SciFi

it didnt give much away, but did show a close up of DT's hand and hold the shot for a while.

Why would Silvester McCoy appear on Dr Who confidential in costume including his brolly?

Acording to radio reports it will star Sir Ian Mckellan and Jim Cavezal, and will be on ITV next Spring.

The wearer of this t-shirt will be appearing as the next incarnation of The Doctor, next Saturday night!

Any Timelords or Ladies interested in this?

Flash Countdown

Found a brilliant Doctor Who site called DrWhoGuide.com It is a complete reference guide about the Doctor and includes short stories and lost episodes.

One short story, written by Nicholas Briggs (the voice of the Daleks) involves a female Doctor. Called Doctor Who Unbound: Exile it involves the following plot:

All the Doctor has to do to avoid being caught by the Time Lords is work in a supermarket and go to the pub. It’s a cunning plan -- certainly far less dangerous than fighting the dreaded Quarks and all those other alien fiends.

But just when everything seemed mundane and safe, alien transmissions, exploding poison gas, Princess Anne and wobbly trolleys burst onto the scene to ruin everything. It’s a crisis! A fiendish alien plot! And the Doctor must use all the resources at her disposal to defeat it. She’ll probably need to have a large vodka first, though.

Enjoy.

Please not you did read correctly the Doctor is a she......

Why isn't the Doctor Who Confidential available on BBC iPlayer?
Did they reveal too much?

To begin with I had my doubts about Katherine Tate, but she's come good, and I love Bernard Cribbins as Wilfred Mott.

Nice to see the torchwood team brought into the story last week, would love to see more cross over episodes next series, whih by all accounts wont be until 2010.

Is The Doctor realy going to regenerate? If so they kept that quiet, and i would have thought something like that would have leaked to the press.

God I cant wait for next saturday now.

More revelations. When on the Shadow Proclamation Donna hears the 'drums' this is followed up by her raising her hand to reveal a large ring, not unlike the one removed from the Master's funeral pyre. Is Donna the Master?

Interesting blog site for all Doctor Who aficionados called 'Behind the Sofa'.

The Doctors regeneration will be 'effected' by the presence of his hand in a jar, sticking him with the same face but some how splitting him into three Doctors including previous reincarnations that have come up against Davros including Silvester McCoy and Peter Davidson.

Addendum.

Just re-watched on-line and Dalek Caan says 'beware the threefold man'......

So long David!!!!!!

That means no more Tennant!

But, who's he regenerating into?

I went to see the Incredible Hulk last night and - with the Iron Man cameo at the end - my friend told me that they were making a third 'superhero' movie of someone else then they are making a third crossover move with Hulk, Iron Man and this other person. Does anyone else know about these rumours? It may be Captian America, but I'm not sure.

Talk about a fanfest though....

By andrew mark bedell

“Jackie. Jackie can you hear me?”
Jackie blinked. As her eyes focused she saw that she was sitting in her kitchen, mug of tea in both hands, elbows on the table. She focused on the face of the woman sitting opposite her, she could see that her lips were moving, but hadn’t caught any of what she was saying.
“I’m sorry.” Jackie apologized. “I was miles away.”
“It’s ok love.” The woman replied. “That’ll be the medication.”
“Yea, I expect so.” Jackie replied without even thinking about what she was saying.
Looking around the room she was aware that she was in her own kitchen, but there was something that didn’t feel right. Her eyes focused back on the woman sitting opposite her. She thought for a moment.
“I’m sorry.” She asked. “Who are you?”
“Lucy.” The woman replied. “I just moved in next door.”
“Oh yes. Silly me.” Jackie apologized. “I don’t seem to know if im coming or going these days, not with Rose who knows where.”
“Rose?” Lucy asked.
“My daughter.”
Lucy swallowed.
“You don’t have a daughter Jackie.” She said.
“Of course I do.” Jackie got up and walked through into the living room, she looked around the room franticly.
“What have you done with them? “Jackie snapped. “What have you done with the photos?”
“What photos Jackie?”
“The photos of Rose. What have you done with the photos of Rose?”
“There is no Rose.” Lucy said coldly. “”She’s just a figment of your imagination.”
“No.” Jackie yelled going to a cabinet and taking out several photo albums and franticly thumbing through them. Not a single photo of Rose remained.
“Why are you doing this?” Jackie yelled. “Who are you?”
“I told you.” Lucy replied. “I just moved in next door. The people around here told me you were a bit nuts but I thought I would give you the benefit of the doubt. Seems they were right after all.”
“Who?” Jackie asked. “Who were right?”
“Everyone on the estate.” Lucy replied.

Lucy got up and headed for the door. Jackie followed.
“Tell me who said I was nuts.”
“Micky Smith.”
Jackie chuckled.
“He would have been pulling your leg.”
“He said you assaulted him, he said you accused him of murdering your daughter.”
“Why would I say that? Rose isn’t dead. Rose is with the Doctor.”
“There is no Rose, it’s all in your head.”
Jackie gripped her head.
“This is madness.” She said. “I want you to go.”
Lucy stepped out of the door. She yturned back to face Jackie.
“Keep taking the medication. It will help.”

Jackie slammed the door too. She peered through the nets at the window and watched Lucy leave the estate, then went back into the living room. On the coffee table was a bottle of pills, her name on the label, prescribed by her local GP.

She made an appointment to see her GP that afternoon; she had to get to the bottom of this one way or another. But she didn’t get the answers that she was hopping for. The GP only concurred with what Jackie had been hearing, she had accused Mickey of killing her daughter, a daughter that she had never had. She had never been pregnant, nor would she ever be because of damage to her whom in a road accident, the accident that had killed her husband Pete.

As she walked out of the surgery and through the waiting room a magazine on a table caught her eye. In the photo staring up at her was a face she recognized at once.
“That’s Rose.” She yelled grabbing the magazine. “That’s my Rose.”
The receptionist chuckled to herself.
“That’s Rosie Wolf from the band Bad Wolf.” The receptionist said. “They just had a massive hit with the song ‘Steel men’. You must have heard it, it’s on the radio all the time.”

Jackie rolled up the magazine and rushed for the door. As she did she came face to face with a face that she couldn’t have failed to recognize.
“Doctor.” She gaped.
He looked her up and down and scowled.
“Doctor. It’s me, Jackie.”
“I’ve never seen you before in my life.” He replied, approaching the reception desk.
“John Smith.” I have an appointment with Doctor Jones.

He took a seat and reached for a magazine, Jackie stood staring at him for a while, but he made no attempt to make eye contact with her. Reluctantly, Jackie left the surgery.

It's still a work in progress, but here it is..

Rose of Jericho by andrew mark bedell

Jackie Tyler felt a twinge in the back of her neck. It was a while before she realised that her eyes were closed. When she opened them she was staring up at a white ceiling, lying on her back on a hospital bed. She tried to s.it up but found that she was unable to move. As she became more and more aware of her surroundings she realised that she was strapped down at the ankles, waist, chest and wrists. At the foot of her bed a male nurse was writing on a chart.
“What’s going on?” She yelled fighting the leather restraints that held her so securely.
“Do you know where you are?” the gaunt looking male nurse asked. “Or how you came to be here?”
“No.” Jackie gasped. “Untie me.”
“I can’t do that. I don’t want you to hurt yourself, or anyone else.”
“I don’t understand.” She gasped. “How long have I been here?”
“Time is of no concern.” The nurse replied. “Everything here is perpetual”
The nurse, whose name she glanced on his badge was Alexander hung the chart on the foot of the bed and left the room, Jackie continued to fight her shackles, but they would not budge.”
It wasn’t long before Alexander was back in the room. He was standing over her bed.
“Time for your medication.” He announced.
“I do not require any medication.” Jackie argued. “I’m not sick. Get me out of these restraints.”
“You are unwell.” Alexander replied with a smile. “The more rapidly you start to acknowledge to yourself the sooner we can start to get you healthy.”
“You cannot keep me here.”
“I’m afraid we can.” Came a female voice somewhere in the room, though from her position on the bed Jackie was not able to get a look at who was speaking. “You are detained under the mental health act.”
“I’m sectioned?” She gasped.
“You have been in and out of psychiatric care all your life. Now come on take these for me.”
“You’ll have to let me sit up.”
“We can’t do that.” The woman replied. “It’s not a risk we can take. You’re a danger to everyone around you.”
She wasn’t getting her point across. They were not going to listen to anything she had to say. She had to get somebody to vouch for her. She gathered her composure for a moment.
“I need to speak to my daughter, or the Doctor.” She demanded. “They will clear this up.”
“You don’t have a daughter.” The woman replied. “You made her up in your mind, as you did this Doctor character”
“No!” Jackie screamed. She paused, scanned the room. “I don’t believe you. I want to speak to Rose. Where is Rose, What’s going on?”
“Try and work it out Jackie.”
The woman stepped forward, now Jackie finally got to see her face, and the badge that carried her name. Lucy Devlin. Jackie gasped, watching Alexander leave the room.

