h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

INTERLUDE: AFTERMATH

Gallifrey lay in ruins. The once shimmering pearl in vastness of space was no more.
Its white cities now blackened with smoke; vast areas scorched to the ground and the rough dark ground still smoked.
The Canewood trees were burning skeletons; avalanche from the attack had buried whole towns with rubble. The once constant cool mountain air was still, the air thick and gritty that stank of feted decay.
The Panoptican, the once golden tower was no more for in its place sat a dark, twisted ruin.
The Daleks had gone; they had left the world like all they had conquered- dead and devoid of any life.
Whole cultures wiped out in an instant but not for the Time Lords, no their culture remained- the vast libraries of ancient knowledge remained untouched.
The many secrets of the Time Lords, ancient forbidden had with the President, not even the Dalek scientists had found them.
Before leaving Gallifrey returning home, they had deployed another weapon that searched out any remaining beings.
The Shobogans that existed outside the capital cities away from technology were gone, their tents no burning rags in the rays of the sun.
Gallifrey was uninhabitable but ultimately a paradise for thieves, even the richest ones would pay notice.
A man walked amongst the debris, he was dressed in an elegant grey suit with silver waistcoat and white shirt. His polished brown shoes stepped around the white patches of ash and charred forms.
All was still for him and as he breathed a sigh, he was surprised by the echo that met his ears.
He managed a great smile; his brown plastered hair gleamed in the new rays of the sun.
'At last, it is done' he said and then he laughed out loud and took great pleasure as the echo met his ears. 'The end of the Time Lords is now! Perfection I believe is a suitable term?' he said to himself as he carried on his way.
Stopping at the entrance to a temple he glanced up at the brittle pillar and quite gently pushed on it, it gave way crashing down hard splintering into many pieces.
The man grinned with satisfaction.
Glancing up to the sign chiselled above he advanced into the ruin feeling no fear but trembling exultation!

He sat down at a vast table and considered what he should do next?
Gallifrey was dead but he knew that Doctor was not?
He and other Time Lord renegades were safe from his tyranny, however as he considered this a thought occurred to him. Would it not be best to set the Doctor against his foes, to wipe them out without a trace and then find this world, his world in tatters. How would he react?
Would he become like the man himself, the odd were now evened, Gallifrey was dead, the Daleks had taken every that the Time Lords held and left the rest to decay.
As he looked around the room at the many books, a further thought occurred to him. As many was never an option for him perhaps other races could have a better use of such technology.
The Daleks had taken what was needed to command time but had left the world in ruin. The Matrix would remain, the Coronet of Rassilon such things would be highly prized in the custody of such backward, twisted fiends.
He knew by reputation a few races that would take interest and as he left the room exploring further the dead world he made mental notes of what technology remained.
The Death Zone! That would remain untouched the immortality that came with it- the curse, what race would be interested in the ultimate thrill?
Everything would serve a purpose, even when the Doctor did turn up; there would be nothing he could do? Time would be against him; he could plea to him, to the man who had manipulated all of this into coming true?
Phillips instead sighed hard. All he had to do now was dispatch the human race, to annihilate it before 2500 AD and then his people would return, he could return to his home world, to his sister and his beloved Xsaskhana.
He managed a weak smile as he glanced up at the Panoptican.
He grinned as he saw the Chancellery guard against the walls, slumped hard as though they had been sleeping.
He had control now but what of the humans and more importantly the Doctor!
Revenge was sweet, he had crushed an enemy but for the humans it would be a greater thing to happen- a parallel void cut upon by the Doctor!
Then he knew, subjugation and annihilation his time was coming at last!
The endgame of the human race!
When he had completed his reconnoitring he smiled at the dead world.
He knew what to do now- it was time to organise a death- the human race's and then the he had a few calls to make!
He stood in the square of the Panoptican as the Sun rose high and slowly faded away to nothing.
Stillness and silence took up its place once more!

