Eye Of The Jungle, Chapter 4

“Grasp, no!” shouted a voice from within the room.

“But Captain -”

“No! You don't know who they are yet,” responded Captain Nivere. “I told you to catch them off their guard and bring them in here. Not kill them.”

The Doctor rubbed his chin and looked past the creature that the woman had called Grasp. Stood behind the scaly humanoid was a greying, dark-haired woman. She had a rounded figure and a chubby face . She looked down her nose at the Doctor like an angry school mistress would do to a naughty schoolboy.

“So, who are you?” she asked, her hands on her large hips.

“I'm a traveller. Ouch!” replied the Doctor, rubbing his bruised jaw.

“I'm Caroline Parker,” said Caroline, offering her hand.

Nivere ignored her.

“And I'm Danny Lennon, but you're not shaking my hand.”

“I wouldn't want to, you rude young man.”

“Look, what is this thing?” asked Caroline as she tried to look over the shoulders of the huge thing named Grasp.

“I,” began Grasp, “am a product of Captain Nivere.”

“That's me, by the way,” said the woman. “Stand aside, Grasp, and let the people in.”

“They might be dangerous, Captain.”

“I assure you, my friends, we're not dangerous,” said the Doctor reassuringly.

“Let them in, Grasp,” repeated Nivere, a little more sternly.

The creature begrudgingly stepped aside. Danny slinked in and Caroline helped the Doctor off the ground and through the doorway.

What was inside appeared to be some sort of conference room. Sat around an oval-shaped table was a dark-haired, middle aged man, a young blonde man, an olive-skinned woman and a woman with long, curly red hair.

The Doctor's eyes fixed on one woman in particular. It was the curly haired one.

“Ivy!” beamed the Doctor.

“Excuse me? Do I know you?” asked the confused, Irish woman.

The Doctor ran around the table, hugged Ivy and span her around in her chair. “It's been a long time.”

“I still haven’t got a clue who you are,” laughed Ivy.

The Doctor suddenly jumped back, realisation on his face. “Of course. I’ve changed since we last met.”

Ivy thought for a moment and then broke out into a wide grin. “Doctor?”

“They very same,” he smiled.

“But…but you’re so…different!” She looked him all over. “And where’s all that hair gone?”

The Doctor ran his hand along his smooth head. “I quite like it like this.”

“And you’re so old!”

“Eh?” He looked a little hurt.

“I mean…well, you were so young before. It’s hard to believe it’s you.”

“Ahem,” said Caroline, clearing her throat. “Others in the room.”

“Sorry,” smiled Ivy, extending a hand. “It’s nice to meet you. I'm Ivy Coldstone.” She shook both of their hands.

“Caroline Parker and Danny Lennon,” said the Doctor, introducing his two companions.

“You've met these three before, Coldstone?” asked Nivere.

“No. Only the Doctor. It's been a few years now though. We used to travel together.”

“And what exactly are you doing on Theen, Doctor?” asked Nivere suspiciously.

“The same as you. Exploring. It's what I do, you see.”

“You're after the Eye?”

“The Eye?”

“Yes,” began Ivy, acknowledging Caroline and Danny too. “It's some sort of mystic relic. They say it can turn people into gods.”

The Doctor frowned. “I think I may have heard something about that before. A long time ago though.”

Nivere sighed. “Coldstone, may I remind you that this is my expedition and you're only coming along because I’ve allowed it.”

“Perhaps we could all be introduced,” came the blonde man's voice.

“Yes, of course,” said Nivere, forgetting her manners.

“Well, if you don't mind, Captain, I'd like to have some time alone with the Doctor,” she smiled. “We‘ve got a lot to catch up on.”

Ivy guided the Doctor from the conference room.

“You two stay here and say hello to the others,” called the Doctor from the corridor.

“Cheers,” replied Caroline under her breath.




Ivy led the Doctor to the room she shared with the woman, Aamina. Once inside she sat on the lower bunk bed and the Doctor pulled up a chair and sat at the table. For a moment she just sat staring at him and then shook her head smiling.

“What's wrong?” asked the Doctor, suddenly feeling very paranoid.

“I just can't believe it's you,” she said, laughing.

“Who would have thought we’d run into each other again?”

“And on Theen as well.” She clasped his hand. “I’ve missed you, you know.”

The Doctor smiled sadly. “I always miss you, Ivy. Travel in the TARDIS isn’t the same without you.”

“I considered coming back, you know.”

The Doctor nodded. “I know. But after what happened with Leska -”

Ivy held her hand up. “Don’t worry, please.” She smiled. “Life goes on.”

The Doctor examined the scrabble board that was on the small, put-up table. “Still playing, are you?”

“Oh yes. Aamina and I like to have a game every day. And she usually beats the socks off me. You're not into it again are you?”

“Oh no. Haven't played for a long time.”

She picked up a scrabble tile and turned it over and over. Then she looked back at the Doctor. “When are you going to regenerate into someone a little closer looking to my age again? You were perfect before.”

The Doctor laughed.




Caroline and Danny had been introduced to the rest of April Nivere's crew. First there was her 'product', Grasp. Apparently he had been found in a swamp on Menta IV as a small, baby lizard. However, within a few months he'd mutated rapidly into a fully grown, walking and talking lizard man. That was a few years ago and Nivere had taken him under her wing to teach him and guide him through life.

The next person they'd been introduced to was Nivere's closest friend in the group and her confidant. His name was Mark Dennington, an amiable man in his mid forties and a gentle and quiet type. Caroline had taken to him immediately. He seemed like the sort of man that she could be friends with and trust. He reminded her of Mr Cope, her landlord. His wife had died in a moon accident seven years previously and he'd decided that the only way to get away from the solar system and all the bad memories was to join his wife's old friend, Nivere, on her exploration team.

The third man was closer to their age. His name was Alan Bridges. A rather sarcastic individual and full of hot headed ideas on how a mission should be conducted. Danny had already begun chatting and laughing with him, but Caroline wasn't keen on him.

The final person in the party was Aamina Anush. She was a young, Asian woman, but was extremely quiet. She'd only spoken to say hello to Caroline and Danny and then had simply been content to sit and watch. So far Caroline hadn't had any luck in finding out anything from her.

Then there was April Nivere herself. A very stubborn and forthright woman who liked to throw her weight around and show that she meant business. She reminded Caroline of her old history teacher at school, always well spoken and demanding that her pupils take note. But there was something hidden behind her tired dark eyes. A desire for adventure.

