Yentob and Slavin lived at this particular camp. The furthest out from the fortress. Slavin was the leader of this group. He had worshiped his Lord since he had been told of him as a child. He'd been one of the most avid supporters as well and had spent hours a day praying to his God. His Lord had rewarded him by giving him a position as one of his closest servants and posted him to the outer most camp. Now, for the first time in months, he was being called to visit him again, but this time he would travel by the powers of God himself and not a two day trek across the jungle.
The camp was located within a dense collection of high trees. Some tribes liked to live in the tree tops in wooden huts, but Slavin's camp felt it was better and safer to be on the ground where they could stop any invaders straight away.
Slavin entered through the wooden gates of the camp and was greeted by a servant. He was followed by Yentob who was holding Slavin's staff.
“Is the circle ready, Bushtan?”
“It is, Slavin,” said Bushtan in a low, deep growl.
“Excellent. Our Lord is waiting on us. Prepare the men.”
A group of twelve men gathered around a large created from pebbles, rocks and stones. They began to chant slowly. Slavin and Yentob stood in the circle and Slavin grabbed his staff.
“My Lord, we are ready!” he called out, holding his staff above him.
The wind whipped around them and a bolt of lighting struck down at the feet of Slavin and Yentob. Yentob cowered behind his master but Slavin simply stood motionless as they vanished in a glow of green light.
The explorers where now kitted out in their jungle wear. Nivere had taken to wearing a tan suit complete with adventurer's hat and utility belt. The two men, Bridges and Dennington, wore t-shirts and shorts. Grasp had stocked up his utility belt with all manner of weapons. His green, scaly skin moving as he flexed his muscles, eyeing the others cautiously. Aamina was carrying a rucksack which contained supplies for the expedition. She also had a very large gun attached to a belt.
Ivy, mean while, was kitted out in combat trousers and top, a rucksack slung over her shoulder.
“Well, are we all ready?” asked Nivere.
“Indeed, I believe we are, Captain,” smiled Dennington, eager to get going.
“Doctor,” said Caroline, “aren't you forgetting what's happened to the TARDIS.”
“No, Caroline, I haven't forgotten.”
“Why, what's happened to it?” asked Ivy.
“He lost the TARDIS,” piped in Danny.
“What, again? Once he lost the TARDIS in 1690 and we ended up having to spend the next twelve months living in a hut while we waited for the ship to appear again.”
“You’re having a laugh, aren’t you?”
The Doctor tried to smooth the situation down. “It was a long time ago. A long, long time ago. I’ve become much more careful these days. I always make sure I leave the breaks on.”
“Are you people ready?” asked Nivere, who was standing on the edge of the clearing waiting for the others.
“Yes, we're just coming,” called the Doctor as he ushered the others across the clearing.
“I believe it would be best if we split into three parties. Originally it was going to be two, but with the inclusion of the Doctor and his friends, three would make things even better.”
“Ah,” said the Doctor, “would it be wise to split us all up on a hostile planet like this?”
“I'm not afraid,” said Bridges confidently.
“He's not talking about being afraid,” said Ivy. “But it does seem a bit dangerous, Captain.”
“Nonsense. Whatever's out there we can handle it.”
The Doctor opened his mouth to speak but Nivere stopped him.
“Now,” she began, “who to team up with who…Doctor perhaps you'd like to come with me. And the young man, Danny, as well.”
“I'd like to go with the Doctor,” said Caroline. “I want to keep him close.” She closed in on the Doctor and lowered her voice. “Don’t forget…answers.”
“And me. We've a lot to catch up on,” said Ivy.
“We can't all go with the Doctor.”
The Doctor made a suggestion. “How about me, Ivy and Bridges.”
“But Doctor -”
“Caroline, everything will be okay.”
Caroline wasn’t so sure. She knew that the Doctor had travelled with people before, but she was starting to get worried that her and Danny would be forgotten.
“Very well,” sighed Nivere. “Grasp and Danny, you can come with me. Dennington and Aamina can go with Caroline.”
With that they headed off to the north, each group taking a different route. They checked the map and agreed to meet up in eight hours at a place called the Dream Path.
The road was long and hard and Caroline had already had enough after the first twenty minutes. She was angry at the situation. Why the hell was she here? She'd trusted the Doctor. She'd hoped he would try and get the explorer’s to drag the TARDIS out of the swamp, but instead they were going on a quest for some bloody artefact. She wanted to get back to the TARDIS and have a bath to wash away the insects that were crawling and flying all around her.
Caroline swung a stick and whacked away a thick vine.
“Is there a problem, Caroline?” asked Dennington, who was walking behind her.
“No,” she said through gritted teeth, “everything's just fine.”
“You seem a little perplexed,” he said, still smiling.
“Well,” she gave in, “okay, if you want to know the truth I am bloody perplexed.”
“Why?”