As Phillips glided through time he became aware of a voice.
It seemed be coming from all around him. And as he stopped concentrating he found himself not in the void of time but standing in the courtyard of the Panoptican but a golden hue was cast around everything reflecting an image of completeness.
There were no ruins here and the world was peopled with Time Lords. They appeared to be talking and chatting, working.
'Phillips?' came a deep, rasping voice.
As Phillips turned walking into the courtyard amongst the spectral children playing there stood an old man bent over a withered cane.
'And who are you to call me here?' Phillips asked. But the man instead advanced forward and breathed in the air.
'It is foolish what you have done, Phillips. Utterly the path of darkness beckons you forth?' the man replied but Phillips only groaned and lowered his head.
'You... you think so?' he said weakly as the ghost advanced but quickly he raised his head and grinned.
'And what are you? Some pathetic homunculus that the Time Lords left behind as a low watchdog? No, the great creator himself- Master of the Time Lords- the Great Rassilon himself!' Phillips replied triumphantly but Rassilon simply stared at him.
'What do you want old man?' Phillips asked but instead Rassilon crossed towards the Panoptican and as he did the Time Lord ghosts bowed respectfully.
'I am here to show you your error, Phillips. You crush another civilisation in your grasp because you believe it grant you release from your torment, instead you sink slower into darkness. The light will never catch up with you, you will never be released' Rassilon replied.
'Are you threatening me old man? You are a ghost! Your planet is dead, your people are gone and yet you threaten me?' Phillips replied grinning, joking with the ghost.
'You may have Gallifrey but you destroyed your last spark of peace, all ready you are becoming twisted. The light has gone from your mind' he said and waved to the children but Phillips merely cut through them with his hands.
'Why do you still dream? These aren't real? This world is a fiction as are you. The past is dead and that is where it stays!' Phillips snapped.
'Then perhaps you should learn from that Phillips?' Rassilon and promptly vanished as did everything else.
'Fool, even the mighty Rassilon trembles at my power!' Phillips retorted with satisfaction and hastened his journey to Earth.
No one could now stop him! No one!

France 1761
The hour bell chimed throughout the courtyard.
'Five O'Clock and all is well!' announced the watchman as he crossed the courtyard.
The street as empty outside the vast walls of the Marquis palace.
Guards stood on attention, silent but ever ready for defence of their master.
He now lay in his bed, the cruel vicious Marquis of Deranix.
Into his room there moved a shadow. He lay there asleep, unaware of what was to happen. There was a low creak on the boards and the Marquis eyes fluttered open.
He glanced quickly around the room to spy the window open, the thin white veil fluttered and the latched banged gently.
Arising from his comfortable bed, he pulled aside his warm wraps and crossed the floor, his bare feet moving quickly over the cold wooden boards.
He reached out to the window, felt the flutter of the cold through his night-shirt and pulled the latch closed with a squeak.
'Who's there?' asked a buxom, blonde woman from the bed.
'Just me! Absolutely typical that this infernal window opens at this hour, all those recommendations and executions in the morning, and here I am closing the window while you sleep!' he replied in a squeaky, irritated tone.
'You weren't complaining about me earlier, your grace?' she murmured.
'Yes but that was earlier and not now!' the Marquis replied hurriedly as he climbed into bed and sighed as the heat within had quickly vanished.
'Just typical, I'll never get to sleep now!' he muttered and adjusted his pillow while the woman turned over casting her naked back to him.
He sighed as he shut his eyes and tried to sleep. A moment later there was another creak on the floorboards, as the woman turned her eyes widened in horror and she pulled the sheet with her as she screamed!
There came hurrying feet towards the door and a moment later it burst open and in came the butler and two guards. The woman was screaming and pointing towards the bed, as they looked- they gasped in horror at the desiccated remains wrapped within the quilts, the night-cap still in place!
'A witch!' murmured one of guards and quickly all three looked at her, staring harshly!
'She's a witch and she has killed the Marquis!' the butler replied pointing to her.
The two guards took hold of her, marching her roughly from the room.
'Call the priest! We must have an exorcism!' called the butler as he hurried after them.
While from the shadows came a low but distinct chuckle. But then it was gone, lost on the wind.