Now they were sat around the table chatting about various things.

“So tell us about the Doctor,” said Bridges.

“Yes. He seems like an intelligent man. Is he a relation?” asked Dennington.

“No, we just travel with him,” said Caroline dismissively.

Bridges laughed. “I couldn’t stand being cooped up with the same people all the time. If I had a choice I'd choose to explore on my own.”

“Then why don't you?” asked Nivere, as if trying to force the man out of her group.

“Because you, Captain, have a ship. I don't.”

“Then don't cheek me or you‘ll be back at Dimfrent 21 before we even start looking for the Eye.”

The others laughed, except Aamina, but they knew that under the laughter there was a seriousness to the Captain's threat.

“So, you're looking for some eye that turns you into a God?” asked Danny eagerly.

“Yes. But surely you've heard of it?” chuckled Nivere.

“No. Why, should I have heard of it?”

“Everyone's heard of the Eye of the Gods. Or as it's been called for the past few centuries; the Eye of the Jungle.”

“Nope.”

“Oh dear, where've you been locked away?”

Caroline jumped in quickly. “We've just been out of touch. Travelling with the Doctor does that I'm afraid.”

“He seems like a very interesting guy,” said Aamina for the first time during the conversation.

“Well, yes, he is. He's travelled a lot and probably seen more planets and galaxies then any of you.”

“Well then,” said Nivere, adopting a incredulous tone to her voice, “I'll have to have a good chat with this Doctor.”

“You'll have to prise him away from Ivy first,” said Dennington. “They must have had a bit of a history together.”

The door slid open with a whoosh and the Doctor walked in.

“So you've finally come to say hello, have you, Doctor?” asked Nivere.

“Yes I have.”

Ivy followed from behind. “Sorry, we've been having a little chat and didn't realise how long we'd been away.”

“That's quite all right. Now, Doctor, I want to ask you a few questions.”

“All in good time, April,” said the Doctor. “Can we come with you?”

“What?”

“Ivy tells me you're going on an expedition into the jungle to look for this Eye.”

“Yes we are,” answered Bridges. “But it's got nothing to do with you.”

“I know it hasn’t, but it's been so long since I've been on an expedition. I'd just like to tag along and I'm sure Caroline and Danny would like to as well.”

Caroline was about to object when the Doctor interrupted them.

“See, I told you so. Let's get ready then.” And with that he marched out of the room.

“Ahem,” said Ivy, grinning like a fool. “I'm sorry about that. He always did like to take charge.”

Well not on this occasion, thought Nivere. “Okay, you can join us, but only as spectators. We take the treasure back with us.”

Eye Of The Jungle, Chapter 3

The small cruiser ship soared through space and headed towards Theen. It's scruffy and scuffed metal plating showed it's age. The dents in the side had been caused form numerous outings through the years and all of the problems it had endured. But Captain Nivere loved her ship anyway.

April Nivere: Intergalactic explorer and discoverer of the Crystal of Sontar. She prided herself on her job. No, it wasn't a job, it was a hobby. It was a way of life.

When she was a little girl she'd wanted to become a great explorer. She’d read holo-novels on the subject and just wanted to get out there. When she was nine she'd made a promise to herself to do just that. And now here she was. Her own ship, her own band of merry explorer's and heading for one of the most unusual places in the universe - Theen.

She'd heard the stories about it. Centuries ago a man had crash landed on a desert world and had been touched by the legendary Eye of Gods. He'd become all powerful and had created a beautiful jungle world full of animals, insects, trees and all manner of creatures. She'd even heard rumours that he had created his own people to guard him, his fortress and the Eye. Though why a God would need to be guarded by mere mortals she'd never know.

“Captain Nivere?”

It was her trusty friend and second in command Mark Dennington.

Dennington was a middle aged man of about 45. He had wavy black hair and deep inset eyes that shone with enthusiasm. And he was about the only one that April felt she could talk to. Sure, her band of explorer's were a decent bunch, and enthusiastic too, but she never at ease with them. And it showed, unfortunately. Her colleagues always found ways to stay as far away from her as possible.

All except Dennington.

“Yes, Mark, what can I do for you?”

“You seemed to be in another world for a minute there, sir,” he said kindly.

“Please, Mark, you should know after all of this time that you don't need to call me sir. Call me April.”

“You know I've never been keen on calling you by your first name.”

“Why ever not?” asked Nivere, laughing.

“Because you're our leader. The leader of the expedition. You must be respected.”

“Very well,” she smiled. “If it makes you feel any better you can call me Captain, but not sir.”

Dennington nodded slowly and smiled. “Thank you, Captain.”

“What's our status?” asked Nivere, returning to the matter at hand.

“We're coming into orbit around Theen. Do we go down?”

“Better now than never, Mark. Tell the pilot to find a clearing and take us in.”

Dennington crossed over to a stocky, blonde haired young man who was sat at the pilots seat. “Bridges, Captain Nivere has ordered out descent.”

“Anything else?” he asked in a cockney accent. “Does she want a cup of coffee with that?”

“Show more respect for our captain and make the descent.”

“Okay, okay,” moaned Bridges. “Beginning the descent now.”




The ship broke out of it's orbit and tilted downwards towards the planet. As it entered the atmosphere of the jungle world it began to rattle slightly.

“Steady, Bridges,” said Nivere to the pilot.

“I know, Captain, I know,” he replied, angry that the Captain was trying to tell him how to fly a spaceship after all his years of experience.

“Locate a suitable place for landing, Aamina.”

“Aye, Captain Nivere,” said the Eastern looking woman sat at a control panel behind Nivere. “We're detecting a number of primitive dwellings. There's a clearing a few miles from them.”

“Sounds like a reasonable place to put down until we can find out where the fortress is,” offered Dennington.

As the ship made it's final landing checks the metal door swished open and a tall woman with long, flowing curly, red hair and freckles stepped onto the bridge. She looked to be in her 30‘s. She put her hands on her hips and watched through the front viewscreen.

“Can I help you, Coldstone?” asked Nivere.

“Oh no it's okay. Just thought I'd come and see the view.“ She had an Irish accent.

“Well we'll be landing any minute. Perhaps you should strap yourself into your seat.”

