14,000 Years Ago

This was it, his fifteen minutes of fame. Not that his term in office hadn't been successful, or indeed colourful, but this was the crowning event that would see his name go down in history. The Prime Minister cleared his throat and looked at the autocue. "Ladies and gentlemen, today is not just about the future but it is also about the past. The series of events that have brought us all to this day. The development of speech, the development of language, the creating of civilisation and the long, slow struggle through trade, commerce and war that made the need for communication across great distances so essential. The industrial revolution and mass production. The discovery of radio and steamships. The slow and gradual global integration of our planet, it's people and cultures." He paused for a few seconds to take a sip of water. It felt cool and refreshing as he continued the speech. "The microchip, the worldwide web and now the macro engine have cemented our planet into a worldwide culture. Now as we prepare to take our next steps out into space towards a permanent and lasting megalopolis on the moon, we find ourselves wondering what next? What next challenge lies ahead of us? The answer is simple, to free ourselves of inequality. To create a world where no-one wants for anything, to create utopia." He stood back to receive loud applause.

127 Years Ago

The shift was nearing an end, only another hour to go before his replacement arrived and he could return home to his wife and the kids. True much of his job was merely monitoring the backup systems so nothing really bad could happen, could it? Tanley Miller sat back in his chair and yawned. He turned his head around slowly to talk to Elda Restal but she seemed occupied by something. "Whatcha got there?" he asked after a few moments.

"Don't know. The lights just all came on." She stared intently at the flickering rows of lights. "I've tried everything but nothing responds, the whole system's shot for Pob's sake."

Tanley got up out of his seat and looked at the controls. "Better get Linton, he's the systems expert. Let him sort this mess out, he was the one who said we didn't need to update the system after all."

Caton Restal was just serving the kids their lunch when he looked out of the kitchen window and saw a massive fireball erupting skywards. Then the power supply to the house cut out. He put the meals down on the table and waited for the children to tuck into the meal. He tried dialling his wife at her workplace but even the vidphone was out. Nothing was working. Once his son and daughter had finished their meal they sat and waited for the power supply to come back on and their wife and mother to return but neither happened.

The Present Day

Peri followed the Doctor out of the TARDIS. She looked around at the bleak landscape of dead trees and the broken remains of houses. "Where are we?" she asked her friend after the eerie silence got too much for her.

"One of Earths first colony worlds," the Doctor explained casually. "My word this place is in a bit of a mess." His head, covered in long curls of blond hair, looked around in every direction.

"A bit of a mess?" Peri asked astonished at the Doctor's calm detachment. "That's the biggest understatement I've ever heard." She was thankful however that she had decided to wrap up warm in one of her favourite yellow coats and some sensible denim jeans. However her time with this version of the Doctor hadn't ruined her colour co-ordination; if anything, she tried harder to maintain a sense of style and sartorial elegance.

The Doctor turned to face his young companion. "Perhaps this is just an old part of town scheduled for demolition tomorrow? Why don't we have a look around and find somewhere that's a bit less worn out?"

"Please," Peri said. "I don't like this place, there's no life here."

"Home and hearth are made so by the people who dwell within," the Doctor talked to Peri as they began to look around. "In the greater scheme of things life ebbs and flows. One day you have rich and verdant life and the next you have..." he looked around "...this."

Peri shuddered and moved a little closer to her friend as she walked along. "I don't see any living plants at all, Doctor."

"Indeed." The Doctor rubbed the back of his neck and head with his palm and fingertips. "Plants are one of the fundamental requirements for a rich and diverse ecology. Unless of course the plants can move about and they're hiding from us."

Peri nudged the Doctor's arm. "Why would they do that?" she smiled and almost laughed.

The Doctor looked at his cheered up companion. "I was thinking of the Varga."

Peri shuddered. "Don't remind me." She had recently been partially turned into one of those Dalek-bred life forms and only very expensive drug therapy had saved her from permanent slavery as a near mindless plant. From now on she would never look at a bag of compost in the same way and she sometimes forgot that she didn't have a root system anymore.