The lights flickered. Everything around them began to grow fainter, the walls, floor, ceiling all becoming white, like they were inside a cube with no windows and doors.
“Maybe this is all in your mind.” Devlin rasped. “Maybe your life is not your own, your mind not your own. Envisage if your whole life had been a lie, an illusion, wired into you from a machine.”
“I don’t understand.” Jackie gasped.
For a while Devlin remained silent. She began to circle Jackie. As she paced about the room Jackie was struck by the stillness, there were no footsteps, no sounds of her own breathing, nothing from the street outside.
“What is this place?” She gasped.
“This is the place where dreams are created. Nightmares too. This is the focal point to your entire existence.”
“I still don’t understand.” Jackie gasped.
“Do you believe that the world exists?” Devlin asked. “All the things around you, the vegetation, the skies, all the populace you have ever known, places you have been. Are they authentic, or are they in your head?”
“Of course they are real.” Snapped Jackie defensively.
“And do you believe in your own existence?”
“Why should I doubt that?”
Devlin snapped her fingers and a chair appeared. She instructed Jackie to sit in it. An unidentified energy pushed her into it when she failed to obey, holding her there. She tried to stand but was unable to move. Devlin walked around her several times, she tried to glance over her shoulder to watch her but was powerless to turn her head.
“How do you know the experiences that you have gained from life have been your own? Let’s say for instance you have been kept in a comatose state and all of your day to day experiences have been fed into your brain by a machine. How about you face facts Jackie, you do not exist in any physical form, and you only exist in a reality created by your own mind, a reality created purely for you.”
“Why would anybody do that?” Jackie asked in almost a whisper.
Devlin snapped her fingers again. An image appeared on the wall, a house, a family were there in the garden.
“Tell me what we’re looking at.” said Devlin coldly.
“My mum and dad.” Jackie replied.
“Nope.” Devlin quipped. With a snap of her fingers the image was gone. “Computer generated images to give you a sense of belonging. Nothing is real Jackie, you are not real. Your life never was. This room is your reality; all you have ever done has been in the confines of this vacuum. You’re not even sitting here talking to me now, things only exist because you believe them to, and you believe them to because the computer tells you to. Are you sitting on a chair or do you just believe you are sitting on a chair. Are you ready for the truth Jackie? Do you want me to show you what your life is really like?

…. She found herself unaccompanied in a small yacht. All that she could see for miles around her was deep-sea. The skies were black and it was starting to rain. A flash of lightning and a rumble of thunder and the heavens opened another flash of lightning, very close, striking the boat and causing a hole. She was filling up with water, going down. She yelled for help but nobody was there to hear her cries. She felt a clammy hand in the region of her ankle, dragging her under water. She held her breath as her head was pulled below the surface, dragging her down deeper and deeper. She opened her eyes, she could see wreckages, ships, planes, the TARDIS, decomposing skeletons clawing at her, pilots still strapped into their seats, people on boats their faces pressed against portholes, all bone, some rotten flesh, riddled with maggots all calling out for her to help. Finally she was on the ocean bed, the Doctors sonic screwdriver lying on the ground. And there before her was her husband Pete’s decayed body. She took a deep breath, her lungs filling with water and everything faded to black.
She jumped up saturated with sweat. She was in her bed; she glanced at the alarm clock alongside her; it was two am. She jumped up quickly, shocked to find her hair and night dress were soaking wet. She rushed to the window and pulled back the curtain, there was no window, just a white wall, and a she turned back around the bedroom was gone too and all that remains was a white room. A shiver ran down her spine. A twinge in her fingers, she held out her hands, they were vanishing before her, her arms too. She was watching herself slowly disappear. She let out a scream, but that vanished the very moment it left her lips.
.

Heckler Spray have come up with their top 13 (why 13?) SciFi Babes, I could think of a few more, what about you?

13. Dana Scully from X Files

12. Charlize Theron – Aeon Flux in Aeon Flux

11. Jessica Alba – Max Guevera in Dark Angel

10. Natalie Portman – Queen Amidala in the Star Wars prequels

9. Milla Jovovich – Leeloo in The Fifth Element

8. Jeri Ryan - Seven Of Nine from Star Trek Voyager

7. Ashley Judd - Robin Lefler in Star Trek Generation

6. Erin Gray - Wilma from Buck Rogers

5. Grace Park from Battlestar Galactica

4. Sigourney Weaver – Ripley in the Alien series

3. Number Six from Battlestar Galatica

2. Jane Fonda in Barbarella

1. Carrie Fisher - Princess Leia in Star Wars trilogy

The trailer for next weeks Doctor Who includes cameos from Captain Jack, Gwen Cooper,Ianto Jones (from Torchwood), Sarah Jane Smith and Luke (from Sarah Jane Adventures) and Martha Jones.
The episode "The Stolen Earth" will feature the Daleks, but whilst watching Doctor Who Confidential there was a 2 second flash of an even more dangerous adversary, who was that lurking in the shadows, did I spot Davros?

Can't wait......

Due out June 24th the second full length Futurama movie

>

This is the first collaboratively written blog episode of Doctor Who.
Written by GilraenH,Rithompson,Jenray,cj592 and Prydwen.
I have reproduced it as a whole story, I hope you enjoy it.

The Sands of Time

The TARDIS seemed a hive of activity as the Doctor struggled with the controls, Donna just stood there perplexed by his urgency. "What's 'appening"? she gasped.
The Doctor resisted answering her preferring to concentrate on the matter at hand.
With an abrupt halt the TARDIS came to rest throwing Donna on her behind.
"What's 'appening"? she repeated. The Doctor turned to her and with a wry smile said "I don't know, want to find out"?
The TARDIS doors opened and the interior was bathed in very bright light.
With the Doctor leading, they stepped out onto an alien landscape.

The twin suns, one a red dwarf, shone down on the barren sandy soil, which glistened like mica. Considering all things it wasn't that hot, in fact it was quiet bearable, as the pair climbed a steep outcrop of rock.
Reaching the top the Doctor and Donna looked down at the expansive city that lay before them for as far as the eye could see.

No matter how far they walked, the boundaries of the city always seemed so far away. They could see the building they were heading for - but it was as if the city was in a bowl, as if the outer buildings towered over the ones in the centre. They stopped at the top of a small hill in the city and Donna, after being so happy to find a civilsation after recent events, was suddenly uneasy.

The hilly rock they were standing on was red and sandy, like the barren landscape all around them, bar the city beneath. That was barren, sure, but it was also majestic, almost glowing, with tall towers, chimneys, domes - all at the centre. It looked like a silent civilisation, burning with life and knowledge, but no sound. No hum. Not what it should sound like. Why couldn't they hear antything?

'Why's it so quiet?' whispered Donna, still staring at the metropolis below.

'Hm? weeeelll, could be abandoned, could have missed the date by a few thousand years - Tardis does that on occasion, when she's feeling a bit cheeky. You could be looking at archaeology here, Donna, one of the Universe's mysteries - I mean, why did they leave? Was it the dying suns? Was it the lifestyle, was it the food? Too many cheeseburgers? Was it...'. ..Donna left the Doctor ramble on as usual, fascinated by his own insight as he often was (and voice, if Donna were to admit the truth). She knew something was wrong. Quite sure. The unnerving feeling that although it was quiet - as though you could hear a pin drop - things were still moving. Not in the city, but out of the corner of your eye, in the distance behind. A shadow. A movement. Was it her imagination?

'It's not your imagination.' Said the Doctor, suddenly back with Donna. 'There's something out there. And it wants to get there.' He pointed.

'The city?' asked Donna. 'But why?'

'Well.' The Doctor stretched his back and checked his pocket for the one thing that was sure to get him into the city where other scary silent moving-in-the-shadows aliens couldn't.

He made sure the TARDIS was locked and they went down the hill.

"Couldn't you have parked a bit closer"? Donna said, puffing.
"Sorry Donna but the TARDIS has a mind of it's own, anyway it's a nice day for a walk".

Donna and the Doctor continued heading for the first building they could see in the wondrous cityscape in front of them.

"Doesn't appear to be much in the way of life, now that's strange". The Doctor looked thoughtfully at Donna for an answer. " I mean the buildings look almost brand new, no decay or anything, but where are the people? Lets look for the little shop, there is always a little shop". Donna laughed.

In the shadows something moved, missed by both the Doctor and Donna. Something was watching them approach, something was waiting...

The Doctor and Donna eventually reached the first building, a small square pinkish rendered building with tiny elaborate windows and a tall slate roof. Looking at the bric a brac she could see when she peered in through one of the windows, it did in fact look like a gift shop. Donna smiled and looked around curiously for a door.

'Come on....'

The Doctor fiddled around with his screwdriver, concentration on his face. He turned and saw Donna with a withering stare as she calmly and slowly pushed the door open.

'Ah.'

'Well, these things in the shadows that are trying to get in - 'ave a problem with doors, do they?'. The Doctor scowled, but he didn't get a chance to reply - all of a sudden, Donna screamed as a shadow leaped out of the open door with a squeal. It even made the Doctor jump.

'My God.' shouted Donna clutching her chest and breathing hard. 'It's only a bleedin' cat!'. The Doctor scowled. The jet black cat turned and stared wide-eyed at him and then sauntered calmly off.

'Cat? CAT? Why cats? Are they stalking me? Why not dogs? Cows? Hippopotamuses? Or is it Hippopotami? Why does it always have to be cats? I mean, are cats going to eventually rule the universe?'. The Doctor screwed up his face and looked to the sky, as if he suddenly expected it to rain cats. 'Donna.....'

But Donna wasn't listening. She was staring listlessly into the building through the door. Rigid with fear.