“I'm sure I'll be okay,” she said, giving a ‘don’t order me about’ smile to the Captain.

“Yes, but I'd feel much better if -”

“Captain I've been on more space ships than you can possibly imagine. Believe me, landing on a jungle planet isn't going to scare me.”

“Fair enough.” Nivere turned back to the view screen. This Ivy Coldstone, as she gave her full name, was a strong woman, but Nivere was strong minded as well and she wasn't going to let this jumped up madam get the better of her group.

Bridges began to speak as the ground rolled towards them on the view screen. “Prepare for landing in 5-4-3-,”

Nivere straightened in her seat.

“-2-1.”

There was a loud grinding and the ship felt as though it was about to fall apart, shaking wildly as it touched down on the surface of the planet until it finally came to a rest. Nivere looked back. Coldstone was still stood there with her hands on her hips, grinning at the captain. She hadn’t budged an inch during the landing

“Okay people, let's get our stuff together. Meet me in the briefing room and we’ll discuss plans for the expedition.” Nivere got up, raised her eyebrows at Coldstone, and then left the bridge.




“Did you hear that?” asked Caroline.

“Yes, indeed I did,” said the Doctor, trying to peer through the dense tree's.

“It was loud,” said Danny. “Perhaps it was an explosion.”

“No. It sounded more like some old spaceship. The thrusters sounded like the old H7 class. It came from over there.” He pointed towards an area were the jungle didn't look as dense. “Come on!”

The Doctor set off in a brisk walk, pushing aside vines and creepers that hung from the trees. Caroline and Danny trailed a little slowly behind him, but by now they were getting used to the Doctor's eagerness to get straight into a situation.




Yentob, the ebony skinned man, was perched between some branches watching the travellers like an eagle.

He turned to Slavin who was sitting on a branch above him. “More travellers do you think?”

“Of course, my boy. It was the sound of a great space ship. We've heard that sound many times before.”

“Then we must destroy them.”

“Don't be so impatient,” said Slavin. “First let us watch them. We must report what we see to our Lord.”

“If our Lord is so great, why do we need to do his work?”

“Do not speak of our Lord’s ways,” warned Slavin, half whispering. “This is a test. He can see what happens all around him, but he would prefer for his servants to do his bidding.”

“Forgive me, Slavin,” said Yentob, suddenly aware that the all-powerful was probably listening to him at this very moment. “I meant no disrespect.”

“I know you didn't, boy,” said the older man, shaking his head, “but you must restrain your urges to try and understand our great God.”

“I shall try.” But in his heart he knew that he wouldn't rest until he understood everything he could about his Lords power.




The Doctor, Caroline and Danny emerged into the clearing of the jungle. Around them was fairly low grass and only a few birds perched in low shrubs. Sat in the middle of the large clearing was a patched up old crate of a spaceship.

“Look at that!” said Caroline, wide-eyed.

“It's a piece of junk,” snorted Danny.

“Yes, but for a piece of junk it's very impressive,” smiled the Doctor. “It's a small travel ship. They were built to carry around twelve people.”

“I wouldn't fancy being cooped up in that thing in space,” said Danny. “It looks filthy.”

“Well so would you if you travelled through deep space,” said the Doctor.

They crossed the clearing, glancing around to check they weren't in any danger, and then jogged to the underneath of the ship. It was supported on four large, metal struts; two at the front and two at the back. In the middle of the under-belly of the ship was a circle which the Doctor thought to be an access hatch or a doorway.

“Anyone in?” called Caroline.

“We all remember what happened last time we tried to get into a spaceship,” said Danny, thinking back to the Pythagoras on Trixatin.

“Perhaps they're too busy to have noticed us,” said the Doctor. “Come on, let's get up there.”

“Wait, Doctor,” said Caroline, grabbing his arm. “Are you sure it's safe? I mean, they might be space mercenaries or something. They might blast our heads off with guns.”

“Oh I've dealt with all sorts of people. We'll be okay.”

The Doctor took out his sonic screwdriver and aimed it at the circular hatch and after a few whirs and beeps the hatch opened.

“Great,” said Danny. “Now how do we get up there?”

The Doctor pressed another button on the screwdriver and a metal ladder unfolded out from next to the hatch.

“Very clever,” said Danny.

The Doctor grinned at his two companions. He allowed Caroline and Danny to go first and then climbed the ladder after them.




The inside of the spaceship was fairly dull and grey with not much in the way of furnishings. The Doctor sniffed the air as his head poked up from the opening and joined his companions. It had a fairly sterile smell. A sound caught his ear.

“Can you hear that too?” asked Caroline.

“Sounds like people talking,” said Danny.

“It's coming from one of these rooms,” said Caroline, pointing down the small corridor they'd emerged in.

They moved down the corridor, but the Doctor decided to check every room before heading to the one with the voices coming from it. He pressed a button next to the first door and it slid open to reveal two bunk beds set into the wall and a table in the middle with a few cards on it.

He crossed to the other side of the corridor and the same thing lay inside the other room. Most of the back end rooms seemed to be living quarters. Another door opened to reveal a small medical bay with bits and pieces of medical implements. Another couple of rooms were store rooms containing equipment and weapons.

“So they're dangerous?” asked Caroline, noticing the large space gun.

“Not necessarily. If you were travelling around in a space ship, at the mercy of all sorts of hostile alien life, I'm sure you'd take a few weapons to protect yourself.”

Eventually they arrived at the door where the talking was coming from. The Doctor pressed his ear to the metal and could hear a number of muffled male and female voices and one which had a harsh sound to it.

“Well?” asked Danny.

“Let's say hello, shall we?” smiled the Doctor.

The talking stopped abruptly. The Doctor backed away from the door and it slid open to reveal a scaly, green, human-sized lizard standing upright in the doorway. It wore some form of brown leather clothing leaving it's fiendish head exposed. It's teeth were clenched tightly together and looked extremely sharp. It stepped forward, it's red eyes glowing brightly.

“Die intruders!” it yelled as it raised it's clawed fist.

“No!” said the Doctor.

But it was too late.

The Doctor was thumped straight on in the jaw and collapsed to the ground. Caroline knelt beside the Doctor and Danny shielded himself as they prepared to be attacked by the creature.

Eye Of The Jungle, Chapter 2

The Doctor was hunched over the controls of the TARDIS console, humming a tune to himself. Caroline was sat in the corner of the console room reading a book titled “The History Of The Second Universe“.