SPAIN 1854
'Senor, the duel for your honour has been postponed' replied Gustav.
His master lieutenant Ferndinand looked angry as he walked towards the lowly corporal standing in the hall.
'What? Why does he prolong this? Insult my honour!' Ferdinand spat.
Gustav looked to the letter he held in his gloved hand.
'It says his daughter is very sick, she may be at death's door?' Gustav replied.
Ferdinand spat harshly to the floor, and stomped out of the room, out into the beaming sunlight.
'Sir? Ferdinand, where are you going?' Gustav cried after him.
'To get my duel, my honour is so strong yet this man cowers behind his daughter! I shall pull him from his daughter's bed!' he snapped as he marched towards a carriage.
'Senor, this is not right? Let him be with her, if it be serious then... we would not wish to hurt her as well as him' Gustav cried.
Ferdinand Gonzales, strong, powerful man. Tall and broad with slack brown hair paused on the pavement.
It was noon on a Sunday, he should have been in church but he would not go. So much pride in him, turning back to see Gustav.
'You have never been wrong Gustav, your judgement is right. I will let him spend this day with until she is stronger' he replied and turned back.
As Gustav returned back to the front step, a carriage appeared from no where, it was travelling at quite a speed.
'Gustav!' Ferdinand yelled and started to run, for a moment he saw a man in a grey suit at the reins and the next, he was gone!
Gustav flinched hard with fear as the two collided!
'Gustav!' Ferdinand yelled as he hurried up the street.
Already a crowd at flocked around the accident and as Ferdinand pushed people apart frantically he stared in horror at his beloved friend.
He felt tears course down his face.
'No!' he cried and backed away from the remains, he felt angry and cursed hard must to the alarm of the assembled people.
Was this because he had been filled with greed for revenge or for his forsaking the Church on the seventh day?
Was the rider of the carriage a ghost of the Lord?
Whatever it meant, the damage had been done. His corporal Gustav Mendoza, childhood friend was no more!
From the edge of the crowd stood a tall man of European descendant dressed on a grey suit, he shook his head slowly and suppressed a smile.
'At last, it falls into place' he said and slowly he walked off vanishing into nothingness.

London 1966
The entrance to the electrical shop was well lit as Captain Knight stood over the threshold. It was icy cold, the wind and as he stared into the murkiness of the fog, he swore he could see movement.
'Doctor?' he called but the little man in the checked trousers and frock coat worked busily in the back.
'I shan't be a moment?' he called as he found another box.
Feeling desperate he reached into his pocket and withdrew a box of cigarettes and pulled one free as he did a small Yeti model fell to the floor going unnoticed.
He fondled in his pockets for matches but realised that he'd used the last before entering the Fortress.
'You require a light?' came a voice and Knight looked around, raising his gun.
'Who's there?' he called but as he squinted a shape of a man came out of the fog.
'Don't do that! I thought you were a Yeti? Who are you?' he asked as the stranger emerged into the light.
'I am attached to senior scientific section' the stranger replied and offered a smile and a lighter.
Reaching over he lit Knight's cigarette.
'Where are you attached?' Knight asked and the stranger simply smiled.
'At Blackfriars, we have a team of our own stationed there, I'm out on a reconnoitre you might say?' the stranger replied.
'I see, Captain Knight, Goodge Street' Knight replied and he saw a spark of recognition.
'The Fortress, oh I see? Well a word to the wary, look out for Yeti, there's a few around here still!' the stranger said and returning his lighter he dropped it on the floor and scooped up the model.
'Must get back now?' he simply said and then he was gone into the fog.
Just then the Doctor appeared at the doorstep carrying a large cardboard box.
'Are you ready then?' the Doctor asked and quickly Knight nodded.
'Yes, of course I am and you are?' Knight asked, dropping his cigarette to the ground and stamping it out with his boot.
'Oh, ever so ready, well chop, chop then!' the Doctor replied and slowly Knight led the Doctor off into the fog.
Phillips appeared from hiding, watching the two figures go. It really was that simple, as for the model, its bleeping signal had started.
Taking it up, he threw it across the other side of the street.
'Perfection, I believe is the term? If only I could have stopped for a chat, oh well the deed is done- it's over to you Doctor!' Phillips replied and gave a curt nod before vanishing into the dark night air.
The fog swirled thickly back to its place as stillness took over, creeping into silence.