'Donna?'

She couldn't move her eyes. She could barely speak, her lips barely moved.

'They're all dead...' she murmured.

Donna and The Doctor looked into the building. Lying lifeless on the floor were the bodies of strange human-plant hybrid creatures. The smell seeping through the broken glass suggested that they had already started decomposing. The Doctor covered his mouth with a handkerchief, and tried opening the door to the back storeroom.

It wouldn't budge.

"It's locked." He said, pulling out his sonic screwdriver. Still wouldn't budge. "Why kill these people? And why was it necessary it lock the doors so no one - not even a Timelord - could get in?"

Donna rolled her eyes, and pointed to a window with no glass left in it. "Possibly because we could climb in through the window!"

The Doctor smiled. "Of course."

As the pair of them scrambled through the window, a mysterious shape stood watching a few metres away. It reached towards it's midriff, and pulled out a radio-like object.

"Looks like we have a couple alive, after all." Said the metallic voice.

‘I think I’m going to throw up.’ Donna says looking green around the gills.
‘Hold your breath.’ The doctor replies from behind his handkerchief.
‘Oh, brilliant…’ Donna snaps. ‘ ‘ow long for? This room goes on forever.’
They both stand staring at the dead creatures stretching as far as the eye can see.
Suddenly, there’s a noise behind them.
They both turn to see a humanoid hybrid creature approaching, armed and doesn’t look
friendly.
‘I suggest we run.’ The doctor says.
‘Where?’ Donna gasps still trying not to be sick.
‘I dunno.’ The doctor says. ‘Try over there.’ He points to a door across the piles
of dead.
Donna pulls a face and both of them start hopping over bodies heading for the door.
The humanoid calls out. ‘Stop…who are you?’
The doctor shouts to Donna to keep going.
A blast of a laser gun whistles past their heads.
‘What do we do now?’ Donna demands breathlessly.
The doctor glances over his shoulder and says. ‘Keep going…’
‘Oh, great..’ Donna says as she trips and sprawls onto one of dead creatures.
The doctor stops and helps her up while more laser fire whistles over their heads.
He and Donna scramble over the last of the bodies and reach the door.
They manage to open it just as the humanoid is joined by several more of its kind.
‘Orders are not to kill but capture the male.’ One of the humanoids says to the one who found them.
‘Why?’ It asks.
‘Because the male is a Time Lord and can ruin everything. The female is dispensable.’

Donna was still having difficulty with the door, even though it was open, her way was blocked by bodies piled up behind it. The Doctor aware of the situation, turns to the aggressors and raises his hands. "Ok, we don't want any trouble,we come in peace".

Donna stops her frantic effort to get through the door and stands next to the Doctor.

The humanoid was more visible now having stepped out of the shadows. He wore a head to foot one piece black-metallic outfit with respirator type mask. Motioning with his gun he lead the pair back out into the open.

"Where are you taking us?" pleaded Donna.

The rasping metallic voice came back. "You will follow, the Prime Lord wants to meet you".

Slowly the Doctor and Donna followed the humanoid with others joining them out of the shadows.
Up ahead was a building resembling a warehouse with a large open door, Donna espied movement inside, for a dead city it was slowly coming to life.

The warehouse was like the TARDIS,appearing a lot larger on the inside. The entrance was well guarded by more of the black metallic humanoids.
The Doctor and Donna were lead to a brightly lit area near the centre, as they approached they could see a variety of futuristic vehicles most designed to traverse the sandy rocky surface of the planet. The lit area looked like a plain walled room, but when they entered they soon realise it was a lift, the piped muzak gave it away. "Why is it alway The Girl from Ipanema"? Pleaded Donna.

Skirted by three humanoids the Doctor and Donna are propelled down into the bowls of the planet. What seems like an age culminates with the lift coming to an abrupt halt and the door slides open.

"Well, well, it appears we have arrived" the Doctor observed.

The area outside of the lift was well lit and as expansive as the warehouse, the pair are ushered on with a poke from the humanoid weapons.

"Where are we going now?" asked Donna.
"It's a surprise, I like surprises", replied the Doctor with unexpected glee in his voice.

They finally reached their destination as a door slide open and the room beyond struck the pair as being a sort of nerve centre, with banks of humanoids sat it computer terminals.

Donna clings to the Doctor as a humanoid bereft of metallic suit and respirator heads towards them.

Donna had seen countless aliens now, but these humanoids looked very strange. Part human, part plant, distinct facial features topped with a green growth not dissimilar to coriander. Arms and upper torso were mossy in look some green some brown.

"Prime Lord, I presume?" said the Doctor extending his hand.
The humanoid responded equally "You are the one called the Doctor, a Time Lord, am I right? We have been awaiting your arrival".

"I'm sorry we haven't been introduced, have we"? the Doctor asked bemused.

"I am Prime Lord Aattah of the Arbustoid colony, here on planet Deleo" replied the hybrid. "We settled on this planet about 5 of its solar rotations ago and it has been nothing but trouble since"

"5 Years?" The Doctor questioned. "But this city looks ancient"!

"The city is a millenia old, it makes up our colonization fleet. We fly the whole colony from planet to planet and use it as a base to build anew, but this time we have not had the chance to put down roots because of the Perdo". Informed Aattah.

"Who or what is the Perdo"? Queried Donna.

"When we arrived we assumed this planet was lifeless, but we soon learned that the life was all around us. The soil is alive, it can mimic form, and it objects to us being here. As you have seen in the out reaches of the city the Perdo have killed thousands of our settlers forcing us to live underground, that is why we called you Doctor, we noted your passing in inter-dimensional time and space and summoned you to us".

"But how do you know about me and the TARDIS"? Asked the Doctor.

“You are written in legend amongst many of our sister races” Aattah replied. “In the religious Vol-Dek-Vorah of the Vervoids. And even in the ancient sceptre scrolls of the Krynoid Kastra. Different faces, Doctor, but unmistakably you.”
“Yeah” The doctor shrugged, “I do get a round a bit.”
“You have a reputation for bringing resolution, Doctor, and it is for this reason that we have brought you here. We need your assistance.”

Meanwhile, outside the city walls, another ship approached the planet surface.
“Captain, we have arrived” said a young cadet, wearing military fatigues. He swivelled on his chair to face his captain. Shelda, a brash, elderly war veteran, stared intently into the view screen, showing the planet surface beyond.
“Thank you, Destra. Take us in”
Destra, the young pilot cadet steered the ship closer to the surface ready to land. Shelda watched with intensity, as if her life depended on it.
“This is it” she said to herself. “I have waited a long time to find you, and now….. and now I can finally end this”.

Shelda landed the ship perfectly, and walked towards the city like she was on a mission. She felt for the weapon attached to her belt, and smiled at the power she was feeling.

"Where is he?" She asked her young charge, who was struggling to keep up.
"He is believed...to be underneath the city." Destra gasped.
"Thank you Destra. You'll be a captain soon enough!"

As the two, coriander-haired humanoids marched over the ground towards the city, the soil stirred and gradually formed the shape of a blue 1950's Earth police box...

"Vol-Dek-Vorah". Repeated the Doctor rolling the R in Vorah. "Haven't been to Vervo for eons".
Turning to Donna he continues "Now they are an Interesting race, all there major organs are on the outside, they look like they have been turned inside-out".
"Nice", replied Donna "How to put a girl off her lunch".

The Doctor returns his glance to Aattah. "It must have taken a lot of power to track me and divert the TARDIS".

"We used up most of our reserve", replied Aattah, "We are in a desperate plight".

"What, did they dial you up like some Yellow Pages"? Asked Donna.
"If I remember the ancient sceptre scrolls of the Krynoid Kastra are bright pink". The Doctor retorted.

Aattah looking perplexed continued. "The creatures we call the Predo have somehow disabled our stardrives, so we are trapped on this forsaken planet awaiting our demise".

Just then there was a commotion behind them as Shelda and Destra burst into the control room.

Then Shelda's trill voice pipes up. "By the Proclomation of Aavid-Norr, we place the Doctor under arrest"

The Doctor, Donna and Aattah turned round and saw Shelda aiming a pistol at them.
“You really know how to make friends, don’t you Doctor” sighed Donna

“You have no authority here Commander Shelda” Aattah shrilled, with obvious irritation.
“Stand aside Aattah, this doesn’t concern you” Shelda ordered

The Doctor turned to Donna and whispered “When I shout ‘Now’, Run to the TARDIS”
“What are you gonna do?” asked Donna
“I just said, I’m gonna shout ‘Now’!”
“I was kind of referring to the bit before that”
“I’m gonna… wing it. Aaaaah” and the Doctor quickly turned to face Shelda. “I see you have a Phoron reverse laser pistol. I’ve always liked them. And you know why I like them? I’ll tell you why I like them.” The doctor quickly whipped something out of his pocket. “They don’t like sonics”
And with that he flipped a switch on his sonic screwdriver and sparks flew out of the gun.
“Run!”
“I thought you were gonna shout Now!
“Not now, Donna”
Donna took her opportunity to run. She ran out of the door that Shelda had burst in from. She ran the way she came. She ran and hid and ran, until she finally got out of the city. And there was the familiar sight of the TARDIS.
Quickly, she opened the door and entered, but it was too late before she realised her mistake. Because no sooner had she entered, than the form changed into sand and melted away, taking her with it.