He was Pollan, the high priest of the Maxim, and he interpreted the wishes of the lord Tau for the faithful. Today was a day of great rejoicing, a true believer had volunteered for sacrifice. He looked at the young man dressed in the robes of worship and felt humbled by the power of his faith. "Today Yaspa has volunteered to join the lord Tau in the eternal fields." He waited as the gathered band of faithful believers applauded. "Please step forward Yaspa." He put a paternal hand on the youth's shoulder. "We commend your brave sacrifice for the sake of our people. May the honesty of your commitment fill all our hearts and bring new life to us all."

Yaspa stepped into the place, which contained the holiest of the holies. The door was sealed shut behind him and another one opened in front of him. The path was revealed to him and eagerly he walked along it until he came to a small room with a single metal box in the centre of the room. The box folded open and he felt himself drawn towards it. As he got closer to it he found he was moving without walking. He was pulled up and over the side of the steel box and he fell downwards. His body was wracked in agony as pain spread from the feet upwards. His legs were torn off at the knees then his legs were pulled out at the hips. Then his spine was stretched impossibly long and it snapped after a few agony-filled minutes. He lost conscious not long after that as the pain burned out his brain. He was fortunate when his body was torn down to its atomic components as he had already died in his sleep. Then the cloud of atoms were shattered and the debris pulled into the infinite gravity of the artificial singularity, which he had once worshiped as the lord Tau.

Pollan stretched his arms out wide as the lights came back on. "Behold the mercy of Tau, he has given us light in return for our dearly loved Yaspa." He took his place in the line that formed in front of the now working food dispenser.

Their journey was suddenly illuminated as streetlights burst into life. "Hey, maybe there is someone here after all," Peri exclaimed with more than a little joy.

"Yes." the Doctor looked around, uncertain. "It does seem that way. The only question is whether they were actually turned on by someone or if it's just an automatic system."

Peri preferred the first option. "I think we should look for them."

The Doctor followed after his headstrong friend. "The impetuousness of youth," he sighed. "That girl can't stand still for more than a half a minute before she's off getting herself into all sorts of problems."

"What?" Peri called back to her muttering friend.

"Never mind," the Doctor said reproachfully. "Just talking to myself."

Pollan sat back in his rickety wooden chair and let out a sigh as he rested his sore feet up on his small cushioned stool. He turned his head slowly sideways and looked out at the blasted wasteland outside of the window. In the distance there were two small dots of colour moving against the greys and dark browns of the ground. He jumped to his feet. It was late evening now and the lost came out after dark.

Peri pointed at the figure running towards them. "Hey, I wonder who that is?" She turned the Doctor around by tugging his arm so that he too could see the advancing stranger.

"I was wondering when you would notice him." The Doctor smiled at a frowning Peri. "I have very good eyesight and a very sensitive ear. I could hear his approach several minutes ago."

A likely story, Peri thought to herself. Honestly he just can't admit that he's not perfect sometimes. She shook her head and watched the robed figure draw closer. "He seems in an awful hurry."

"He seems friendly enough." The Doctor put his arm protectively around Peri's shoulders. "Look, he's waving at us."

Peri looked at the man once more. "I think he's telling us to go away." She watched as he approached them, breathing heavily and gasping for air. "Are you okay?" She was concerned that he might die or something.

"I am all right." Pollan caught his breath. "You should not be out here so close to nightfall my children. Come, you can stay with me tonight."

They followed the old man and while they walked Peri could feel the Doctor's anger. "What is it now?" she asked him.

"My children? I'm at least eight hundred and fifty years older than he is."

"He probably doesn't know how long Time Lords live Doctor. Besides shouldn't you take it as a compliment?" Peri hoped that she retained her looks when she got older.

"I suppose so," the Doctor conceded. "How old would you say this me looked anyway?"

"Just like a man to be vain," Peri joked.

"No, seriously. Do I look old enough to be both dashing, dignified and wise?"

"You look fine Doctor," Peri replied diplomatically. "I'd say you were a good forty seven."

