Doctor Who Eternity Inside Out By Gerald A. Polley Page 1

The golden sphere was not too impressive compared with the vastness of space. It was only 6 ft. in diameter, and its sides were pitted with several indentations. A large gash opened on one side revealing broken wires and shattered circuits. It travelled a very erratic course, as if blindly searching for something. Suddenly it straightened. Movement caught its attention. Hurteling through space and time a strange blue rectangle approached it, a flashing light on one end, indicating a top.
The golden sphere shot forward and disappeared from existence. A moment later it reappeared inside the box. A strange metallic sigh issued from it then the insatiable humming that came from it slowly died. It sat motionless in the corner of the control room where it had appeared.
Several hours later a young woman entered the control room with a clipboard and began examining some instruments, when she turned and saw the sphere. She dropped the clipboard and rushed off, crying "Doctor! Doctor!"
A few moments later she returned with a short, dark haired, stout little man, rubbing sleep from his eyes.
"Now, now, Zoe!" he was saying, "I'm sure it's nothing serious! Nothing can enter the TARDIS that could harm us! Now let's see what this thing is!"
"Now what's going on?" came another male voice from behind them with a deep Scottish accent.
"It seems we have a visitor, Jamie," The Doctor told his other traveling companion, "came right in through our shields and materialized in the control room."
The Doctor began to circle the golden globe. "Hmmm!" he muttered, and "Hmmm!" again. This went on for many minutes as he examined the exposed wiring, and damaged circuits. "This all looks rather familiar," he finally said. "I'd swear some of this technology was Gallifreyan. It's very similar to some of the TARDIS' components, yet far more advanced, but I do think I can fix it."
He walked off through the door leaving his two companions bewildered. "Come, Zoe!" he cried, "You too, Jamie! I need some help with the tools!" His two companions followed quickly and as the hours passed they ran back and forth bringing the Doctor whatever he requested. Finally the Doctor stood back. "Well, these repairs won't work as well as the original equipment," he said, "but they should partially restore all functions." He turned a knob and stepped back. A low hum filled the room. A soft glow appeared along the rip in the metal. The broken edges twisted, joined, and fused. The dents and pits pushed out from within and became smooth. The sphere rose a few inches off the floor and slowly rotated.
"Thank you, Doctor!" a rather feminine voice spoke out of nowhere.
"Oh, you're quite welcome," the Doctor answered seemingly unamazed, while his two companions stared in stunned bewilderment.
"Do come in!" the voice continued, "I would appreciate you awakening The Sunkeeper. I will be able to do so myself in a few hours but it would be very advantageous if he was awakened sooner. Those responsible for my damage still seek me. He is needed."
"I understand," the Doctor answered.
Seams appeared in the sphere. One section swung down and became steps, while the three others swung out and extended to form an access way. Without hesitation the Doctor mounted the steps. "Come along, Zoe," he said, "Jamie!"
His two companions followed without hesitation. To their surprise they found themselves walking through a dimly lit woodland path, approaching a small cottage. The Doctor entered without hesitation, crossed the small livingroom and entered a hallway. For a moment he looked bewildered and then entered the first door to his left. Inside, a man and a woman lay on what appeared to be an ordinary bed, but each was covered by a glass chamber that completely surrounded their bodies. The Doctor went to a wall and pressed several buttons. Along the top of the glass chamber, rainbow-colored lights began to flash, bathing the man within. After a few moments mechanical arm extended from a wall, attached itself to the chamber, lifted it off the bed, and neatly stored it in the opening from whcih it had come. The opening closed, revealing no sign of a seam. The sleeper stirred, opened his eyes, and without a word sat up.
"Thank you, Doctor!" he said. "Do make yourself at home. You will excuse me for a time. I have much to do!"
"Certainly!" the Doctor answered. "Come, Jamie, Zoe! Let's go outside and watch the sun light." His two companions followed him. Standing by the door they stared into the evening sky. Suddenly one star became brighter and brighter until it filled the sky, and all the other stars disappeared. Jamie looked around, bewildered. "Where are we, Doctor?" he asked.
"We're inside the globe," the Doctor told him.
"But this is flat ground!" the Scotsman announced. "And there's hills and valleys all around us. How could we be inside that wee little ball? Only one person could get in it."