The Doctor wasn't as lucky as Donna, or so he thought. Before he could make a dash for it Destra had wrestled him to the ground.

"You have overstepped the mark Shelda". Aatthah retorted. "You have no jurisdiction here".

"Oh, but I have" replied Shelda presenting Aattah a piece of paper. "The Commission of Arbusto gives me full powers of arrest, even on the colonies".

"We called the Doctor here, we needed his help, this Proclamation only counts if the Doctor infringes our space. He wouldn't have if we hadn't waylaid him".Implored Aatthah.

"The Commission shall decide, but in the mean time the Doctor is under arrest".Shelda said whilst motioning Destra to get the Doctor to his feet.

Meanwhile on the planets surface Shelda and Destra's space craft is slowly sinking into the planets shifting sand or was it being enveloped by the Predo.

Donna slowly came to. The last thing she could remember was the clawing suffocation of being swallowed up by the soil. She now found her self in a cavern, dimly lit by bio-luminous algae.
Slowly she became more aware of her surroundings, when directly in front of her soil migrated to a single spot and slowly grew to a shape of a person. The person was Donna, perfect in every detail. "Well, I'm blowed", she said "didn't know my bum was that big"!

Once the transformation was complete the sand-Donna spoke. "You need not fear, we do not intend to do you any harm". The voice was Donna's, but not hers, like she was hearing it played back by a tape recorder. Not the sound you hear in your own head. "This is weird", she said.

"We know of you and the Doctor and we want you to help us".

Meanwhile the Doctor had his own problems, Shelda and Destra had marshaled him to a small interrogation room.

"The last time you passed through Arbustoid space to visit Vorah you looked different". Shelda remarked.

"Long, time ago" replied the Doctor.

"But you haven't aged a bit, in fact you look younger. One of the benefits of being a Time Lord I see". Quizzed Shelda.

"Not just a Pretty Boy". Came back the Doctor.

"Your visit marked one of our darkest periods, the legends of your ability to travel in space and time set our scientists off on a quest to find the process for themselves. We are a colonial planet we seed others with our like and needed better ways to travel to far off worlds" Shelda illuminated.

"But in their eagerness the scientists developed a doomsday machine, for when it was first tried out the whole Arbustoid home world disappeared, what you see is the last remnants of off world colonies trying to find it's home", Shelda sounded tearful, "and for this you will pay with your life".....

"Woah, Woah, Woah,"! Pleaded the Doctor. "You can't go blaming me for that. It would be like Mr Toad blaming the Ford Motor Company for being in prison".

"Oh but we can, and will Doctor", Shelda informed him with no uncertain terms."

Just then Aattah burst into the room skirted by two armed Arbustoids. "Stand aside, we have come for the Doctor" he bellowed.

"What treasonous act is this Aattah"? Returned Shelda, "You know I have higher jurisdiction than you".

Aattah's men bundled Shelda and Destra from the room. "Lock them up, I will deal with them later".Ordered Aattah.

The look of relief was evident on the Doctors face as Aattah swapped seats with Shelda.
"Now Doctor how can you help me to save this colony and my people?"

----------

Donna was slowly coming to grips with talking to herself, it almost seemed natural. The sand-Donna raised her hands and in an instant the cavern they stood in slowly transformed into a room. "That's a neat trick", said Donna.
"We have full control in manipulating matter into other forms" replied the sand-Donna. "But it can only be sustained for a short period of time before it loses integrity and reverts back to sand."

"How do you know about the Doctor and me"? Inquired Donna.

"We have infiltrated the city and have monitored their communications. We know the Doctor was bought here to save the Arbustoids, but we need help too", replied sand-Donna.

"I don't understand, how can we help"? Implored Donna.

The sand-Donna looked thoughtfully, almost sad. "We need you to tell the Arbustoids that we are kin, we are the lost planet Arbusto".

Sand-Donna was having difficulty keeping her shape, making her more bell shaped than ever. "I must rest now", she said, "we will talk again later".
With that she fell to the floor of the room, which in itself was becoming a cavern again.

Donna was feeling all alone and wondered when sand-Donna would return.

----------

The Doctor was deep in conversation with Aattah.
"So let me get it straight, a millenia ago Arbustoid scientists sought the power of the Time Lords and developed the means of traveling in time and space". Aattah nodded.
"But it all went wrong and instead of the prototype time ship being activated the effect enveloped the whole planet". The Doctor finished summarising.

"One minute it was there, and then it was gone", recounted Aattah. "All that remained were the space stations, satellites and our moons."

"When we realised what had happened we contacted all off world colonies with the intention of searching for our lost home world, lost in time and space for a thousand years".

"So 5 solar rotations ago you landed here, another stepping stone in your search", said the Doctor. "With hopes to set up another base from which to spread your search".

Aattah sadly nodded. "But as soon as we arrived we hit problems, the sand creatures encroached the city and began mimicking our people, but we couldn't converse with them, and contact proved deadly for their touch lead to a disease which soon wiped out thousands of out people. We contained the disease and were forced to wear respirators outside the city limits. All attempt to converse with the Predo have so far failed".

"Have they made any further attempt to contact you"? Asked the Doctor.

"Strangely no, once we became diseased they kept their distance, as if they hadn't meant to infect us". Aattah turned and activated a wall screen. "But then other problems arose, being on this planet started draining our power, we soon didn't have enough to leave, and now our reserves are critically low". The screen showed power bars that were teetering on the red mark. "We have enough power for another half solar rotation of the planet then we will have to fend for ourselves on the surface, a surface that kills".

Sand-Donna returned within an hour, much to Donna's delight. She couldn't bear too long without talking. No sooner did she arrive than an opening appeared followed by daylight. Like the parting of the Red Sea Donna could see a route to the surface, which sand-Donna was now proceeding.

On the surface sand-Donna spoke to her. "We do not know why you can understand us, we have tried talking to the city dwellers but they couldn't hear what we had to say".
"Oh, that would be the TARDIS, it translates for us wherever we go". Informed Donna.

"Do you think the TARDIS would allow you to act as translator for us"? Queried sand-Donna.

"Yes, both the Doctor and I could translate for you",replied Donna, talking about the Doctor, I should get back and find him".

"We have the ability to transfer our consciousness through the sand", explained sand-Donna. "So if you go to the outskirts of the city we will reform as you there".

With this sand-Donna disappeared into the planet's surface again and Donna was left alone once more. So she set off back to the city with intentions of finding the Doctor.

The Doctor understood more about the plight of the Arbustoids and could even offer a means of rectifying the problem.

"Any movement in time and space leaves a trail that the TARDIS can follow, all I need to do is enter the point of departure". The Doctor informed Aattah.

"I will get a group together and we shall accompany you back to your, TARDIS". Returned Aattah.

Motioning to two Arbustoid guards Aattah, the Doctor in tow, headed for the planet surface.

Donna was starting to feel ill, the sickness was sudden and left her disorientated.
The city was in view but kept going in and out of focus and she was beginning to feel panic.
She soldiered on until she could make out a shape of someone coming towards her then collapsed in a heap.

"Help me get her to her feet", implored the Doctor.But Aattah and his armed guard kept their distance. "We have seen this before Doctor", Aattah said, "She has the sickness, she will die within the day".

Donna started to moan, low at first, and the a full blown moan when she realised that she was cocooned in mesh. The doctor lifted the 'metallic mosquito net' to find a very appreciative Donna.
"Doctor"! She gasped.
The Doctor managed a wry smile that went from ear to ear, "thought I had lost you there".

Aattah was impressed, "our doctors could do nothing for those with the sickness, what did you do"?

The Doctor gave a prolonged "Well. The reason for Donna's condition was similar to the outer surface of the TARDIS when it travels through time and space. The particles slow down before dematerializing and then reassemble as matter somewhere else. The inner part of the TARDIS just goes along for the ride supported by a matrix not dissimilar to this mesh I used." The Doctor drew breath. "So all I did was reverse the process and back came Donna".

"Doctor", Donna cried, "there is something I must tell you".

Donna recounted the story that sand-Donna had told her, much to Aattah's surprise.

"Well that explains the whereabouts of planet Arbusto", said the Doctor, "it's all around us".

After a period of recuperation Donna got up from the bed. The Doctor and Aattah by this time had withdrawn to the control room of the TARDIS and were in deep conversation.
"Donna, we were just talking about you", said the Doctor.
"Wondered why my ears were burning", returned Donna.

"Aattah and I have been trying to devise a means to re-materialize the planets surface and think we have a plan. But we need the service of Shelda and Destra". The Doctor said looking slightly worried.

"Not if I can help it". replied the Doctor,lifting her limp body over his shoulder.
"We have to make it to the TARDIS, I can help her there, I am a Doctor don't you know".

Carrying Donna's dead-weight across the sandy surface was arduous, but the Doctor soon reached the TARDIS. Using his new trick he snapped his fingers and the door of the TARDIS opened.

Accompanied by Aattah the Doctor entered inside whilst the guard stood outside. Aattah was awe struck and the difference in size inside the TARDIS was to out, but aware of the Doctor's predicament he didn't ask.

The Doctor carried Donna to an anti room where a variety of emergency equipment was stored and laid her on a bed. He then beavered himself around her linking her to a variety of test equipment.