"Forty seven?" the Doctor exploded. "I do not look that old!"

"I thought you wanted to be dashing, dignified and wise?" Peri snapped back.

"I do, I don't want to look like I'm drawing a pension." The Doctor resumed his natural pace, leaving Peri almost running to catch up with him.

"You are most lucky that I saw you both." Pollan chatted as they hurried along. "It's not safe at all after dark. The lost prey on the old and the weak."

"Who are the lost?" Peri asked.

"You had to ask," the Doctor chided his young friend.

"The lost are those who have rejected civilisation. They live as savage beasts and are certainly cannibals."

"I had to ask." Peri had felt better before she found this out.

They made it safely back to Pollan's small and homely set of rooms. Peri thankfully took her shoes off and sat down on a wooden chair. "My feet feel like they've been chewed up and spat out by a Silurian."

"I did tell you they were impractical at the time you bought them," the Doctor reminded her.

Peri looked sharply at the Doctor and scowled. "They're fine unless you get dragged around a desolate wasteland for god knows how many hours by a so-called friend who refuses to admit that he's lost."

Pollan had left the room temporarily to fetch his guests some refreshments. When he returned he handed them the food and put the mugs of water down on his desk. "Here is some food and water. Please excuse me now, I must pray."

"Of course," the Doctor smiled at the aging priest. "We'll be quiet."

"What a nice guy." Peri liked Pollan. "He's very sweet helping us like this."

"Yes," the Doctor agreed uncertainly. "He certainly went well out of his way to help us. I keep wondering why? We can both handle ourselves pretty well in a pinch."

Peri wondered what the Doctor was getting at. "He's a priest, aren't they supposed to help people? At least he's better than those TV evangelists you see in the States."

Pollan returned to find the couple had stopped fighting. "I can show you to your room now if you like?"

"Room?" Peri asked, more than a bit stunned. "Can I have one by myself please?"

"We're just friends," the Doctor explained. "Nothing more, believe me."

"Of course," Pollan replied. "Follow me please." He led them to the guest rooms. "There is very little hot water for a bath I'm afraid as we rely on the solar power to warm it up. There are however fresh towels for you in the morning."

Once the Doctor and the old priest had left, Peri got undressed and slipped into bed. She sighed as her back melted into the mattress. "This feels so good," she muttered to herself before falling sound asleep.

The Doctor inspected his room. It was not overly small but it did feel a little confining. He inspected the bathroom and found to his surprise a rather large battery being used as a doorstop. "They could run the place off this for years." He exclaimed before removing his nicely-coloured coat and placing it on the hook on the back of the door. He cleared a space on the floor and adopted the lotus position before starting to meditate for the night.

Pollan woke early the next day, long before the sun was due to rise above the horizon. He went out and drew fresh water from the well before filling the water tank with it to heat up for hot water. Next he took fresh vegetables and herbs from the garden to make a vegetable salad in honour of his guests' visit. Finally he sacrificed a goat to the lord Tau, in order that he look kindly on the newcomers and give them his protection.

Peri woke up as a ray of light came slowly across her face from the window in her room. She jumped out of bed, got undressed completely and eagerly got into the shower. The water was very warm and felt great. She began to sing a couple of Spice Girls songs as she got rid of yesterday's dirt and grime.

The Doctor snapped out of his meditation as the mildly irritating rendition of the Spice Girls filtered into his room. Alert now, the Doctor stood up and considered custard a very good meditative subject. Pulling his warm jacket on he went to find their host and say good morning to him.

"Doctor Smith, just in time to eat." Pollan greeted his blond curly haired guest. "I have prepared a simple meal to break fast."

"Thank you," the Doctor smiled at the simple spread. "It looks a positively filling meal."

"Will your young friend be joining us?" Pollan asked the Doctor.

"Peri always turns up round about mealtimes. I have no idea where she puts it all sometimes." The Doctor heard the clicking of Peri's shoes on the hard wooden floor. "Ah here she is now, right on time. You don't even need a dinner bell!"

