Planet Eternity is an elusive and mysterious world. Its location has been lost and found again and again for a thousand centuries. It has become a myth, a legend, a fable. Many say it doesn’t exist, many more say that their worlds are flat. Two people are about to discover that Eternity does exist and it isn’t flat. They will learn that perhaps it’s better they never discovered Eternity.

Hannah Sinclair, time traveller and confirmed life member of the runaway from them screaming society, found the Doctor in one of the many storage rooms. The Doctor was a strange and eccentric woman from the planet Gallifrey with a mysterious past she didn’t like to talk about and great knowledge of the Universe, which she did like to chat about. Hannah felt that the Doctor was both her best friend and the person she knew the least about. Sure they gossiped about everything but there was something unknowable, perhaps unlearnable, at the core of the Time Lady’s being.
“Good morning.” The Doctor greeted her glum looking friend. “Did you know I’d quite forgotten about this room? One of my earlier selves used to collect strange curios.” Using a crowbar she prised open one of the wooden crates.
Hannah inspected the contents. “Wow neat, lots of brass things.” She picked up a brass candlestick in the shape of a penguin. “You can get a fortune for this lot. We should take it to that Antiques Roadshow in England.”
“I’m not sure they would appreciate some of this.” The Doctor held up a brass plate it had the five Olympic rings engraved in it. “I got this from the 2012 games, it would make Hugh Scully’s head spin around like an owl’s I can tell you.”
Hannah laughed at the way the Doctor was able to totally ignore the differences between past history and the future. To her it must all be the same. I wonder if she knows what happens to me? Would she tell me? Do I want to know? What if I meet someone and if I know I change history?
“Something on your mind Hannah?” The Doctor asked.
“I was thinking about the nature of time travel and whether knowing my own future is a good thing or a bad thing. In the end I think I would rather not know, that way everything would be a surprise.”
“That’s probably the best way. There was a time when I was obsessed with knowing the future. It got so bad that I ended up causing more chaos than I tried to fix. There’s one way to find out though, tea leaves.”
“Tea leaves Doctor?” Hannah asked jokingly.
“Of course. I can predict that if you read your tea leaves you will have first enjoyed a great cup of tea.” The Doctor fished out a brass teapot in the shape of an elephant. “This is just the thing for really great tea.”
“Ok, ok. I can take a hint.” Hannah gave in. “Take me to your tea cup.”
“With witty lines like that I do believe we’ll make a heroine out of you yet.” The Doctor jibed her companion as they headed towards the kitchen.

“No, I will hear no more of your lies.” Sardos pointed at the cowering slave. “Take him away and feed him to the Riniton. No one tries to poison me and get away with it.”
“Master, have mercy. I was given the potion believing it to be a new spice.” The slave entreatied his Master for clemency.
Sardos laughed as he heard the screams of the slave falling into the Riniton’s pit. Then the savage roars as the beast consumed the fellow. “A good death always gives me an appetite. Bring me food and wine.” He sat back on the throne and watched the acrobats and dancers perform for his merriment.


Hannah set to work polishing some of the brass objects; they really came up with a brilliant polish. Suddenly she was thrown across the room and into a packing crate. “What the hell was that?” She shouted furiously as she clambered out of the wooden box. Limping down the corridors as fast as possible she found the Doctor picking herself up off the console room floor. “Did we hit something again? Hey these readings are all screwy. Looks like we hit a planet.”
The Doctor checked the readings. “It does look that way. The HADS must have kicked in at the last second otherwise we wouldn’t be here having this conversation.” The scatterbrained Time Lady pressed more buttons and a blurry image appeared on the screen.
“It doesn’t look inviting.” Hannah observed.
The Doctor thumped the mushroom shaped console and the image sharpened. “That’s better, now we can see something. I think that’s some sort of palace. At that distance it must be a mile and a half high.”
“Who would build a palace that tall?” Hannah asked.
The Doctor opened the doors. “Lets go and find out.” She passed Hannah her new coat before pulling her own coat on. “We’d better wrap up warm, it a bit nippy outside.”