After a while he spoke to Aattah. "From these readings there is not much wrong with Donna apart from her body is beginning to granulate. From the inside out her organs are turning to sand, it is a very slow process, but it is already affecting her breathing and blood flow".

Aattah spoke. "We found this with or own, but the process was faster, maybe our metabolism makes the difference", he reflected. "In fact once bodily functions ceased the conversion to sand also stopped and the bodies just started to decay naturally. We didn't touch them as it proved to be contagious".

The Doctor looked up thoughtfully, "It is not a disease as such, but the actual atoms of the body are breaking down and losing cohesion, as if the electrons of the cells have slowed so much they are no longer bonded together."

The Doctor hit his forehead with the palm of his hand, "I'm an idiot why didn't I see this before. Yes, now I understand it all" Rushing off the Doctor soon returned with an apparatus that looked like a mosquito net made of fine wire mesh and covered Donna from head to toe. Plugging it in the Doctor said. "And now we wait".

Shelda was none too happy when she was released, throwing threats and abuse at Aattah. But after he informed her of the latest 'findings' she began to calm down.

Once the last of the red went from her cheeks the Doctor spoke to her.
"What I want you to do is take your craft into orbit and seed these micro satellites that I have", the Doctor told her "We need to get them in geosynchronous orbit so that I can use the TARDIS to re-materialize the planet".

Shelda agreed and she Destra the Doctor Donna and Aattah proceeded to where Shelda had 'parked' her space ship.

"It was right here"! Destra said to Shelda and the others. "I know it was". The Doctor activated his sonic screwdriver in the guise of starship finder. "It still is", said the Doctor,"but under the surface of the planet".
They all looked at each other asking without words 'what to do next' when sand-Donna began to re-emerge from the soil.

Donna was pleased to meet her doppleganger again and sand-Donna also had a smile on her face. The Doctor shook his head, it was hard enough dealing with one Donna....

"We have been monitoring your situation", said sand-Donna, "I suppose you want your ship back"?
With that the craft slowly emerged from the soil, as pristine as it was when it landed.

Within a short while the Doctor and Donna joined Shelda and Destra on-board and lifted off into orbit. The satellite seeding went without a hitch and they were soon back on terrafirma close to the TARDIS.

Once inside the Doctor took only a short time to 'fire-up' the TARDIS system and activate the satellite net.

"Come on", said the Doctor grabbing Donna's hand with a big smile, "come and meet the natives"...

No sooner than they were outside they witnessed what would have been a miracle. The sand was slowly 'gelling' mounds became homes, mountains became cities and finally people, the whole planet of Arbusto was slowly coming back to life after a millenia.

Aattah Shelda and Destra seemed over the moon in finding their 'lost' planet, so the Doctor and Donna took their leave before Shelda tried to arrest him again.

"Time we got back home, don't you think"? Said the Doctor, as they slowly slipped away.

After the Doctor saves Donna from the sickness he finds out the fate of the planet Arbusto.

Shelda was none too happy when she was released, throwing threats and abuse at Aattah. But after he informed her of the latest 'findings' she began to calm down.

Once the last of the red went from her cheeks the Doctor spoke to her.
"What I want you to do is take your craft into orbit and seed these micro satellites that I have", the Doctor told her "We need to get them in geosynchronous orbit so that I can use the TARDIS to re-materialize the planet".

Shelda agreed and she Destra the Doctor Donna and Aattah proceeded to where Shelda had 'parked' her space ship.

"It was right here"! Destra said to Shelda and the others. "I know it was". The Doctor activated his sonic screwdriver in the guise of starship finder. "It still is", said the Doctor,"but under the surface of the planet".
They all looked at each other asking without words 'what to do next' when sand-Donna began to re-emerge from the soil.

Donna was pleased to meet her doppleganger again and sand-Donna also had a smile on her face. The Doctor shook his head, it was hard enough dealing with one Donna....

"We have been monitoring your situation", said sand-Donna, "I suppose you want your ship back"?
With that the craft slowly emerged from the soil, as pristine as it was when it landed.

Within a short while the Doctor and Donna joined Shelda and Destra on-board and lifted off into orbit. The satellite seeding went without a hitch and they were soon back on terrafirma close to the TARDIS.

Once inside the Doctor took only a short time to 'fire-up' the TARDIS system and activate the satellite net.

"Come on", said the Doctor grabbing Donna's hand with a big smile, "come and meet the natives"...

No sooner than they were outside they witnessed what would have been a miracle. The sand was slowly 'gelling' mounds became homes, mountains became cities and finally people, the whole planet of Arbusto was slowly coming back to life after a millenia.

Aattah Shelda and Destra seemed over the moon in finding their 'lost' planet, so the Doctor and Donna took their leave before Shelda tried to arrest him again.

"Time we got back home, don't you think"? Said the Doctor, as they slowly slipped away.

Donna was taken ill and the Doctor races to save her life.

Donna started to moan, low at first, and the a full blown moan when she realised that she was cocooned in mesh. The doctor lifted the 'metallic mosquito net' to find a very appreciative Donna.
"Doctor"! She gasped.
The Doctor managed a wry smile that went from ear to ear, "thought I had lost you there".

Aattah was impressed, "our doctors could do nothing for those with the sickness, what did you do"?

The Doctor gave a prolonged "Well. The reason for Donna's condition was similar to the outer surface of the TARDIS when it travels through time and space. The particles slow down before dematerializing and then reassemble as matter somewhere else. The inner part of the TARDIS just goes along for the ride supported by a matrix not dissimilar to this mesh I used." The Doctor drew breath. "So all I did was reverse the process and back came Donna".

"Doctor", Donna cried, "there is something I must tell you".

Donna recounted the story that sand-Donna had told her, much to Aattah's surprise.

"Well that explains the whereabouts of planet Arbusto", said the Doctor, "it's all around us".

After a period of recuperation Donna got up from the bed. The Doctor and Aattah by this time had withdrawn to the control room of the TARDIS and were in deep conversation.
"Donna, we were just talking about you", said the Doctor.
"Wondered why my ears were burning", returned Donna.

"Aattah and I have been trying to devise a means to re-materialize the planets surface and think we have a plan. But we need the service of Shelda and Destra". The Doctor said looking slightly worried.

Donna heads back to the city to find the Doctor, whilst the Doctor heads for the TARDIS.

Donna was starting to feel ill, the sickness was sudden and left her disorientated.
The city was in view but kept going in and out of focus and she was beginning to feel panic.
She soldiered on until she could make out a shape of someone coming towards her then collapsed in a heap.

"Help me get her to her feet", implored the Doctor.But Aattah and his armed guard kept their distance. "We have seen this before Doctor", Aattah said, "She has the sickness, she will die within the day".

"Not if I can help it". replied the Doctor,lifting her limp body over his shoulder.
"We have to make it to the TARDIS, I can help her there, I am a Doctor don't you know".

Carrying Donna's dead-weight across the sandy surface was arduous, but the Doctor soon reached the TARDIS. Using his new trick he snapped his fingers and the door of the TARDIS opened.

Accompanied by Aattah the Doctor entered inside whilst the guard stood outside. Aattah was awe struck and the difference in size inside the TARDIS was to out, but aware of the Doctor's predicament he didn't ask.

The Doctor carried Donna to an anti room where a variety of emergency equipment was stored and laid her on a bed. He then beavered himself around her linking her to a variety of test equipment.

After a while he spoke to Aattah. "From these readings there is not much wrong with Donna apart from her body is beginning to granulate. From the inside out her organs are turning to sand, it is a very slow process, but it is already affecting her breathing and blood flow".

Aattah spoke. "We found this with or own, but the process was faster, maybe our metabolism makes the difference", he reflected. "In fact once bodily functions ceased the conversion to sand also stopped and the bodies just started to decay naturally. We didn't touch them as it proved to be contagious".

The Doctor looked up thoughtfully, "It is not a disease as such, but the actual atoms of the body are breaking down and losing cohesion, as if the electrons of the cells have slowed so much they are no longer bonded together."

The Doctor hit his forehead with the palm of his hand, "I'm an idiot why didn't I see this before. Yes, now I understand it all" Rushing off the Doctor soon returned with an apparatus that looked like a mosquito net made of fine wire mesh and covered Donna from head to toe. Plugging it in the Doctor said. "And now we wait".

The Doctor gets a better understanding why he is a wanted man.

Sand-Donna returned within an hour, much to Donna's delight. She couldn't bear too long without talking. No sooner did she arrive than an opening appeared followed by daylight. Like the parting of the Red Sea Donna could see a route to the surface, which sand-Donna was now proceeding.

On the surface sand-Donna spoke to her. "We do not know why you can understand us, we have tried talking to the city dwellers but they couldn't hear what we had to say".
"Oh, that would be the TARDIS, it translates for us wherever we go". Informed Donna.

"Do you think the TARDIS would allow you to act as translator for us"? Queried sand-Donna.

"Yes, both the Doctor and I could translate for you",replied Donna, talking about the Doctor, I should get back and find him".

"We have the ability to transfer our consciousness through the sand", explained sand-Donna. "So if you go to the outskirts of the city we will reform as you there".

With this sand-Donna disappeared into the planet's surface again and Donna was left alone once more. So she set off back to the city with intentions of finding the Doctor.

