"Just someone going to meet an old friend who is in
a bit of trouble," The Lord Of Light answered. "Wait a moment, Doctor.
"I'm contacting them now. Yes. Good. They agree. They'll take him and
see that he stays out of trouble. You may materialize inside on the
grand promenade."
The Doctor activated the controls. The TARDIS disappeared and
reappeared inside the great hall. Jo and the others were amazed by what
they saw on the screen...a vast city going in all directions, beautiful
beyond any words to describe it. A curious crowd of very beautiful
human-like people and various non-humans gathered around the TARDIS.
"Who are they?" Jo asked.
"I've never learned what they call themselves," The Lord Of Light
answered, "They are the oldest race I know. My people call their ships
Ghosts, and their crews Ghosties. Ages ago their home world was
destroyed by a super nova. They escaped in ships like these. Their law
strictly forbids them to take what belongs to others, or interfere in
any way with another developing culture, so they are space wanderers,
gathering up and using what would be destroyed before others could use
it. Their elders are approaching. Would you be so kind, Doctor, as to
open the door?"
The TARDIS doors swung open and six hooded figures entered, and bowed politely to The Lord Of Light.
"Which one is it?" one of them inquired in a very soft and gentle
voice, "you wish us to take, care for, and see that he does no harm?"
"This one," announced The Lord Of Light. "He is called Count Frederick
Clermore. The Dark One has been in his mind, and he cannot be trusted
to return home with the knowledge he has absorbed. He would do untold
harm."
The Elder walked over to the Count. "Yes," he agreed, "I see. We will
see to his well being. He will live out his days with comfort and joy."
"I'm not going with you!" the Count screamed. "Nothing can make me go!"
The elder turned and nodded to one of his companions, who approached,
letting the hood fall back. It revealed a very beautiful woman, with
soft, almost shining large brown eyes. She held out her hand and said
"Come, do not be afraid."
The Count tried to back away but slowly his hand rose to hers, and as
they touched, he smiled and slowly let the woman lead him from the
ship. "It is our wish," the elder announced, "you might stay awhile. It
is mating time, all the ship is full of joy. Your friends are welcome."
"I am sorry," announced the Lord Of Light, "but our burden is heavy and we must be on our way."
The elder bowed and led his companions from the TARDIS which
immediately dematerialized, reappeared outside the ship, and headed off
for the fading vortex. Reappearing in its own dimension it again shot
across time and space.
"What are you up to?" asked The Lord Of Darkness as they approached an empty desert world. "Why are we going there?"
As the TARDIS plunged back through time, the world ahead disappeared in a blinding flash. When it reappeared it was beautiful.
"It looks alot like Earth," commented Sgt. Benton, "except the
continents are different. There's nothing on the equator. All the land
masses are north and south."
The machinery was activated and the vortex opened. The TARDIS plunged
through and went into orbit around the world below. They had been there
but a short time when another vessel approached. Even the most
unlearned observer could tell there was something wrong with the ship.
It was twisted and broken. Great holes were ripped in its hull, in many
places the paint was seared by intense heat.
"Lock a constant radio signal on it," The Lord Of Light ordered. "I won't be long."
"No!" screamed The Lord Of Darkness. "You're mad! You're completely
mad! I won't go! You can't make me! I won't go over there!"
"You have no choice!" The Lord Of Light snapped, seizing his adversary.
They faded away into nothingness, and a few moments later The Lord Of
Light reappeared. "NOW, Doctor!" he ordered, "A thousand years into the
future!"
The Doctor backed off through the vortex, went forward, one-thousand
years in time, opened another vortex, and shot through. "A single beam
to the surface," The Lord Of Light announced, "about in the middle of
that continent shaped like a bell. I bid you farewell!"
The Lord Of Light nodded at Oliver, who slipped through the door and
disappeared down the hall. Then, for the second time he faded from
view. The Doctor turned the TARDIS around and headed back through the
vortex.
"I don't understand," announced Jo, "what have you done? Where have they gone?"
"Back to their beginnings," explained the Doctor. "The Lord Of Darkness
could not be destroyed, but The Lord Of Light figured a way to imprison
him, so he could do no further damage. He put him back into the dying
body which was his first inhabitation, his very beginning, and The Lord
Of Light has also returned to HIS beginning because Darkness and Light
have to be balanced. Now they are forever stuck in a time loop, having
to live through
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