“Interesting stuff, this,” she said, glancing up at the Doctor.

“Yes I suppose it is,” he said, lost in his thoughts.

“Where‘s Danny?” she asked, realising her friend was no where to be seen.

“Gone for tea with Victor,” said the Doctor, obviously lost in his own thoughts.

“Victor?”

“Him and Margaret do a very good fruit salad I believe.”

Caroline couldn‘t work out what the Doctor was talking about and, shutting her book, she walked over to him. “Doctor, you‘re not making much sense.”

“No, neither did the fly.” The Doctor suddenly released where he was. “Oh. Oh Caroline, I‘m very sorry. I was just thinking about something. Saw it on TV the other day.”

“I noticed,” she said, raising her eyebrows.

“What did you want?”

“I just wondered where Danny was. I haven‘t seen him for hours.”

“I believe he disappeared in the direction of the park.”

“The park? The TARDIS has a park?”

“Yes,” he said. “Yes I‘ve been looking at the TARDIS records. Fancy a trip to the planet Theen?”

“Is it going to lead us to any clues about what’s going on with me?”

“I doubt it. The TARDIS is still causing us a few problems. I tried to take you back again, but she’s refusing. But Theen! Fascinating planet, apparently. Used to be a desert and over night it turned into a jungle.”

“Sounds very interesting, but I’d still rather just find some answers out to my little problems.”

“There’s absolutely no way I can direct the TARDIS to anything relating to you. I can’t find Aleena and I certainly can’t get us back to Thornsby. I’m running a complete system scan of the TARDIS systems. Until that’s done, there’s nothing much more that we can do.” He flicked a switch and folded his arms. “So in the mean time, why don’t we go to Theen?”

Caroline sighed.

“If anything,” he continued, “it’ll get us out into some fresh air. The planet looks relaxing enough, and after our problems on Trixatin, we could do with a little rest.”

Caroline gave in. “Okay, but give me a little while to get ready. I want to go and find Danny first.”

“Good, good,” smiled the Doctor rubbing his hands together. “But don‘t be too long.”




Danny sat beside a cool spring that was trickling down from the rocks. He sighed and ran his hand through the rippling water. Around him was a huge area of green and above was a roof from which vines and ivy hung from. The TARDIS was certainly an amazing place, but Danny felt very unwell travelling in the time machine.

“Danny?” came a familiar female voice.

“What?” he called miserably.

“I’ve been looking for you all over. The Doctor‘s taking us to some jungle world.”

“That’s nice. Tell him I‘m staying in the TARDIS.”

“You can‘t,” she said, crossing over to him. He seemed very pale. “What‘s wrong?”

“I don’t feel too good. Ever since we left Trixatin.”

“Maybe you should let the Doctor check it out,” said Caroline, trying to look into his eyes.

“No. I’ll be fine. I just need some space.”

“Then Theen will be ideal,” smiled Caroline.

“What’s got you so chirpy all of a sudden?” asked Danny, frowning. “A few hours ago you were kicking off that he wasn’t getting you any answers.”

“I figured I might as well relax a bit,” she said, shrugging her shoulders. “At least it seems like he’s trying to help. I think that’s what was worrying me before. I thought I was talking to a brick wall.”

“Hmmm,” said Danny, looking down at his feet.

“You’re really not well, are you?”

“I’ve had a headache since leaving Thornsby, actually. It just got worse when we left Trixatin.”

“Then let the Doctor help.”

Danny was about to say something when he gasped for air. His face went red and he fell back in the artificial grass.

‘Danny!‘

By the time Caroline had helped Danny along the TARDIS corridor and into the console room the Doctor was already waiting with eager anticipation to leave.

“Come on you two, the TARDIS has just landed.” He turned and noticed Danny being helped along by Caroline. “My goodness,” he said, running over to help Caroline. “What’s happened to him?”

“He was feeling a little down and then he just collapsed. Said he had a little bit of a headache.” She dropped him on the red, velvet-covered sofa.

“Danny?” said the Doctor gently, lifting up his eyelids. “Danny are you there?”

“What do you think‘s wrong with him?”

“I’m not sure,” said the Doctor, “I think we better get him out of the TARDIS. He might feel better once we‘re out in the open.”

The Doctor hauled him up and they made their way towards the doors.




“Well done, Doctor,” said Caroline, steadying herself.

“I didn‘t expect this,” said the Doctor worriedly.

“Urgh.” groaned Danny. “What‘s going on?”

“The Doctor‘s landed us at the top of a very large tree,” moaned Caroline.

“Purely by accident,” said the Doctor, trying to peer through the branches and leaves.

The TARDIS was balanced between two huge, thick branches and the only thing stopping it falling was the strength of those branches. Now Caroline and the Doctor were supporting Danny and balancing themselves where they could.

“It‘s very hot,” said the Doctor, removing his coat, dropping it into the TARDIS doors and almost toppling over the edge.

“Be careful, Doctor!” said Caroline, grabbing his arm. “You’re right though, it is very hot.”

“Let me back in the TARDIS,” complained Danny, trying to shake free of the Doctor and Caroline‘s grip.

“Danny, be careful!” said the Doctor.

But it was too late.

Danny slipped through the branches, ripping leaves off as he scrambled to grab hold of something. He was lucky and landed on a thick branch reaching out from the side of the tree.

“Are you okay?” shouted the Doctor.

“I…I think so. Just a bit bruised. Ow!”

“That was a stupid thing to do,” scolded Caroline.

“Okay, let’s save the rights and wrongs for later. We need to climb down there and help him.”

“And then?”

“And then we explore,” beamed the Doctor.

“You mean we’re just going to leave the TARDIS up here while we swan about some odd alien jungle?”

“Why not? She’s perfectly well supported up here.”

Caroline sighed, realising there was no way she was going to persuade the Doctor to take off again, and they made their way down towards Danny.

It took a while, but they had managed to find enough foot holds to clamber down the knobbly tree trunk and through the branches, eventually making it to ground level.

The ground, the Doctor noted, was a rather big and deep swamp, but they had found a solid path across some branches that had been laid across to form a makeshift bridge. When they eventually reached the bank of the swamp Caroline and Danny flopped down to the floor.

“How are you feeling now?” asked the Doctor.

“Much better. It’s a bit hot.”