--------

The Doctor understood more about the plight of the Arbustoids and could even offer a means of rectifying the problem.

"Any movement in time and space leaves a trail that the TARDIS can follow, all I need to do is enter the point of departure". The Doctor informed Aattah.

"I will get a group together and we shall accompany you back to your, TARDIS". Returned Aattah.

Motioning to two Arbustoid guards Aattah, the Doctor in tow, headed for the planet surface.

Donna finds out the secret of the Predo, and the Doctor is free for now.

Sand-Donna was having difficulty keeping her shape, making her more bell shaped than ever. "I must rest now", she said, "we will talk again later".
With that she fell to the floor of the room, which in itself was becoming a cavern again.

Donna was feeling all alone and wondered when sand-Donna would return.

----------

The Doctor was deep in conversation with Aattah.
"So let me get it straight, a millenia ago Arbustoid scientists sought the power of the Time Lords and developed the means of traveling in time and space". Aattah nodded.
"But it all went wrong and instead of the prototype time ship being activated the effect enveloped the whole planet". The Doctor finished summarising.

"One minute it was there, and then it was gone", recounted Aattah. "All that remained were the space stations, satellites and our moons."

"When we realised what had happened we contacted all off world colonies with the intention of searching for our lost home world, lost in time and space for a thousand years".

"So 5 solar rotations ago you landed here, another stepping stone in your search", said the Doctor. "With hopes to set up another base from which to spread your search".

Aattah sadly nodded. "But as soon as we arrived we hit problems, the sand creatures encroached the city and began mimicking our people, but we couldn't converse with them, and contact proved deadly for their touch lead to a disease which soon wiped out thousands of out people. We contained the disease and were forced to wear respirators outside the city limits. All attempt to converse with the Predo have so far failed".

"Have they made any further attempt to contact you"? Asked the Doctor.

"Strangely no, once we became diseased they kept their distance, as if they hadn't meant to infect us". Aattah turned and activated a wall screen. "But then other problems arose, being on this planet started draining our power, we soon didn't have enough to leave, and now our reserves are critically low". The screen showed power bars that were teetering on the red mark. "We have enough power for another half solar rotation of the planet then we will have to fend for ourselves on the surface, a surface that kills".

Alternative part 17 written by my 11 year old daughter who is loving this story. (Got one fan anyway).....

"What's an Arbusto when it's at home?" replied Donna
"It's are home planet and i'm starting to lose my temper with you."
"ohhhhhhhh, Donna versus Donna, I wonder who would win, hey, that sounds like something Doctor would say!"
Donna shivered at the thought of being turned into The Doctor.
"I haven't told you something, I can also read minds. You are wondering what it would be like to be a man and you want to know if he is safe"?
"Blimey, I wish I was like you, or me, or whatever!"

Mean while, Aattah was saying, "I need to know, who have you traveled with in the past? Tell me!"
"How can I trust you with classified information like that? Blimin Hell, I sound like Donna," said the Doctor shivering.
"Code 77 of the galactic guide sequence of 209! Vana Fotcamanyot or I swear on behalf of my blood in English!" said Aattah
They both cut there arm and finger. They wiped there finger across each others arm and put the crossed blood in there own arm and said, "Vana Fotcamanyot, I swear on behalf of my blood!"

Sand-Dona molded the Doctor out of the sand. It was all nine Doctors in fact. "Which is your Doctor? It is going to be the same message but in different forms! Pick one and listen. The TARDIS should translate."

And is Robert Patrick going to be in it?

Donna meets the Predo and the Doctor is sentenced to death.

"Woah, Woah, Woah,"! Pleaded the Doctor. "You can't go blaming me for that. It would be like Mr Toad blaming the Ford Motor Company for being in prison".

"Oh but we can, and will Doctor", Shelda informed him with no uncertain terms."

Just then Aattah burst into the room skirted by two armed Arbustoids. "Stand aside, we have come for the Doctor" he bellowed.

"What treasonous act is this Aattah"? Returned Shelda, "You know I have higher jurisdiction than you".

Aattah's men bundled Shelda and Destra from the room. "Lock them up, I will deal with them later".Ordered Aattah.

The look of relief was evident on the Doctors face as Aattah swapped seats with Shelda.
"Now Doctor how can you help me to save this colony and my people?"

----------

Donna was slowly coming to grips with talking to herself, it almost seemed natural. The sand-Donna raised her hands and in an instant the cavern they stood in slowly transformed into a room. "That's a neat trick", said Donna.
"We have full control in manipulating matter into other forms" replied the sand-Donna. "But it can only be sustained for a short period of time before it loses integrity and reverts back to sand."

"How do you know about the Doctor and me"? Inquired Donna.

"We have infiltrated the city and have monitored their communications. We know the Doctor was bought here to save the Arbustoids, but we need help too", replied sand-Donna.

"I don't understand, how can we help"? Implored Donna.

The sand-Donna looked thoughtfully, almost sad. "We need you to tell the Arbustoids that we are kin, we are the lost planet Arbusto".

As the Doctor is lead away under arrest by Shelda, what has happened to Donna?

Donna slowly came to. The last thing she could remember was the clawing suffocation of being swallowed up by the soil. She now found her self in a cavern, dimly lit by bio-luminous algae.
Slowly she became more aware of her surroundings, when directly in front of her soil migrated to a single spot and slowly grew to a shape of a person. The person was Donna, perfect in every detail. "Well, I'm blowed", she said "didn't know my bum was that big"!

Once the transformation was complete the sand-Donna spoke. "You need not fear, we do not intend to do you any harm". The voice was Donna's, but not hers, like she was hearing it played back by a tape recorder. Not the sound you hear in your own head. "This is weird", she said.

"We know of you and the Doctor and we want you to help us".

Meanwhile the Doctor had his own problems, Shelda and Destra had marshaled him to a small interrogation room.

"The last time you passed through Arbustoid space to visit Vorah you looked different". Shelda remarked.

"Long, time ago" replied the Doctor.

"But you haven't aged a bit, in fact you look younger. One of the benefits of being a Time Lord I see". Quizzed Shelda.

"Not just a Pretty Boy". Came back the Doctor.

"Your visit marked one of our darkest periods, the legends of your ability to travel in space and time set our scientists off on a quest to find the process for themselves. We are a colonial planet we seed others with our like and needed better ways to travel to far off worlds" Shelda illuminated.

"But in their eagerness the scientists developed a doomsday machine, for when it was first tried out the whole Arbustoid home world disappeared, what you see is the last remnants of off world colonies trying to find it's home", Shelda sounded tearful, "and for this you will pay with your life".....

The Doctor, being faced with arrest, manages to cause a distraction to help Donna escape.

The Doctor wasn't as lucky as Donna, or so he thought. Before he could make a dash for it Destra had wrestled him to the ground.

"You have overstepped the mark Shelda". Aatthah retorted. "You have no jurisdiction here".

"Oh, but I have" replied Shelda presenting Aattah a piece of paper. "The Commission of Arbusto gives me full powers of arrest, even on the colonies".

"We called the Doctor here, we needed his help, this Proclamation only counts if the Doctor infringes our space. He wouldn't have if we hadn't waylaid him".Implored Aatthah.

"The Commission shall decide, but in the mean time the Doctor is under arrest".Shelda said whilst motioning Destra to get the Doctor to his feet.

Meanwhile on the planets surface Shelda and Destra's space craft is slowly sinking into the planets shifting sand or was it being enveloped by the Predo.

The Doctor and Donna are faced with arrest.

Then Shelda's trill voice pipes up. "By the Proclomation of Aavid-Norr, we place the Doctor under arrest"

The Doctor, Donna and Aattah turned round and saw Shelda aiming a pistol at them.
“You really know how to make friends, don’t you Doctor” sighed Donna

“You have no authority here Commander Shelda” Aattah shrilled, with obvious irritation.
“Stand aside Aattah, this doesn’t concern you” Shelda ordered

The Doctor turned to Donna and whispered “When I shout ‘Now’, Run to the TARDIS”
“What are you gonna do?” asked Donna
“I just said, I’m gonna shout ‘Now’!”
“I was kind of referring to the bit before that”
“I’m gonna… wing it. Aaaaah” and the Doctor quickly turned to face Shelda. “I see you have a Phoron reverse laser pistol. I’ve always liked them. And you know why I like them? I’ll tell you why I like them.” The doctor quickly whipped something out of his pocket. “They don’t like sonics”
And with that he flipped a switch on his sonic screwdriver and sparks flew out of the gun.
“Run!”
“I thought you were gonna shout Now!
“Not now, Donna”
Donna took her opportunity to run. She ran out of the door that Shelda had burst in from. She ran the way she came. She ran and hid and ran, until she finally got out of the city. And there was the familiar sight of the TARDIS.
Quickly, she opened the door and entered, but it was too late before she realised her mistake. Because no sooner had she entered, than the form changed into sand and melted away, taking her with it.

Whilst the Doctor and Donna are held in the city, Shelda and Destra head for the city.

"Vol-Dek-Vorah". Repeated the Doctor rolling the R in Vorah. "Haven't been to Vervo for eons".
Turning to Donna he continues "Now they are an Interesting race, all there major organs are on the outside, they look like they have been turned inside-out".
"Nice", replied Donna "How to put a girl off her lunch".

The Doctor returns his glance to Aattah. "It must have taken a lot of power to track me and divert the TARDIS".

