When the campaign begins, this is when it will all happen. Dot for now.
Hello
Dot
Spread across space and time a group of unrelated people are about to be swept up into an epic adventure. Unbeknownst to them, the Doctor is (was/will be) at that same moment (and simultaneously at a completely different moments) in the sights of a terrible weapon.
Bryce is going about his daily business, going to work, shopping, watching an occasional tri-D movie. K-9 mostly stays at home, having been his companion for the last 20 years since they both saw the Doctor. The Doctor was kind enough to leave K-9 with him, and he has been tinkering with K-9 for years, modifying his programming to be less subservient and more autonomous, and providing him with a TL 6 "hover" ability which allows him to rise up a few inches off the ground when he encounters rough/soft terrain or water.
He and K-9 are out on one of their weekend walks around a nearby park, when suddenly...
K 9 is moving beside Bryce joyously, saying "This is particularly fine weather and location for a walk. Excellent selection master."
Ted sits at his desk, half eaten pastrami sandwich and a glass of bourbon pushed into a corner as he pours over files and recently developed photos for his current case. The sun went down hours ago, and Gladys had gone home for the day. He takes a drink from the glass as he writes down a reminder for himself.
Missing husband found. Possible adulterer. Call Audrey in morning and show photographs.
Ted rubs his eyes as he sets down his pencil, seemingly acknowledging how late it's gotten. He stands up and walks over to the window, looking out at the city under the moonlight, debating whether he should walk home at this point or just sleep at his desk. It certainly wouldn't be the first time.
Kyle finishes getting dressed as Pandora changes over to the Futureheads' "Skip to the End"
He smiled a little and brushed his teeth. He kind of skipped to the end sometimes, looking into the future to where he's already found the missing object or lost pet. Still...it helped others and that was worth a little cheating.
He looked at his watch. 15 minutes to meet his new client, "Joe." He never arrived late or early, he always got to his destination exactly on time, no matter how many delays cropped up on the tube or how few people were in line for the escalator. Exactly on time.
He put his ear buds in and cranked the volume louder than was really safe for his hearing, drowning out the casual thoughts that drifted into his head as he moved through the city. He walked down the hall to discover to his shock that the elevator was out of order. That the elevator was broken wasn't the shock, it was an older building. The shock was that he didn't already know the elevator was out of order. He didn't SEE the elevator would be out of order.
He rushed down the stairs, the carefully constructed view of the day fading and splintering around him. Now that he spent extra time on the stairs, who knew how the rest of his trip would be.
Terrible. The rest of his trip was terrible. Poorly timed, unpredictable, distracting. He arrived at the cafe Joe picked out huffing and sweaty.
As Bryce and K-9 enjoy their walk, they hear a familiar sound, look around and see the TARDIS materialize near them. Approaching the door, it does not immediately open. Rather, a hologram appears showing River Song. The hologram says, "TARDIS records show you have helped the Doctor in the past. He has need of your skills. State your names and something you know to be true about the Doctor to gain entry."
The voice is somewhat uninflected with emotion. The eyes of the hologram image do not focus on where Bryce and K-9 are standing.
Bryce says "I am Bryce Lionell, and the Doctor likes to wear a very long scarf."
"The Doctor once stated "even simple one dimensional chess exposes the limitations of the machine mind". While playing a losing move in two dimensional chess against a machine mind."replies K 9. Most would think that K 9's robotic features incapable of conveying emotion at all, however, K 9 radiates concern mixed with a degree of smugness.
The image of River Song fades and the TARDIS door opens. Inside looks different from what K-9 and Bryce remember from the times they ran with the Doctor. The console is now hexagonal shaped with instruments resembling a typewriter, a telegraph, a gramophone, a set of hot and cold taps, and a view-screen that pivots back and forth. A column rises more dramatically out of the center of the console and has copper pipes connecting to it from the sides of the room, which is a good deal bigger on the insider than it used to be.
The door closes and the holograph of River is replaced by the 4th Doctor, who says, "If you're listening to this, it means something has happened to me and I may need help getting back here." He looks non-plused and adds, "Or she is being overly protective while I'm enjoying some much needed rest and relaxation. You will get more information as soon as everyone is assembled."
The image fades and the TARDIS begins to wheeze and shift to a new location.
Having played with the control panels a lot while he was traveling with the Doctor, Bryce had no problem using the new versions. He discovers...
I'm trying to learn the specific situation that triggered this automated program in the TARDIS.