“Yes it is,” said the Doctor, rolling up his shirt sleeves. “I’m glad I put my coat in the TARDIS.”

“I wish I‘d put something cooler on,” said Caroline, trying to get some air into her top.

“Like what?” asked the Doctor.

“I don’t know. A bikini top would do now.”

“Yes please,” grinned Danny.

Caroline whacked him across his back. “Act like an adult, please, Danny. We’re 30 now, not 13.”

“Okay, okay. We’re going to have a nice rest here for a few days and then we can go back to the TARDIS feeling all refreshed.”

“A few days?!” exclaimed Caroline. “Is it really going to take that long to do the system scan on the TARDIS?”

“Well, yes. Give or take a few hours.”

Caroline groaned and threw her head back.

“It’ll be fine,” said the Doctor, clambering to his feet.

“I suppose it’s a pretty nice place. As long as there are no snakes,” said Caroline, looking around worriedly.

“Oh I shouldn‘t worry about that,” said the Doctor. “I read that they don‘t exist on Theen.”

“That‘s good then,” she smiled.

“But watch out for the giant spiders.”

“What?!”

But the Doctor and Danny had already begun heading off into the jungle. Caroline ran after them, but looked around cautiously.

They had only been walking for a few minutes when Caroline heard a sound behind her. It was the sound of snapping branches.

“Doctor look!” shouted Caroline, pointing to the tree’s where they‘d left the TARDIS.

“Oh no,” said the Doctor.

They stared on in horror as the blue of the TARDIS flashed through the green leaves and dropped into the swamp like a large boulder. The thick green liquid splashed up and covered the blue police box. The Doctor ran towards his precious time machine as it sunk slowly into the swamp.

By the time the travellers had gotten to the swamps edge the TARDIS was gone. Sucked under the liquid like a sinking ship.

“We have to get it out!” said Danny desperately.

“I‘m afraid that’s going to be extremely difficult. There‘s no telling how deep that swamp is and I’m sure neither you or Caroline would care to swim down into that muck.”

“So we’re stuck?” asked Caroline, hoping for a more positive answer.

“For the time being, yes.”

Caroline held her head in her hands and Danny thumped at the grassy bank in frustration.

“I‘m so sorry.”




Through the tree’s a large, ebony skinned man watched with wide, white eyes. He had a small, stone necklace around his neck and at the end was a small, stone eye which looked as though it had been carved with some blunt object. He raised a tube and inserted a small thorn into the end. Putting it to his lips he was about to blow when someone tapped him on the shoulder.

“Not yet, Yentob,” said a white haired old man with very pale skin.

“But Slavin -”

“No. We must watch first, and then, if our Lord wishes them to die, well, then they shall die.”

Eye Of The Jungle, Chapter 1

The priest, Hymptol, walked through the marble pillared chamber, his footsteps echoing around the gigantic worship hall. It had been a long time since he had first begun working in this place and had hoped that his master - his God - might have finally called him there to free relieve him of his services. It had been a long, long time since he had had any sort of rest and now he was so very, very tired.

He lifted his staff and tapped the end on the great concrete doors that stood before him. The double doors opened and an armour clad guard drew his sword.

“I am here to see our Great One,” said Hymptol quickly.

“Forgive me, sir,” said the guard through the visor on his helmet, “I was not expecting you.”

“Our Lord contacted me in my dreams. I believe my time has come.”

The guard seemed taken aback. “After all of these years?” He bowed his head and sheathed his sword. “Then I wish you all the luck for the future, sir.”

“I fear my future is to be a short one.”

“Then I wish you all the joy in what remains of your life.”

Hymptol acknowledged the guard and brushed past the soldier, his cream, jewelled cloak billowing behind him. He continued his journey deep into the palace, towards his God‘s chamber.

It was at this point where the light of the Eye began to consume the natural light that shone through the high-arched windows which overlooked the hills around the temple. And it was also at this point that Hymptol began to feel nervous. He had come here so many times, seven times a year maybe for sixty years, and he‘d never gotten over the sensation of fear.

“My Lord,” said Hymptol as he approached the main chamber. “My Lord, it is I, Hymptol.”

There was nothing.

“My Lord. You called me in my sleep. I came as soon as I could. It took me a while to find the transport to -”

“I understand,” came a rather weak and frail voice from beyond a small stone door.

“You…you sound ill, my Lord,” said Hymptol carefully.

“Come. Come into my chamber.”

Hymptol opened the small door and the yellow-green light shone into his face, brighter than he‘d ever seen it. After he had managed to direct his vision past the glare he noticed that his Lord was lying - no, slouching - in his wooden throne.

“My Lord,” said Hymptol, with real concern in his voice, “what has happened to you?”

“I am dying, Hymptol.”

“But you can‘t die,” said Hymptol. “You are a God of the Eye.”

“And I‘ve lived for thousands of years on this planet. I’ve created you and nurtured this world. But we all have to die. It‘s time for me to join all of the other ones who have possessed the Eye.”

“But what will become of us?”

“You will continue living like you always have and I will watch over you, but my body shall be gone.”

“My Lord…”

The old man raised a hand. “Please, Hymptol, just do me one last favour.”

“Anything,” said Hymptol, lowering himself down to his Lord‘s position and taking his hand.

“Take the Eye from me and cast it out into space. Eventually, in time, it will find another who can become a God and create a civilisation worthy for this universe.”

“And they will become one with the Eye?”

The man coughed and spluttered. “The time approaches. Remove the Eye and cast it into space. Quickly!”

Hymptol clasped the glowing yellow eye that hung on a silver chain around the old mans neck. The cat-like eye glowed with life and was vibrating with power. It wanted to find a new owner. As Hymptol slipped it over his Lords head, the mans face glowed yellow and then he was dead.

“Goodbye, my Lord,” said Hymptol sadly, and with a little regret that his services hadn‘t really been dismissed.

He crossed over to the large window that dominated the back wall of the chamber and threw the Eye as high as he could. Instead of falling back to the ground it floated up through the purple clouds and out into the blackness of space. It wanted to go. It wanted to be free. It wanted to find a new God.




For years and years and over many distances the Eye travelled through the cold vacuum of space, endlessly searching for a new mind, a new person for it to turned into a God.