"We used up most of our reserve", replied Aattah, "We are in a desperate plight".

"What, did they dial you up like some Yellow Pages"? Asked Donna.
"If I remember the ancient sceptre scrolls of the Krynoid Kastra are bright pink". The Doctor retorted.

Aattah looking perplexed continued. "The creatures we call the Predo have somehow disabled our stardrives, so we are trapped on this forsaken planet awaiting our demise".

Just then there was a commotion behind them as Shelda and Destra burst into the control room.

Then Shelda's trill voice pipes up. "By the Proclomation of Aavid-Norr, we place the Doctor under arrest"...

As the Doctor and Donna are held by Aattah in the city, another ship arrived on Deleo

Shelda landed the ship perfectly, and walked towards the city like she was on a mission. She felt for the weapon attached to her belt, and smiled at the power she was feeling.

"Where is he?" She asked her young charge, who was struggling to keep up.
"He is believed...to be underneath the city." Destra gasped.
"Thank you Destra. You'll be a captain soon enough!"

As the two, coriander-haired humanoids marched over the ground towards the city, the soil stirred and gradually formed the shape of a blue 1950's Earth police box...

The Doctor and Donna are held captive in the ancient city and have been met by the Prime Lord.

"But how do you know about me and the TARDIS"? Asked the Doctor.

“You are written in legend amongst many of our sister races” Aattah replied. “In the religious Vol-Dek-Vorah of the Vervoids. And even in the ancient sceptre scrolls of the Krynoid Kastra. Different faces, Doctor, but unmistakably you.”
“Yeah” The doctor shrugged, “I do get a round a bit.”
“You have a reputation for bringing resolution, Doctor, and it is for this reason that we have brought you here. We need your assistance.”

Meanwhile, outside the city walls, another ship approached the planet surface.
“Captain, we have arrived” said a young cadet, wearing military fatigues. He swivelled on his chair to face his captain. Shelda, a brash, elderly war veteran, stared intently into the view screen, showing the planet surface beyond.
“Thank you, Destra. Take us in”
Destra, the young pilot cadet steered the ship closer to the surface ready to land. Shelda watched with intensity, as if her life depended on it.
“This is it” she said to herself. “I have waited a long time to find you, and now….. and now I can finally end this”

The Doctor and Donna are held captive in the ancient city and have been met by the Prime Lord.

"I'm sorry we haven't been introduced, have we"? the Doctor asked bemused.

"I am Prime Lord Aattah of the Arbustoid colony, here on planet Deleo" replied the hybrid. "We settled on this planet about 5 of its solar rotations ago and it has been nothing but trouble since"

"5 Years?" The Doctor questioned. "But this city looks ancient"!

"The city is a millenia old, it makes up our colonization fleet. We fly the whole colony from planet to planet and use it as a base to build anew, but this time we have not had the chance to put down roots because of the Perdo". Informed Aattah.

"Who or what is the Perdo"? Queried Donna.

"When we arrived we assumed this planet was lifeless, but we soon learned that the life was all around us. The soil is alive, it can mimic form, and it objects to us being here. As you have seen in the out reaches of the city the Perdo have killed thousands of our settlers forcing us to live underground, that is why we called you Doctor, we noted your passing in inter-dimensional time and space and summoned you to us".

"But how do you know about me and the TARDIS"? Asked the Doctor.

After searching the ancient City Donna and the Doctor are taken captive.

The warehouse was like the TARDIS,appearing a lot larger on the inside. The entrance was well guarded by more of the black metallic humanoids.
The Doctor and Donna were lead to a brightly lit area near the centre, as they approached they could see a variety of futuristic vehicles most designed to traverse the sandy rocky surface of the planet. The lit area looked like a plain walled room, but when they entered they soon realise it was a lift, the piped muzak gave it away. "Why is it alway The Girl from Ipanema"? Pleaded Donna.

Skirted by three humanoids the Doctor and Donna are propelled down into the bowls of the planet. What seems like an age culminates with the lift coming to an abrupt halt and the door slides open.

"Well, well, it appears we have arrived" the Doctor observed.

The area outside of the lift was well lit and as expansive as the warehouse, the pair are ushered on with a poke from the humanoid weapons.

"Where are we going now?" asked Donna.
"It's a surprise, I like surprises", replied the Doctor with unexpected glee in his voice.

They finally reached their destination as a door slide open and the room beyond struck the pair as being a sort of nerve centre, with banks of humanoids sat it computer terminals.

Donna clings to the Doctor as a humanoid bereft of metallic suit and respirator heads towards them.

Donna had seen countless aliens now, but these humanoids looked very strange. Part human, part plant, distinct facial features topped with a green growth not dissimilar to coriander. Arms and upper torso were mossy in look some green some brown.

"Prime Lord, I presume?" said the Doctor extending his hand.
The humanoid responded equally "You are the one called the Doctor, a Time Lord, am I right? We have been awaiting your arrival".

The Doctor and Donna whilst, searching the abandoned city come under fire.

Donna was still having difficulty with the door, even though it was open, her way was blocked by bodies piled up behind it. The Doctor aware of the situation, turns to the aggressors and raises his hands. "Ok, we don't want any trouble,we come in peace".

Donna stops her frantic effort to get through the door and stands next to the Doctor.

The humanoid was more visible now having stepped out of the shadows. He wore a head to foot one piece black-metallic outfit with respirator type mask. Motioning with his gun he lead the pair back out into the open.

"Where are you taking us?" pleaded Donna.

The rasping metallic voice came back. "You will follow, the Prime Lord wants to meet you".

Slowly the Doctor and Donna followed the humanoid with others joining them out of the shadows.

Up ahead was a building resembling a warehouse with a large open door, Donna espied movement inside, for a dead city it was slowly coming to life.

The Doctor and Donna are investigating the city come across its dead inhabitants and a lot more.

‘I think I’m going to throw up.’ Donna says looking green around the gills.
‘Hold your breath.’ The doctor replies from behind his handkerchief.
‘Oh, brilliant…’ Donna snaps. ‘ ‘ow long for? This room goes on forever.’
They both stand staring at the dead creatures stretching as far as the eye can see.
Suddenly, there’s a noise behind them.
They both turn to see a humanoid hybrid creature approaching, armed and doesn’t look
friendly.
‘I suggest we run.’ The doctor says.
‘Where?’ Donna gasps still trying not to be sick.
‘I dunno.’ The doctor says. ‘Try over there.’ He points to a door across the piles
of dead.
Donna pulls a face and both of them start hopping over bodies heading for the door.
The humanoid calls out. ‘Stop…who are you?’
The doctor shouts to Donna to keep going.
A blast of a laser gun whistles past their heads.
‘What do we do now?’ Donna demands breathlessly.
The doctor glances over his shoulder and says. ‘Keep going…’
‘Oh, great..’ Donna says as she trips and sprawls onto one of dead creatures.
The doctor stops and helps her up while more laser fire whistles over their heads.
He and Donna scramble over the last of the bodies and reach the door.
They manage to open it just as the humanoid is joined by several more of its kind.
‘Orders are not to kill but capture the male.’ One of the humanoids says to the one who found them.
‘Why?’ It asks.
‘Because the male is a Time Lord and can ruin everything. The female is dispensable.’

The Doctor and Donna are investigating the city. Donna notices something strange about its inhabitants, but discovers that reaching them will be difficult...

Donna and The Doctor looked into the building. Lying lifeless on the floor were the bodies of strange human-plant hybrid creatures. The smell seeping through the broken glass suggested that they had already started decomposing. The Doctor covered his mouth with a handkerchief, and tried opening the door to the back storeroom.

It wouldn't budge.

"It's locked." He said, pulling out his sonic screwdriver. Still wouldn't budge. "Why kill these people? And why was it necessary it lock the doors so no one - not even a Timelord - could get in?"

Donna rolled her eyes, and pointed to a window with no glass left in it. "Possibly because we could climb in through the window!"

The Doctor smiled. "Of course."

As the pair of them scrambled through the window, a mysterious shape stood watching a few metres away. It reached towards it's midriff, and pulled out a radio-like object.

"Looks like we have a couple alive, after all." Said the metallic voice.

The Doctor and Donna have arrived on a barren planet near an apparently abandoned city. Whilst they are about to investigate, there are things in the shadows, waiting to get into the city...

 The Doctor and Donna eventually reached the first building, a small square pinkish rendered building with tiny elaborate windows and a tall slate roof. Looking at the bric a brac she could see when she peered in through one of the windows, it did in fact look like a gift shop.  Donna smiled and looked around curiously for a door.

'Come on....'

The Doctor fiddled around with his screwdriver, concentration on his face. He turned and saw Donna with a withering stare as she calmly and slowly pushed the door open.

'Ah.'

'Well, these things in the shadows that are trying to get in - 'ave a problem with doors, do they?'. The Doctor scowled, but he didn't get a chance to reply - all of a sudden, Donna screamed as a shadow leaped out of the open door with a squeal. It even made the Doctor jump.

'My God.' shouted Donna clutching her chest and breathing hard. 'It's only a bleedin' cat!'. The Doctor scowled. The jet black cat turned and stared wide-eyed at him and then sauntered calmly off.