Kyle finishes getting dressed as Pandora changes over to the Futureheads' "Skip to the End"
He smiled a little and brushed his teeth. He kind of skipped to the end sometimes, looking into the future to where he's already found the missing object or lost pet. Still...it helped others and that was worth a little cheating.
He put his ear buds in and cranked the volume louder than was really safe for his hearing, drowning out the casual thoughts that drifted into his head as he moved through the city. He walked down the hall to discover to his shock that the elevator was out of order. That the elevator was broken wasn't the shock, it was an older building. The shock was that he didn't already know the elevator was out of order. He didn't SEE the elevator would be out of order.
He rushed down the stairs, the carefully constructed view of the day fading and splintering around him. Now that he spent extra time on the stairs, who knew how the rest of his trip would be.
Terrible. The rest of his trip was terrible. Poorly timed, unpredictable, distracting. He was sweaty and distracted when he arrived at the strange street where he met Joe. From his brief read of her mind, he knew he’d met her before... or someone important that they mutually knew...but didn’t remember her or the strange shadowy figure in her memory. He had to learn more.
Bryce knows most of the controls only respond to the touch of the Doctor, but he tries a few things he remembers the Doctor sometimes doing when he got back after some time away from the TARDIS that gave a recap of recent information the the TARDIS keeps track of.
The controls are quite different from what he saw before but he manages to trigger something like the report the Doctor used to see on the screen that pivots back and forth. It's in Galefrey characters but they quickly transform into the language Bryce is comfortable with.
The screen lists some space-time coordinates that refer to recent places-times where the TARDIS has been, with all but the last referring to places-times alien to Bryce and K-9's experiences. The last says "Cambridge, England, 1979." There usually follows a short phrase relating to the purpose of the trip, but the Cambridge line has an error message: "Visit with <error> non-existent <error>."
Soon after this, the TARDIS shudders to a new place-time.
As Ted sits at his desk debating his next move, he hears a sound he only has heard once before, a sound like rusty sliding door being moved back and forth. A blue box about the same size and shape as an outhouse simply appears in his office. A moment later a man seems to shimmer into existence in front of the box, a man who had introduced himself as The Doctor, who called himself a Time Lord. The man is slightly transparent, part of the blue door showing through.
When he speaks, his voice is strange, like a so-so actor reading lines for the first time. "TARDIS records show you have helped the Doctor in the past. He has need of your skills. State your name and something you know to be true about the Doctor to gain entry."
Ted stands still as he hears that unforgettable sound, certain that it's just the late hour causing him to hallucinate. As he slowly turns around and sees the TARDIS in his office, he takes a sudden step back into the wall.
"Wasn't sure if I'd ever see this again," he mumbles to himself, rubbing his back.
"TARDIS records show you have helped the Doctor in the past. He has need of your skills. State your name and something you know to be true about the Doctor to gain entry."
Ted walks up and reaches out to shake the Doctor's hand. "It's good to see-" and stumbles as his hand goes right through. Something had seemed off about him.
So this is some sort of movie, then.
He felt silly talking to a movie, but he responded all the same.
"My name is Theodore Trapes. Ted for short. The Doctor..." Ted pauses for a moment. "The Doctor is willing to make any sacrifice he can to help those in need."
"K-9, can you try accessing the TARDIS' memory banks, to see what event caused this pre-programmed response? Some of the data seems to be garbled."
"I will try my best master."replies K 9, who then tries to access the TARDIS's memory banks as requested.
K-9 extends a metal antenna to touch certain controls and to transmit data. The screen refreshes and give a similar response, but with an added line: "Unable to locate target of trace, suspected interference in time line."
After Ted says his response, the TARDIS doors open and the image of the Doctor vanishes. Ted notes some changes in the TARDIS and also a man with red skin and a mechanical ... looks a little like a dog.
Once he is inside and before he can say anything to the other occupants, the controls flash to life and the TARDIS begins another jump.
Kyle rounds the corner of the trap street, looking to confront Joe when he hears the familiar (whether he knows it or not) whoop of the TARDIS
"This is unfortunate master. If the TARDIS can be used to overcome the time line interference it reports, the knowledge of how to do so is not in my databanks. Apologies master."
Ted holds his hat and grabs the closest thing that resembles a handle to steady himself as the TARDIS begins to move. Once he's regained his balance, he straightens up.
Ted is a very thin man, standing at a little over five and a half feet. His brown fedora matches the trenchcoat he is currently patting down, making sure nothing fell out of his pockets when he lost his footing. He stares as the two other occupants warily.