Eventually it drifted into the Garazone System and onto the artificially created atmosphere of Garazone Central. It floated through the clouds and as gravity increased, it‘s descent grew faster and faster until it landed in the middle of a market stall. It was forgotten for more years, biding it‘s time, until eventually a cargo-freighter Captain named David Tressure, on shore leave, visited the market.




The star ship Dignity shot through the blackness of space attempting to evade her pursuers. The gun-metal grey flying saucer had been on their trail for what seemed like ages and they showed no sign of giving up the chase.

“Status report?” ordered Captain Tressure from his command seat.

“Both engines are down and it‘s only our momentum that‘s allowing us to move forward,” replied the pilot.

“Commander, give me a report on that saucer.”

“We‘ve finally got a match, Captain,” said the female commander. ‘It‘s a Dalek saucer.‘

“Bloody Daleks! I thought they were all dead!” said Tressure.

“No chance,” replied his commander. “If there‘s even one Dalek alive then it‘s enough to make a whole galaxy quake with fear.”

“Not this time. Turn us around.”

“Manoeuvring thrusters are down too, sir,” reported the engineer through the com system.

“What about aft weapons?”

“We might be able to manage something,” replied the tactical officer.

“Then aim for their engines and try and knock them out,” he growled. His hair was full of sweat he noticed as he ran his hand through his thick brown curls.

“We‘ve got 43 percent power,” called the engineer again.

“Then fire whatever we have.”




Outside, the saucer closed on Tressure‘s ship, but a thin beam of blaster fire was emitted from the rear canons.

It didn’t even scorch the Dalek ship.

“Report!” demanded Tressure, his face full of hope.

“No damage to the Dalek saucer.”

Tressure‘s face creased in anger. “Blasted pepper pots. What the hell do they want?”

“Obviously something in our cargo,” said the commander.

“We‘re just carrying a load of trinkets and nick-naks! I didn‘t know the Daleks were into that kind of thing!”

The ship lurched forward and Tressure flew out of his seat, hitting his head hard on the pilots chair.

“Sir the back of our ship‘s gone!”

“What?”

“The whole back of it‘s gone. But the cargo‘s safe.”

“Sadly, Lieutenant, I couldn‘t give one flying fnarg about the cargo.” Tressure made a decision. “Okay, everybody to the escape pods. We‘ve done all we can to defend the ship.”

Before they could leave the command bridge the ship lurched forward again.

“What‘s going on?” shouted Tressure above the noise of explosions.

“The ships taking a dive sir. We‘re heading towards that planet.”




Outside the sleek silver freighter was now bathed in black smoke and grey fumes pumped up from the now missing back-end of the ship. Flames licked up all around and the metal began melting while cracks appeared on the surface. The saucer fired a few more shots at the ship to ensure it crash landed. Whatever the Daleks wanted, they weren‘t concerned that they might be damaging it.

The ship nose-dived towards the planet.




Theen was a planet that was the definition of dead. There was no life, no animals, no birds. Not even any wind. It was just hot sun beating down on a whole globe of desert.

At night time it was freezing and in the day it was too hot. Usual characteristics of a desert, but the deadly silence was broken by a screeching sound. The silver, dart-shaped Dignity was diving towards the sand dunes. The sun reflected off it‘s silver panels and the reflection of the desert could be seen in it‘s bodywork. It tried to level off, but couldn‘t.

With an enormous clash of thunder the ship hit the sand scooping up the grains and burying itself half in the ground before finally coming to a stop.




Tressure kicked his way out of one of the escape hatches and slipped down the curve of the ship and into the sand. He was battered, bruised and burnt - but still alive. Just. His skin was torn from his face and one of his eyes was gone. Blood poured from cuts on Frenchman‘s body and he screamed in agony as he fell back into the sand.

Then something caught his eye. His remaining eye.

The cargo had been scattered all over the sand and a yellow glow was coming from one of the objects. He painfully dragged himself across the sharp grains of sand until he reached the object. It appeared to be an eye; a bit like a cats. It was small and yellow and glass-like and was attached to a necklace chain. He‘d remembered seeing it at the market on Garazone Central, but it hadn‘t been glowing then. Something was drawing him to it. He reached out his hand and touched it.

A warm glow filled his body and he floated up into the air. Globules of energy erupted from him and he felt his skin being re-assembled on his battered form. His eye grew back and the wounds healed. He felt almost too powerful for words.

He looked up to the blank blue sky and saw the dull-grey Dalek saucer attempting to land. He grinned and let out a wave of energy. The Daleks were caught by surprise and the entire saucer disintegrated into millions of little pieces.

Tressure laughed as he felt more and more energy forming around him. Suddenly trees and plants erupted from the desert. The sand disappeared, replaced by grass and foliage, soil and vines. Holes in the ground spewed out water which became lakes and ponds and seas. Where there was once a dead, desert world, there was now a beautiful jungle planet.

Tressure floated to the ground. His skin had turned an orange colour and he investigated his new surroundings. He couldn‘t believe that he‘d done this to the planet. He looked down at the eye. It was glowing brightly. He sensed a connection with it and he clutched it tightly. Something had happened to him. He felt like a God.

Story 1.3: Eye Of The Jungle

"He looked down at the eye. It was glowing brightly. He sensed a connection with it and he clutched it tightly. Something had happened to him. He felt like a God."

The TARDIS lands on the jungle world of Theen where the Doctor quickly loses the time machine at the bottom of a swamp. Faced with no other choice, the time travellers set out to find help.

They soon find Captain April Nivere and her crew who are on a quest. A quest to find the Eye Of Gods - a relic that, it is said, will give you power over an entire planet.

Amongst the crew is an old friend of the Doctor's and, as they begin their quest for the Eye, they soon find themselves up against the many challenges and problems that Theen's God - Tressure - throws at them.

This is the third adventure in a continuing series for the Doctor, Caroline and Danny.

Children Of The Universe, Chapter 12

The Doctor had ordered everyone to stand back and let Blackmore past for fear of him blasting anybody else who got in his way. He had strolled past them all with a smirk on his face, out of the square and onto the forest path. When the Doctor was sure he was out of sight, he had motioned for the others to stay back while he went after him.

Ten minutes later the Doctor was standing face to face with Blackmore beside a riverbank.

“So what are you going to do about it, Doctor?” asked Blackmore. “I’m the one with the gun.”

“Only weak men need guns,” said the Doctor, hands in his pockets.

“Tell that to that squad of filthy dogs that tried to stop me.”