'Cat? CAT? Why cats? Are they stalking me? Why not dogs? Cows? Hippopotamuses? Or is it Hippopotami?  Why does it always have to be cats? I mean, are cats going to eventually rule the universe?'. The Doctor screwed up his face and looked to the sky, as if he suddenly expected it to rain cats. 'Donna.....'

But Donna wasn't listening. She was staring listlessly into the building through the door. Rigid with fear.

'Donna?'

She couldn't move her eyes. She could barely speak, her lips barely moved.

'They're all dead...' she murmured.

rithompon, Playwrite27, Jenray or Real Linda to write the next chapter. Give a short two-line precis of the story before you start and let us know what Donna has seen!

"Couldn't you have parked a bit closer"? Donna said, puffing.
"Sorry Donna but the TARDIS has a mind of it's own, anyway it's a nice day for a walk".

Donna and the Doctor continued heading for the first building they could see in the wondrous cityscape in front of them.

"Doesn't appear to be much in the way of life, now that's strange". The Doctor looked thoughtfully at Donna for an answer. " I mean the buildings look almost brand new, no decay or anything, but where are the people? Lets look for the little shop, there is always a little shop". Donna laughed.

In the shadows something moved, missed by both the Doctor and Donna. Something was watching them approach, something was waiting...

No matter how far they walked, the boundaries of  the city always seemed so far away. They could see the building they were heading for - but it was as if the city was in a bowl, as if the outer buildings towered over the ones in the centre. They stopped at the top of a small hill in the city and Donna, after being so happy to find a civilsation after recent events, was suddenly uneasy.

The hilly rock they were standing on was red and sandy, like the barren landscape all around them, bar the city beneath. That was barren, sure,  but it was also majestic, almost glowing, with tall towers, chimneys, domes  - all at the centre. It looked like a silent civilisation, burning with life and knowledge, but no sound. No hum. Not what it should sound like.  Why couldn't they hear antything?

'Why's it so quiet?' whispered Donna, still staring at the metropolis below.

'Hm? weeeelll, could be abandoned, could have missed the date by a few thousand years - Tardis does that on occasion, when she's feeling a bit cheeky. You could be looking at archaeology here, Donna, one of the Universe's mysteries - I mean, why did they leave? Was it the dying suns? Was it the lifestyle, was it the food? Too many cheeseburgers? Was it...'. ..Donna left the Doctor ramble on as usual, fascinated by his own insight as he often was (and voice, if Donna were to admit the truth). She knew something was wrong. Quite sure. The unnerving feeling that although it was quiet - as though you could hear a pin drop - things were still moving. Not in the city, but out of the corner of your eye, in the distance behind. A shadow. A movement. Was it her imagination?

'It's not your imagination.' Said the Doctor, suddenly back with Donna. 'There's something out there. And it wants to get there.' He pointed.

'The city?' asked  Donna. 'But why?'

'Well.' The Doctor stretched his back and checked his pocket for the one thing that was sure to get him into the city where other scary silent moving-in-the-shadows aliens couldn't.

He made sure the Tardis was locked and they went down the hill.

Tonight I start writing an episode of Doctor Who which I will open for other SciFi Group members to continue with the hopes we might write a best seller. Anybody interested?

The Sands of Time

Part One

The TARDIS seemed a hive of activity as the Doctor struggled with the controls, Donna just stood there perplexed by his urgency. "What's 'appening"? she gasped.
The Doctor resisted answering her preferring to concentrate on the matter at hand.
With an abrupt halt the TARDIS came to rest throwing Donna on her behind.
"What's 'appening"? she repeated. The Doctor turned to her and with a wry smile said "I don't know, want to find out"?
The TARDIS doors opened and the interior was bathed in very bright light.
With the Doctor leading, they stepped out onto an alien landscape.

The twin suns, one a red dwarf, shone down on the barren sandy soil, which glistened like mica. Considering all things it wasn't that hot, in fact it was quiet bearable, as the pair climbed a steep outcrop of rock.
Reaching the top the Doctor and Donna looked down at the expansive city that lay before them for as far as the eye could see.

Forget the Ang Lee 2003 version of 'The Hulk', this film knocks spots off it and will be the block buster of the summer.
This time Edward Norton plays the mind mannered Bruce Banner, continuing his search for a cure for the Gamma Ray radiation accident that turned him into the Hulk. Hiding from the US Government who want to turn him into a Super Weapon, Bruce Bruce is forced to live in the shadows earning a meager existence whilst looking for redemption.

While hiding out in Mongolia, the Hulk is captured by the Russians. After days of torture and tests, they collect enough DNA to create another monster called the Abomination. The Hulk eventually escapes and the Russians send the Abomination to destroy him.

Switch to New York and scenes of total devastation... can't wait.

Doctor: "Handcuffs? Where did you get those from"?
River Song: "Spoilers"....

(Finding out she has spent 7 years in virtual reality)
Donna: "What do you mean it ain't real? I've been dieting"....

Hilarious.

The You Tube link is below, but better quality links can be found here.

Latest from Digital Spy

Executive producer Julie Gardner told TV Guide: "We've decided to do a five-part mini-series, one big story that will run during one week. I wanted to make a really big noise about the show."

Gardner, who confirmed that John Barrowman will be back as Captain Jack, remained coy about any additions to the cast following the death of two regular characters in the second season finale. However, she said that fans of the show "will be pleased with the casting".

Hancock is the new Will Smith comedy where he plays a down at heel superhero.

With tag lines like:

There are heroes. There are superheroes. And then there's...

He is saving the world whether we like it or not.

Meet the superhero everybody loves to hate.

It has to be good.

Hancock's well-intentioned heroics might get the job done and save countless lives, but always seem to leave jaw-dropping damage in their wake. The public has finally had enough -- as grateful as they are to have their local hero, the good citizens of Los Angeles are wondering what they ever did to deserve this guy. Hancock isn't the kind of man who cares what other people think -- until the day that he saves the life of PR executive Ray Embrey (Jason Bateman), and the sardonic superhero begins to realize that he may have a vulnerable side after all.

There will be a third Torchwood series according to the BBC. Jack will be back but it is unsure if Russell T Davies will be at the helm. No date as of yet... Keep posted.

With rumours abounding that now that Russell T. Davies has left the TARDIS that David Tennant will not be far behind, speculation as to the 11th incarnation have already surfaced. Names already in the mix are Robert Carlyle, Bill Nighy and James Nesbitt.

But will there be a complete change? Will we see the first female doctor?

So who would you choose for Who?

Shame that he has already been in the series, but I would have gone for Simon Pegg with Nick Frost as a side kick....

The BBC remake of 'Survivors' has thrown up some interesting 'big name' casting.
Adrian Hodges, re-telling of the classic 1970s BBC Terry Nation drama series will include:

Max Beesley as Tom Price a prisoner locked in his cell while all around him are dying When the viral outbreak begins.

Other names include Freema Agyeman (Doctor Who and Torchwood),Julie Graham (The No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency) and Paterson Joseph (Peep Show).

The story will be written in the present day setting and involve a resilient group of survivors of a world-wide plague having to deal with no society, no police and no law and order, they face terrible dangers, not just the daily struggle for food and water but also the deadly threat from other survivors

Can't wait

If the news that Steven Moffatt will take over as 'God' in charge on Dr Who when Russell T. Davies steps down at the end of this series isn't enough...

Then we hear the first thing Steven does is to invite Neil (Good Omens, Stardust) Gaiman as a future writer, I am salivating as I type. So with Steven and Neil it will have two of the finest writers around and the series can only go from strength to strength.

Ok a quick (and relatively easy) brainteaser for you...

Aside from being born on a different planet and travelling through space...

What is the one thing I am looking for that Mr Spock and The Doctor have in common?

The latest adversary in 'Silence in the library' is a dark shadow called Vashta Nerada.

Is this a play on Vashna Terada?

Is this another bread crumb that Steve Moffet has left?

Vashna is the greatest of all Darklords, defeated in battle by King Ulnar of Sommerlund in Joe Dever's Lone Wolf novel The Legacy of Vashna.

Terada(Katsuya) is a Japanese Animi writer for Dark Horse books

Or is this my strangely warped mind or are the Daleks behind this?

Love the Battlestar Galactica opening mantra and have found the lyrics and meanings.

AUM BHOOR BHUWAH SWAHA,
TAT SAVITUR VARENYAM
BHARGO DEVASAYA DHEEMAHI
DHIYO YO NAHA PRACHODAYAT.

Oh God! Thou art the Giver of Life,
Remover of pain and sorrow,
The Bestower of happiness,
Oh! Creator of the Universe,
May we receive thy supreme sin-destroying light,
May Thou guide our intellect in the right direction.

Must be my favourite TV series of the year. After a brilliant 9 episode run the series came to an end last night, and after months of speculation about it's second series ABC have announced it will be back later in the year for another 22 episodes. Having been nominated for 15 awards and winning 5 they had to give in.
I myself think some of the comic acting has been a real joy. I especially like Chi McBride who plays the sardonic knitting detective Emerson Cod.

It was pointed out to me recently that when you watch SciFi movies set in the future that spacecrafts, and cities seemed to be full of most of the races of the earth except Arabs? Is the American film industry that biased?

I have racked my brains and cannot think of one that has come out of America in the last 10 years. Even in the original Star Trek you had a Russian, American, African, Scottish and Japanese crew member but nobody from the middle east.