A red skinned man and... Some sort of factory dog?
"Who are you?" he demands, only addressing the red skinned man.
The slight figure pulls on a pair of fingerless gloves followed by a smudged leather waistcoat and long worn frock coat. Settling the smoked lenses onto her nose, Joe tugs a cap down low over her brow. She pulls a handful of wires and gears from a drawer and arranges them into a boutonnière which she tucks into the coat's lapel. A handful more gears get tucked into the hatband.
A little greasepaint to get that street urchin look and Joe heads out onto the street. Working her way down the cobblestone alley, she avoids most of the strange people out and about as she makes her way to the entrance. Stepping out from the shadows into the bright sun, she winces as her eyes adjust. Stepping to the side Joe feels the streets defenses slide off of her.
There rounding the corner is the man she had redirected just the other day. "Oy! Wot 're ya doin' 'ere mister? Ya keep comin' Hammer and Tack 'ere, she's garn ter play wif your Crust of Bread loike ne'er before." She grabs his arm and pulls him away from the hidden alleyway.
"My name is Bryce Lionell, and I traveled with the Doctor many years ago. I assume you have too? This is K-9. I'm assuming the Doctor's in trouble, because the log of his last visit has been corrupted. When did you last see him?"
Kyle lets himself be jerked into the alleyway and then erupts into a shower of words I know you’re protective of this street, though I can’t imagine why...but I needed to see you again. Do you know a...police officer maybe? I think he’s a police officer, not entirely sure. But he...helps people? You have a memory of someone I’m not supposed to remember, but I do remember him, just out of the corner of my tongue. I mean tip of my eye. I mean...well. It’s hard for my thoughts to form around the thoughts of him, they keep sliding off. I see? I don’t know. I see a box! Like a phone booth but not. Does any of this make sense? The people on your street are very quiet. Mentally, I mean. You’re loud, but the thoughts don’t make any sense and there are holes like when the tv is between stations. Memories I’m not supposed to see.
He looks at her helplessly. I’m not normally like this. I’m not mad, which, granted, is the first thing someone who is mad says, but still. I think you know who I’m talking about. Maybe you know what happened?
"My name is Trapes. Ted Trapes."
Ted looks between Bryce and the dog, having difficulty with the idea that someone like the Doctor could be in trouble.
"Travel with him? No, unfortunately. He did ask me to come with him after we assisted each other in stopping..." Ted grimaces, recalling the memory of the monstrous metal men. "He called them Cybermen. Gruesome creatures."
"I haven't seen him since then. It's been about a year, but as I understand it time works a little differently for the Doctor."
Joe stares at the strange talkative man. "A copper, right, yor on me about a copper, isit? 'Ave a look, most blokes don't notice the chuffin' alley, ain't supposed ter, like. But yer spot it, and that's a problem. A problem for yer." More of Kyle's words penetrate and Joe pauses for a moment.
"Wait, right, did yer say a box, then, eh, mate? Yor copper comes in a box, isit? Might be w' yer can find the bloomin' alley." She rubs her ands together with a businesslike air. "I'll get out me spoons. If yor copper in a box is who I think it might be, I'll believe yor not a nutter. But if so, yor've 'ad an 'venture and yer don't 'member it. That makes yer special. Wotcher missin' from yor 'ead already, then, eh, squire?" She looks at him expectantly before continuing more calmly and quietly. "An 'ow do yer get it back."
Get it back? I don’t even know what “it” is. It’s not like the answer will just drop from the sky...
Joe and Kyle are talking a little off a sidewalk at the entrance to an alley (not Trap Street but close) when they hear a wheezing sound that at first sounds like a servo motor. Then in the shadows they notice a police box that was not there a moment ago (was it?).
Kyle gets a flash of memories as he sees a man materialize. He wears a black leather jacket and has short hair. Joe doesn't recognize him but well she knows the police box as belonging to the Doctor.
"TARDIS records ... corruption detected.... Anyway, maybe you can help the Doctor. Urgent."
The door opens and it looks a little like the opening to trap street did when Kyle and Joe first detected it, going deeper into the box than seems possible. A couple of faces peer around a console of equipment, an older man, a man in a trench coat and hat, and a mechanical creature of some kind.
Kyle steps into the box. He knows he SHOULD be surprised that it’s bigger on the inside, but he’s...just...not.
Hi, I’m Kyle! Someone needs help?