“I’ll stop you,” said the Doctor.

“No you won’t. You’re weak. You have no weapons.”

“I don’t need weapons.”

Blackmore raised the gun and pointed it towards the Doctor’s head. “I’m afraid you’re wrong. People will always need weapons.”

“Hand over the circuit,” said the Doctor, calmly.

Blackmore laughed and reached into his pocket. He pulled out a large, brass and ornately decorated bracelet.

“Where did you get that?” asked the Doctor, recognition on his face.

“From your pocket when I fought you earlier,” smiled Blackmore. “It’s a time ring, isn’t it?”

“How do you know about time rings?”

“We know everything. Don’t forget, we have your records on file.” Blackmore smiled. “Imagine what something like this could do for us.”

“Give it to me.”

“Don’t worry,” he said, throwing it in the air and catching it again, “I’m sure the General isn’t stupid enough to start messing about in time…” He paused. “Or is he?”

The Doctor launched himself at Blackmore who stepped out of the way, laughing.

“You’re insane,” laughed the Doctor, slipping on the muddy riverbank.

“Am I?” asked Blackmore as he slipped the time ring onto his wrist. “I’m just trying to get back home and this little thing can take me to wherever I want to be.”

“Surely you must have had a plan to get back before stealing the time ring?”

“Annie had a plan. The plan died with her. So I have to think on my feet.”

“You don’t even know how to operate it, Blackmore.”

“I’m sure I’ll find out.” He held his wrist up to his face, looking closely at the ring. “There’s no controls.”

“Exactly.”

“So I’d assume that it works on the users brainwaves.” Blackmore looked up and smiled. The Doctor’s look betrayed the truth. “Ah, an ingenious idea. All I have to do is think about where I want to go, and I go, yes?”

“Please, Magnus, just wait. Just give me a moment. I’ll help you. I’ll take you home. But you can’t have that kind of technology.”

There was a growl and Doomclaw leapt out of the trees and threw himself on Blackmore. Blackmore yelled in pain as he fell back, rolled down the river bed and smacked the time ring on a thick, tree log.

Blackmore looked in horror at the ring as it sparked and spluttered, part of it having cracked.

Doomclaw leapt down the bank and slashed three claws across Blackmore’s face. Huge, thick gashes appeared and blood poured from them.

“You animal!” growled Blackmore.

“We were better off before we met you,” growled Doomclaw. “Before we met your General. He came here and promised us a better world. Now we’re just prisoners again!”

Doomclaw was about to attack again when Blackmore raised his gun and shot Doomclaw full-on in the chest.

The dog yelped in pain and fell back into the river.

“Stupid creature,” said Blackmore with a smirk on his face.

The Doctor shook his head at the cold-blooded-killing of Doomclaw. “Blackmore, the ring’s damaged. You can’t use it.”

“Let’s see, shall we?”

“No!” yelled the Doctor.

Blackmore turned the ornate circular design on the top of the ring. There was a loud hum and Blackmore frowned. The ring was starting to glow and he desperately tried to rip it from his wrist.

“I told you!” shouted the Doctor, trying to struggle down the muddy bank towards him.

“Help me!” yelled Blackmore as the ring glowed hot-white.

“Keep calm,” said the Doctor.

But it was too late. Blackmore had already started to disappear and as he faded away he let out an agonising scream. And then all was silent and Blackmore was gone.

Only the sound of the running water, washing over Doomclaw’s corpse, face down in the river, could be heard.




The Doctor returned to the city centre to find all of the children - including Alison who had been hiding on the edge of the forest - gathered around Tointon and Hideo. Caroline and Danny were leaning against the TARDIS and Haltrix was tending to the wounded - the intelligent and the savage of their kind.

Caroline watched the Doctor approaching. “Blackmore’s not there,” she said.

“No,” said Danny distantly.

“Things got a bit bad back then. I feel so…guilty.”

“What for?”

“I wanted to get away from here.”

“You were frightened,” said Danny, smiling at her. “It’s bound to scare anyone.”

“I should have been stronger. How could I have even thought about leaving all of these kids?”

“What do you want to do now, then?”

“I don’t know. I still need answers about myself.” She turned and put her forehead against the cool, wooden exterior of the police box. “Why do I get the feeling that we’re going to keep going from planet to planet, never finding out any answers?”

“You can tell him straight,” said Danny, “or I can.”

“We’ll see. Let’s just get out of here first.”

The Doctor walked up and Tointon, Haltrix and Hideo followed.

“Where’s Magnus?” asked Hideo.

“He got away. He used some kind of teleportation device. But it was malfunctioning. I have no idea if he survived the trip or not.”

“So we failed,” said Haltrix.

“No.” said the Doctor, turning to the scientist. “We didn’t fail. If anything, through all of this carnage, you’ve managed to reunite the two halves of your race.”

“But they’re all gibbering wrecks,” said Haltrix, looking at the whimpering dogs sat around the square.

“But Doomclaw managed to find his strength again. He died trying to stop Blackmore. If anyone failed, it’s me.”

“Then the aggressive tendencies are going to rise up again?”

“Look,” said the Doctor, putting an arm around Haltrix’s shoulders, “I’m not here to tell you what to do next, but I will tell you this; contact the other cities around the planet and get the rest of the Shroud shut down. Now. Find a different way to help the savage dogs. Not everything is lost, but it will be if you switch the Shroud back on again.”

“But we ran through all of the possibilities before creating the Shroud and nothing would have worked.”

“Then go through them again. You have no other choice. And stop living in the dark. There’s a whole universe out there. Go and explore it!”

“And what about us, Doctor?” asked Tointon. “We need to get back to the colony fleet.”

“I’ll take you in my TARDIS,” smiled the Doctor. “It’ll be a short hop from here.”

The kids, Tointon and Hideo began filing into the TARDIS. As the Doctor reached the doors Director Villa grabbed his arm.

“Villa!” said Haltrix, trying to restrain her.

“Let her speak,” said the Doctor, motioning for Haltrix to stay back. “What is it?”

“You have to help yourself.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“I can see it in your eyes,” she whimpered. “You’re dying.”

“That’s enough, Villa,” said Haltrix, trying to pull her away.

The Doctor simply stood and watched as the tearful Villa was dragged away from him. Then, refusing to take another look at the battle torn city, he stepped into the TARDIS.




Alison looked up at Danny, smiled and gave him a hug.