"Good morning," Peri breezed into the room and sat down. "Boy, I'm starving this morning." She picked up a piece of beetroot and nibbled on it.

"The youth of today." The Doctor gave Pollan an ironic smile. "They can never wait for anything, not even a morning prayer."

"Oh that's okay." Pollan sat down. "The Lord Tau gives and we give thanks by eating heartily."

"Amen to that." Peri nibbled on a piece of lettuce and took a mouthful of water. "Mmmm, this is delicious."

The Doctor sat down and tucked into a plate of radishes with a simple sauce.

Peri sat in her room after the meal when there was a knock at the door. She opened it to see Pollan with a bundle of white clothe in his arms.

"This is a gift for you." He handed it to his young guest. "It is a symbol of life to the others of my faith."

"Thanks." Peri didn't know what to do so she agreed to wear it. "I'll need a few minutes to get changed." She shut the room door and unfolded the garment to reveal a very strangely cut dress of white cotton. Once she had changed she opened the door and was greeted by a look of pure happiness on the old priest's face.

"It suits you," Pollan said at last. "You must wear it for the ceremony this afternoon."

"Okay," Peri said, not wanting to upset her host. True the dress was thinner than she would like but in the heat of the day it would be nice and cool.

The Doctor found the immediate area to be most fascinating, the soil seemed to be totally devoid of nutrients but yet crops grew in them. The rocks showed unusual traces of mineral deposits, almost as if they had been blasted by a considerable release of energy in the recent past. He looked up at the greyish fog-like clouds and spotted the bright patch of light that indicated the sun's position. It was almost midday. He was about a mile and a half from Pollan's house so he set off at a brisk walking pace.

Peri sat through the ceremony. It seemed quite dull but Pollan seemed very happy about her presence.

"I would ask now that our young guest come forward to become one with the Lord Tau."

Peri pointed to herself and gave an inquisitive stare to Pollan and he nodded and smiled to her. She stood up and walked forward. "I'm honoured," she said, unsure quite what to say.

A grey metal door swung open and Pollan gestured towards it. "Please step forward to receive the blessing of the Lord Tau."

Peri walked gingerly towards the door. She was sure that she could feel a slight tugging on her body, pulling her forward.

The Doctor felt it on an entirely different level. It smashed into his temporal senses and knocked him breathless down to the dirt. His mind screamed as his temporal intuition overloaded. Blood came out of the corners of his eyes like they were salty tears along with blood from his ears, nose and mouth. It was all telling him one thing, time was being destroyed, annihilated, it was oblivion.

Peri entered the room, it seemed to be a small chamber. The door behind her closed and another one opened in front of her. Beyond it was a meandering corridor covered with what seemed to be religious markings. She felt drawn along the corridor so she set out to see just what was up ahead.

Pain lessening, the Doctor opened an eye and let out a bloody gasp. Dark red blood splattered the dirt before he pulled himself to his feet. He knew where the source of the pain lay, the small temple above Pollan's place. Peri. Somehow he knew that his companion was in danger. He set off again at a hurried rush, ignoring the thin rivulets of blood that continued to run out of his nostrils and into his mouth. His long stride ensured that he covered the distance in record time and bounded up the small wooden stairs to the small temple.

Pollan gasped as the bloodied Doctor ran into the temple. "Doctor? Were you set upon by the lost?" He moved to help the multicoloured man.

"I'll be fine," the Doctor brushed off Pollan's attempts to help. "Where's Peri?" he demanded. "I know she's in danger."

Pollan lowered his gaze. "She's gone to join the Lord Tau. She will become one with him."

The Doctor's head span around at a speed that would give a human whiplash. "NO!" he shouted. "NO!" He began to look around for a hidden switch or lever.

"It is too late." Pollan sighed. "The Lord Tau will give us life in return for her joining him."

The Doctor found what he was looking for, a small button on the floor. He pressed it with the tip of his shoe. "It may not be too late." The Doctor dashed over into the small metal chamber.