It was indeed cold outside and there were even one or two patches of snow on the ground, which didn’t do Hannah’s boots any good at all. She was only thankful that they were the rubber thigh length ones and not the expensive leather ones with real diamonds. Luckily the boots were worn under her navy blue denim jeans as she got disproving looks from the Doctor when she wore the leather shorts. Hannah collapsed into a comfy seating position on a large rock. “How much longer?” She asked the Doctor.
The Doctor glanced at their distant destination. “I’m not sure, another half hour maybe. You can’t be tired already? You’re young and healthy.”
“Young, pretty and fit to drop.” Hannah gasped between breaths. “I don’t have two hearts oxygenating my blood.”
“Yes, well there is that.” The Doctor conceded. “Still you could get a bit more exercise instead of sulking around in the TARDIS drinking tea and eating chocolate.”
“You think I should give up the tea then?” Hannah joked.
“Certainly not young lady.” The Doctor feigned mock seriousness. “A cup of tea once an hour is good for the kidneys.” Sitting down beside her chum the Doctor looked at the bleak scenery. The Doctor’s serious side came to the fore. “How are you feeling? About Claire I mean. Are you coping ok?”
“Five by five Doctor.” Hannah remarked a little too quickly. “Who am I kidding? I still miss her but I’m not about to do anything silly again. My life may be screwed up but at least my mind is clear. I have a good friend who cares about me and right now long term relationships are off the menu.”
“You’ll meet someone one day.” The Doctor hated to sound like a fortune cookie but life went on didn’t it. “Then you’ll leave, everyone leaves me in the end...one way or the other. Katarina, Jo Grant, Harry, Tegan, even you.”
Hannah put her arm around the Doctor’s shoulders. “Hey you don’t get rid of me that easily. I have no plans, there’s still so much of the Universe I want to see.”
“You’re right of course. Despair is for those who have given up.” Standing up the Doctor held out her hand for Hannah. “Come on then, last one there makes the tea.”


Sardos liked to rule his court with an iron glove. They expected nothing less of a strong leader did they? His justice was stern and merciless and slow. It served as an example to others: that if they followed his laws they would live another day. “Play a tune for me.” He commanded the musicians. They struck up a merry tune, which lifted his spirits. The gong sounded and Dibalah, the court’s delegate for visitors appeared.
“Your supreme grand eminence, the mighty Lord Sardos who’s hand guides the sun and moon.” Dibalah bowed before his ruler. “May I present two strange women, who visit your mighty palace.”
“Approach.” Sardos commanded the strangers. “It is rare that we receive guests of your beauty. You are welcome indeed. Please state your purpose.”
“Majesty.” The Doctor hedged her bets by going for a kingly salutation. “My young friend and I have recently come to your world and she wished to know who dwelled within this resplendent palace. I give you a thousand thanks for receiving us so warmly.”

“Your friend shows great curiosity.” Sardos pointed at Hannah. “Tell me girl do you like my palace?”
“It is very beautiful.” Hannah answered. “It is an honour to see it.”
“Majesty.” The Doctor hissed quietly.”
“Majesty.” Hannah said quickly.
“Would you like to see more of my palace?” Sardos queried.
“Sure.” Hannah replied. “That would be nice.”
Sardos rubbed his hands together. “Then you shall, you shall. You shall both join my harem and then you shall see as much of the palace as you want.”
Hannah gasped. Harem? But that means? Urgh! She turned to the Doctor and nodded towards the doors and freedom.
“I have a plan.” The Doctor whispered. “Just go along with it for now.”
“No thanks.” Hannah whispered back. “I’m getting out of here the first chance I get.”