He scans around, looking for the blonde woman.
Bryce and K-9 see a man step into the TARDIS,introduce himself, ask if someone needs help, and then he seems to experience some kind of seizure.
Kyle gasps and clutches at his chest but...but it’s fine. He’s...fine?
Who? What...what happened?
He takes a seat, shaken.
K 9 moves towards Kyle, taking up position between Kyle and Bryce, then says in his robotic voice "Do you require medical attention sir? The information requested is I am K 9, the man in the trench coat identifies himself as Ted Trapes and the other human is master Bryce Lionell. You have entered the TARDIS which is collecting beings known The Doctor as he now needs us."
K 9's sensory equipment moves as he prepares to medically examine Kyle if he continues to show signs of distress.
Joe steps through the door after Kyle. "This sir, is yor box. Although given the bleedin' mechanical dog's response, right, none o' us is yor copper, i'n it? If the bleedin' box is 'ere, there's barney afoot. If it's 'ere wivout its master, right, then the bleedin' barney be bad indeed."
No, no, Mr. Robot dog...I’m ok I don’t need...a...Doctor?
K 9 moves so he faces Joe, then says "Good day young sir. Would you address us in a language that is in my databanks? Perhaps English, to which the language you are speaking seems to be distantly related."
Bryce turns to Kyle and says "Kyle, my name's Bryce. I'm no doctor, but what you just experienced seemed to be pretty serious. Perhaps letting K-9 scan you would be a good ides, just to be on the safe side?"
He nods weakly. Sure, scan, ok...
As the drama in the TARDIS plays out the doors close behind Joe and Kyle and the central control panels flash and switches flip.
The column in the center has a glass shaped into three spheres one above the other, getting smaller as they go up. It begins to pump up and down and misty vapors begin to emit from various vents. Lights flash. The floor begins to vibrate alarmingly.
Result: Good. You do not fall over and you may attempt another action at -3.
Result: Success. You do not fall over but you cannot attempt another action.
Result: Failure. You fall over but are not injured.
Result: Bad. You fall over and take 1 damage to your Resolve.
Result: Disastrous. You fall over and take 1d3+1 damage to your Resolve.
K 9 is about to begin scanning Kyle when the floor begins to vibrate. K 9's robotic brain easily calculates the chances of making an effective scan during the turbulence are less than 1% so elects to delay and brace himself as best he can. Having no hands K 9 cannot hold tight.
Co-ordination = 2, Strength =3, so
K 9 manages to hold his balance, though he is moved to and fro somewhat, while saying "Danger! Turbulence. Apologies for the delay Mr Kyle."
Kyle is still mostly stunned, but manages not to slide around, at least.
The young lad looks at the mechanical dog. "I'm speakin' proper London english, if yer 'ave a problem wiv it, right, please see about adding it ter yor dater banks. I thought the bloody TARDIS made everyone understood, i'n it? There must be sumfink wrong wiv it."
As the lights flash and fumes vent, all Joe cam do is grab hold to keep her footing. "Yes, right, definitely sumfink wrong wiv 'er."
After some shaking the TARDIS settles down and the control panel stops flashing, the central column stops moving, and vapor stops venting. The room gets quiet. After a moment, a figure again materializes near the center of the room and begins to speak.
"Hello. You're probably wondering why you have been called here. So am I. If you are seeing this, the TARDIS has chosen one or more people in her data banks as likely to be able to help. I am not in the TARDIS and my location cannot be determined. Normally the TARDIS can sense where and when I am at all times, so this is difficult to explain. So, off you pop and figure it out. You have been brought to the last time and place I was ... or am ... or will be ... Timey Whimey-ness, you understand."
The figure is partially translucent and is apparently some kind of prerecorded image. It vanishes and a click is heard at the TARDIS door.
As the ship begins to lurch, Bryce grabs on to the console with both hands :
= Success
After the message plays, he will attempt to figure out where and when the TARDIS has landed :
= Failure
Looking around for clues :
= ???
Before Ted can respond to the newcomers, he feels the ship taking off again and reaches out to a nearby arch to hold on tight.
He stumbles and almost falls to the ground as he just barely anchors himself against the lurching of the TARDIS. He stands up straight, feeling dizzy as the projection of the Doctor appears. He's grateful to recognize him this time: Grey hair, Scottish accent, and those strange sunglasses.
So the old man really is in trouble. Don't know if I want to go up against whatever can give him a run for his money.
He goes to help Bryce search for any clues as the projection vanishes.