Peri stopped to look at a very interesting relief. It showed a woman dressed in a garment just like the one she was wearing. She was being pulled into a giant statue of a man, which was probably the Lord Tau.

"Peri!" the Doctor shouted when he saw his friend. "Stay there. Don't go any further down the corridor."

Peri heard the Doctor's voice. "Oh hi," she waved to him. "Are you going to see this Tau bloke too?"

"Take one step towards me Peri," the Doctor shouted. "Come on, you can do it."

Peri tried to walk in the Doctor's direction but found that it was like walking through treacle. "Hey, what's going on?" she demanded.

"Hurry Peri!" the Doctor encouraged. "You can do it."

"I...I can't," Peri called back. "I think there's something pushing me back."

"Not pushing you Peri, pulling you. These people worship a black hole!"

Peri tried again but she just couldn't make any progress.

The Doctor looked around for a rope but all he could find was a ladder. Laying it down on the floor he pushed it in Peri's direction. "Lie down on this Peri," the Doctor commanded. "I'll pull you towards me!"

Peri took a hold of the ladder and hooked her feet into the rungs. "I'm ready," she called towards the Doctor.

The Doctor pulled on the end of the ladder, it was hard going and he had lost some blood earlier on. However he made progress, inching Peri closer towards his position by the minute. "I think you need to go on a diet, my girl," he called to her. "It's all those chocolate cakes you eat!"

"Very funny," Peri called back. "Just get me back to safety."

The Doctor took the strain once more when suddenly a long metal staff came crashing down on his shoulder. With a cry of pain he let go of the ladder.

Peri screamed as she saw the priest strike the Doctor. "Leave him alone," she shouted. "The Doctor is just trying to save me."

"He's denying you your chance for immortality." Pollan called at the confused Peri. "The Lord Tau will grant you eternal life."

"Your Lord Tau is a black hole," the Doctor spoke through the pain. "It does not give eternal life it sucks life into it and destroys it utterly. It is not a god it's a killer."

"You lie!" Pollan shouted as he struck the Doctors prone body once more. "The Lord Pollan will forgive you your sins however."

Peri pulled herself forward along the length of the ladder. It took all her energy but somehow she managed to pull herself forward.

"The truth is what it is," the Doctor replied. "You cannot deny what is." He looked at Pollan. I think that this was a power station. No doubt they fed in small quantities of matter to create the surge of power to operate the food machines in your temple."

"They are a gift from the Lord Tau, he rewards us for the faith of those who join him." Pollan told the Doctor what he knew to be true.

"You sacrificed your followers," the Doctor shook his head. "You used them to power the food machines."

"NO!" Pollan shrieked in anguish. "I cannot have been so blind."

"You didn't know," the Doctor said kindly. "You thought you were doing your Lord Tau's will."

Peri made her way. Each time she hauled herself forwards it became easier the next time. Soon she was seated beside the Doctor. "So I was about to walk straight into a black hole?"

"Yes," the Doctor said simply. "Fortunately I figured things out in time to save you. Black holes suck more than matter into them, they also consume Time and that's something which can give me a blinding headache for a month."

Pollan stood up and began to walk forward. "It's all been a lie. All those people I sent to their deaths. The kind and sincere people who believe all I told them, I sent them to their doom."

"Come back," the Doctor shouted. "Don't throw your life away."

"I can still help my people one more time." Pollan continued his journey. He came to the small room with a single metal box in the centre of the room. The box folded open and he felt himself pulled towards it. "I am sorry," Pollan shouted as he was drawn down towards the point where matter was destroyed utterly.

Fresh blood trickled down the Doctor's nose as he felt the force of the black hole affecting his higher senses.

"What...what's happened?" Peri asked.

"He's gone to meet his maker," the Doctor sighed. "Come on, lets get out of here." He helped Peri to her feet.

Peri looked down at her attire. "I can't wait to get out of this dress," she smiled at the Doctor. "Give me good old American fashion any day."

"Come along Peri." The Doctor opened the door to get back to the temple. "It's time you got some proper attire. Once we explain things to the waiting congregation."