“Because I never asked to come on this expedition. I just want to get back to the TARDIS. Back to safety.”
“Caroline, if you're worried about dangers on the jungle path then there's no need to be.”
“No need? What about all those stories you were telling me about anyone coming looking for the eye is usually dealt with swiftly?”
“Oh, yes, but they're just myths. We don't know for sure whether they're true.”
“They're true.” Aamina had spoken for the first time since they'd begun their trek. “Believe me, Caroline, you should be scared.”
“Thanks for cheering me up,” grumbled Caroline.
Dennington frowned. “Aamina, there's no need to worry the woman. She's trapped on an alien planet and we're her only company.”
“I just think she should be prepared for the worst. Makes it easier to combat.”
Caroline stopped and leant against one of the tree's. Dennington walked over to her while Aamina carried on ahead.
Caroline realised Dennington was waiting for her to talk. “I just want to go home.”
“Home? Back to your TARDIS?”
“That‘s not home. My home’s on Earth. In Thornsby.”
“Don't you like travelling?” asked Dennington, crouching down in front of her.
“I don’t know. Maybe I’d like it if there wasn’t other things on my mind.”
“Like what?” asked Dennington
Caroline had needed to get this off her chest for quite a while. “I'm not sure I quite trust the Doctor. There‘s something wrong with me. We don‘t know what, but I’ve got some sort of power deep inside of me. The Doctor needs his ship to do a full scan, and maybe it can get me home, but now he's abandoned me and gone off with that Coldstone woman. I just want to go home and get back to my normal, boring life.”
“Ivy’s the Doctor's friend,” reasoned Dennington. “I gather they haven't seen each other for some time. Naturally they need some time alone, to talk. Give him a chance, Caroline.”
“It's not just her,” said Caroline, feeling more frustrated. “It's the fact that he never considers what's going on around him. He just leaps into things without thinking and leaves a trail of chaos behind him. And she never even recognised him. What was that all about?”
Dennington was about to reply when there was a flash and Aamina screamed.
Slavin and Yentob appeared in a dark, stone chamber. The walls were a deep brown and the chamber echoed with their footsteps.
“What is this place?” asked Yentob nervously.
“Need you ask that question, Yentob?”
“I assume it's the fortress of our Lord?”
“Indeed it is.”
This made Yentob cower even more behind Slavin. “Why is it so dark?”
“Who knows what goes on in the mind of God.”
Soon they came to a narrow corridor with an eerie yellow glow coming from it. Slavin stopped and then, swallowing his fear, he marched on with Yentob scuttling behind him. The glow became brighter and brighter as they neared a particular chamber.
Slavin breathed in heavily and then pushed open a large oak door. The light flooded out of the room and bathed Yentob and Slavin in an un-earthly yellow hue. They had to shield their eyes, but soon the light dimmed.
“Come,” said a voice from deep within the chamber.
Yentob bit his lip and Slavin tried to compose himself to show he wasn't frightened. He'd been here so many times before, but he'd never gotten used to the fear of what might be asked of him.
They made their way into the chamber and, standing in front of a golden throne, was a middle aged, human man with white hair and piercing yellowed eyes.
Slavin bowed to the man. “My Lord Tressure, we are here to serve you.”
“Slavin. It is good to see you again, and you too, Yentob. You have served Slavin well and he has served me well.” Tressure stepped across to his throne and settled himself down. “Throughout the many centuries my people have fought off those who would wish to steal the Eye.” He clasped the glowing, glass eye tightly. “And we have always defeated them. However, there is a new threat. A threat which we have not witnessed before.”
“A threat bigger than the Daleks?” asked Slavin, nervously remembering the time the metal monsters tried to destroy the Eye.
“A threat that can travel in time. I have heard the legends of a planet called Gallifrey.”
“We too have heard the stories.”
“This new threat comes from that planet,” growled Tressure.
“We have observed him. They appeared in a blue box.”
“And there are the others,” added Yentob.
Tressure's face reddened with anger. “I am not interested in the others. They are worthless.“
“Forgive him, my Lord. He just wants to help.”
“He is forgiven,” said Tressure, regaining his composure. “But this Time Lord, although infinitely less powerful than me, will still be a threat.”
“What are your commands?”
“Destroy them.” Tressure's command was simple. “Destroy them before they get here.”
“Forgive me, Lord, but why can’t you destroy them yourself?” Slavin wished he hadn’t questioned his God.
Tressure’s face reddened again. “Do not ask questions! You will obey me!”
Slavin was excused and he and Yentob made there way back to the dark room they'd appeared in. In a flash of green they were gone.
Aamina was pressed up against a tree. It had been less than a minute since Yentob and Slavin had appeared in a blinding strike of lighting. Yentob now had a spear placed against Aamina's neck.
“Now it's time to die,” growled Yentob as he began to press the spear into her neck.
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