It had taken only a few minutes for the TARDIS to catch up with the colony fleet. They had located the main government ship and had landed in the cargo hold. Tointon and Hideo had gone off to see the authorities and explain the situation and the children had, one by one, been tearfully collected by their parents.

Only Alison was left.

“Where’s your parents?” asked Caroline.

“They’ll be along soon,” she smiled. “I’m okay. I’m almost nine now. I can fend for myself.”

The three time travellers laughed.

“You take care, won’t you?” said Danny.

“I will. Danny the Space Adventure,” she giggled.

“We really must be going,” said the Doctor.

“Take care,” said Caroline as they boarded the TARDIS.

Alison stood back as the engines wheezed into life and the TARDIS, with a great gust of wind, dematerialised.

She stood there for a moment, smiling as the box vanished in front of her - like magic. And then it was gone.

And she felt a little sad.

She turned to go just as the cargo bay doors opened and a young couple came running in.

“Mum! Dad!” yelled Alison as she ran to greet them.

“Oh my god!” cried her mother as the three of them embraced. “We thought we’d never see you again.”

“I’m okay,” laughed Alison. “I’m absolutely okay.”

She turned to look back at were the TARDIS had been standing, hoping a little that it would come back. But it didn’t.

Her dad picked her up, gave her a kiss on the cheek, and they headed out of the cargo hold.




In the TARDIS Caroline and Danny were sat in silence. The Doctor was hunched over the controls.

“Well,” said Danny after a few minutes, “that was interesting.”

“Is it always like this?” asked Caroline, no emotion in her voice.

The Doctor looked up at the two of them and walked over. “Look, I’m sorry. I can’t promise that it’s always going to be fun. It’s dangerous out there.”

“There was a time, back in the city, where I just wanted to run. I didn’t care about the rest of the people out there,” said Caroline.

“That’s understandable. Fear can affect us all in different ways.”

“Do you know the one thing that kept me clinging on, though?”

The Doctor simply looked down at her, waiting for a reply.

“It’s that I want answers about myself. But I’m not going to get them, am I?”

“Of course you will.”

“When? How long are we going to keep bouncing from planet to planet before I get answers? Is this what you do? Promise people things and then fail to deliver on them?”

“Caroline-”

“I was pregnant. I had a baby inside me. Then it was gone and so was my boyfriend. The man I loved more than anything in the entire world. He just upped and left in the middle of the night with no reason.”

Danny looked down.

“There were no answers that time, either. Now, you tell me this; are you going to give me answers?”

The Doctor’s eyes narrowed, his hands in his coat’s deep pockets. “I don’t think you’re ready for the answers.”

“What?!” spat Caroline. “Not ready for them? How do you know what I’m ready for?”

“I’ve been scanning you,” said the Doctor. “Or rather the TARDIS has been scanning you. You’re not…normal.”

“What does that mean?”

“I don’t know. The TARDIS can’t make head nor tail of it. When we left Thornsby I tried to take us to my friend, Aleena. She can help. She’s helped me before, but the TARDIS wouldn’t have it. No matter what I tried to do, I couldn’t take us there.”

“Okay. So why didn’t you tell me that?”

“Because I don’t think you’re ready for what you’ll find out about yourself.” The Doctor sat down opposite Caroline and Danny. “You are, to all intents and purposes, an ordinary woman. Except that you’re not. Deep inside your not. Any revelations you find out about yourself may just blow your world apart.”

“Take her to Thornsby then. Let her get some answers from her parents,” said Danny.

“I’ve tried that as well. The TARDIS just refuses to go anywhere where we could find out some information about you. It‘s almost like it’s frightened for you to find out.”

“Then what do we do?” asked Caroline, quieter now.

“We keep on going. We keep on travelling. And maybe, eventually, we’ll find a way through this. Aleena can help, but she’s not answering me at the minute. Not only that but I have my own little problems as well.”

“This is scaring me.”

“I know.” The Doctor leaned in closer to her. “I really am trying to help you, Caroline. You must believe me.”

“I’m sorry,” she said quietly.

“I promise we’ll find out. Eventually. We’ll find out what’s really going on with you. And then you’ll have all the answers you need.”




Ten Years Later




Alison Greggs smiled as she looked down at the grave. Her college books were clutched under one arm and her rucksack was hung on her shoulders.

She crouched down at the grave and touched the headstone. The wind gently blew through her blonde hair.

“Hey, Mr Tointon, I just thought I’d come say hi,” she said to the grave. “It’s been ten years, you know? And everything’s just fine.”

“Alison?” came a man’s voice.

Alison turned and Jack was sat on his bike, a guitar strapped over his shoulders. “You coming down to the park? We’re having a bit of a get together to celebrate Colony day.”

“Yeah, I’ll be there soon,” she said. “Just gotta pay my respects to the headmaster,” she smiled.

She stayed for a few more moments and then looked up at the sky. She wondered if the Doctor was still out there somewhere. The Doctor and Danny and Caroline, travelling space and time and having adventures.

And she wondered what had happened to the planet Trixatin.

She turned and ran up to Jack and they walked along the tree-line avenue towards the park to celebrate ten years of the founding of Colony Apax.




Across the vast expanse of space, Trixatin gleamed like a blue and green beacon in the darkness.

In the city of Optrix, Haltrix sat with Jawlock in the square.

Jawlock was happily munching on what looked like meat.

“It still doesn’t quite taste right,” said Jawlock, disdain on his face. “Even after ten years.”

“But it’s better than eating each other,” smiled Haltrix. “It’s close enough to the real thing.”

“But it’s not real,” moaned Jawlock. “It’s just fake meat grown in a lab.”

“Again. Better than the real thing.”

Jawlock shook his head. “I guess it’s worth it for peace.” Jawlock was silent for a moment and then spoke up again. “Any improvement with-?”

“No,” said Haltrix quickly. “And I am doubting that there ever will be.”

“But Villa-”

“Villa is best left in the clinic. It’s the best place for her.”




In the clinic, Villa was curled into a foetal position on a bad. She was shaking and shivering and gibbering nonsense.

An orderly came in, checked her and was about to turn to go when Villa’s claw lashed out and grabbed his leg. He screamed as her claw dug in.

“Feed!” was all she could manage to say as she sunk her teeth into the orderly and began to chew.

THE END

Next time: Eye Of The Jungle