Hannah found herself dressed in the most ridiculous outfit of sheer silks. She felt like a piece of meat in a shop window until she saw the other girls in the harem. Maybe she could get used to it but she couldn’t stay here. She was not about to give King Sadact what he wanted. Finding an unlocked door she hurried through it. A corridor snaked through the palace and she found herself inside a bedroom. There was someone in here; a girl was combing her long hair in front of a mirror.
“What are you doing here?” The girl demanded.
“The king said I was to be in his harem of all things. I’ve just escaped.”
The girl stopped brushing her hair. “Why would you refuse such an honour?”
“Because I’m not prepared to do the things he expects me to do. How can I put this? Look I have certain feelings ok but not for him or any other guy.”
The girl walked over to Hannah, her hips swaying seductively. “You would rather lay down with women?”
“Well yeah.” Hannah replied. “I could never be with any man.”
The girl laughed. “Me neither. Father does not understand of course. He wants me to marry some prince or other but I would rather be with my handmaidens. You are very attractive. I am Sinista, what is your name?”
“I’m Hannah and you’re pretty all right yourself. I hope you don’t get into trouble.”
Sinista rubbed her fingertips over Hannah’s nose. “I am a princess, my father gives my all I ask for, expect my own choice of lover. I will ask him to give me you and we can be together.”
“That’s great.” Hannah half lied, once she got out of the clutches of Sadact then she could rescue the Doctor and escape. Once they found their clothes of course. The thought of going outside in this outfit made her shiver.


The Doctor searched all over the chambers looking for Hannah but she could not be found. She fretted that she might do something silly before the escape plans were finalised. She heard light footsteps creeping up behind and she turned around to see Sardos.
“Ah there you are. Are you settling in? My daughter tells me that she wants your friend to become her maid. I was reluctant but she pledged to marry prince Pmaclates if I gave your friend to her.”
The Doctor breathed a sigh of relief. “I was looking for my friend when you found me. I had thought she may have become lost looking at the beauty of the palace.”
“No matter, your friend is otherwise occupied and we must get to know each other.” Sardos held out his arm for the Doctor. “I think that a walk through the gardens will relax you.”
“Of course.” The Doctor took his arm and tried to hide her panic. “I do love the flowers. You must know the names of them all.”
Sardos led the way to the garden. “These are lilies, grown nearby. The fragrance is said to be highly prized as a perfume.”
The Doctor smelled the flower. “I can see why, it smells so beautiful. It must be very expensive.”
Sardos snapped his fingers. “A bottle of perfume for my dearest Doctor.” He smiled at the Doctor. “You shall want for nothing here my dear, your every desire shall be satisfied.”
“What about my companion?” The Doctor asked.
“What of her? She is probably in bed with my daughter as we speak. As soon we will be.”
The Doctor pointed at something behind Sardos. “It’s just that she’s behind you, wielding a large piece of wood.”
Sardos turned around just in time for the piece of wood to connect with his face. He slumped to the floor at the Doctor’s feet.
Hannah threw a bundle of clothes at the Doctor. “Sorry for the delay, I had to wait until he sent Tweedledum away.” She said as she pulled out a set of handcuffs from her own retrieved clothes. She put them on the king, behind his back so that he wouldn’t be able to move so easily. Then waiting for the Doctor to get dressed she gagged Sardos with the harem girl outfit.
“We should go, now.” The Doctor urged, leading the way to the exit. “The sooner we get back to the TARDIS and escape, the better.”
“I don’t know about you Doctor but I could do with a cup of tea.”
“Tea, yes of course.” The Doctor grinned.
“And chocolate?” Hannah hoped.
The Doctor produced a Kit Kat Chunky from her jacket pocket. “Oh very well then, but then it’s off to the swimming pool with you, thirty lengths should be enough.”
Hannah remembered the mad princess she had wrestled to the ground and tied up so that she could escape. “That’s ok Doctor, I got plenty of exercise back at the palace.” Seeing the look on the Doctor’s face she quickly detailed her escape.

I wanted to show the Doctor and Hannah getting closer, bonding, becoming good friends.  After the shocking and tragic events of the last season how can they not become closer?  I just wanted it to come across as natural and not forced like some stories in the TV series.  Of course Hannah is still in pain but she’s in a better place emotionally to deal with it and she has a support mechanism now, a way to deal with the sadness and misery.

Now we get the first inkling of Hannah’s developing powers as she instinctively reads the TARDIS controls during a crisis and not even the Doctor notices…

Putting Hannah in a position where her secure sexuality is threatened was a different kind of danger to put her in, a nasty sort of danger, but she uses her mind again to find a way out of it.  She’s slowly showing signs that she’s not the same young woman she was at the start of Gemini…

Also I wanted to write a brief romance for the Doctor, nothing serious and nothing more.  She’s quite secure with her femininity now and how to use it to get what she wants, it’s nothing more than a tool to use to fight evil, although she still prefers a good left hook…