. When they are brought together they annihilate each other in a massive, massive reaction. Both are consumed and destroyed utterly. That amount of anti-matter would totally change the course of the universe. Everything you have ever known would never have existed."

"Yes Peri, Instead a regime with Omega as its god would dominate everything, forever. That is what you mad demented types want isn't it?" The Doctor pointed an accusing finger.

"Doctor, stop him!" Peri shouted, almost screaming.

The Doctor advanced towards Omega. Peri put her hands in her pockets and discovered the pebble from the beach. In desperation she flung it at Omega. It hit him in the head and he screamed as his head burned away. The Master used his tissue compression eliminator to make sure Omega was finished. He then used it on the castle, shrinking it down to the size of a pinhead.

On cue the TARDIS materialised and they bundled inside it. The Doctor hit the fast approach switch and they were catapulted forward in time to avoid the approaching fireball.

The orangey yellow point of light exploded and the universe came into existence. The creation resembled a giant expanding eye of fire.

The eye of fire blinked and expanded anew.

The beach was deserted except for a man and a woman. They both threw stones into the sea and laughed.