Doctor Who: The Christmas Special (Closed)

[Ende]

Sydney smiled slightly at Khan, and then turned to the Doctor.

"You're wonderful. Did anybody ever tell you that? You made Khan act nicely. That's more impressive than harnessing a supernova. Or maybe even your time travelling. Or maybe even the fact that you're supposedly a...well, eh, probably shouldn't mention it in front of him." she said, sounding slightly cheerful, referring to Calvin. She patted the Doctor on the back.

"Doctor, could you do this? I mean, I'm sure Khan has the qualifications, but I'm pretty sure that you, I, and Calvin, if he knew Khan, would be more comfortable with you doing this. I'm not quite sure about Matt. Actually, I'm still not quite sure why you're still travelling with hi...oh, that's not important right now. You're the Doctor. It's in your name. You heal people. So, maybe you should do it." she suggested, looking slightly concerned.

[Nationstatelandsville]

Sydney smiled slightly at Khan, and then turned to the Doctor.

"You're wonderful. Did anybody ever tell you that? You made Khan act nicely. That's more impressive than harnessing a supernova. Or maybe even your time travelling. Or maybe even the fact that you're supposedly a...well, eh, probably shouldn't mention it in front of him." she said, sounding slightly cheerful, referring to Calvin. She patted the Doctor on the back.

"Doctor, could you do this? I mean, I'm sure Khan has the qualifications, but I'm pretty sure that you, I, and Calvin, if he knew Khan, would be more comfortable with you doing this. I'm not quite sure about Matt. Actually, I'm still not quite sure why you're still travelling with hi...oh, that's not important right now. You're the Doctor. It's in your name. You heal people. So, maybe you should do it." she suggested, looking slightly concerned.

"Oh, dear Sydney, this will be easy," the Doctor replied, "Admittedly, I am not the most well-versed on human anatomy, but I have enough background knowledge and basic common sense to kill of a virus. Mr. Khan can the technical difficulties and I can supply the bedside manner. I'm a people person, you see."

He then bolted up the stairs, apologetically pushing past Calvin, and bolted into the room the Master had entered.

"You creepy nutter," the Doctor grumbled when he saw the look the Master was giving the children, "Have you ever heard of 'joviality'? Why is everything so absolutely grim with you? I think you need a doctor more than they do."

The Doctor turned around and beamed at the children, kneeling down at the side of their bed.

"Hello," he said with a massive grin, "I'm the Doctor. That's my friend, Matt. Ignore him, he's sort of... out there. What are your names?"

[Astrolinium]

Samantha and Marietta had both been awoken by the sound of the TARDIS materializing outside, and when the Master entered their room they had stared at him, wide-eyed. Marietta had grabbed her baby doll and clutched it tight.
Both of the pair had sunken eyes with red in the corners. Their skin was far ashier than anyone's ought to be, and their noses were running. When the Doctor barged in and knelt down beside their bed, Samantha gasped.

She said, "You don't look like a Doctor."
Marietta, rather, instantly blurted out, "I'm Marietta Louise Robinson."

Looking extremely worried, Calvin had run up the stairs after everyone and was standing in the doorway now, watching apprehensively.

[Len Hyet]

The Master shrugged.

"Oh he's a doctor. Whether or not that should be comforting is another question entirely." He knelt near the children and spoke quietly to the Doctor.

"It's not Lazar's... not the GSP thank me... not Jax... could be Paxx-Sinopli syndrome but I doubt it... not Sinlurian, which reminds me I still need a new sample of that. Could be the Swarm, but those eyes... I think it might be a local disease. That might be more Mister Khan's area, though it burns me to say it."

[Nationstatelandsville]

The Master shrugged.

"Oh he's a doctor. Whether or not that should be comforting is another question entirely." He knelt near the children and spoke quietly to the Doctor.

"It's not Lazar's... not the GSP thank me... not Jax... could be Paxx-Sinopli syndrome but I doubt it... not Sinlurian, which reminds me I still need a new sample of that. Could be the Swarm, but those eyes... I think it might be a local disease. That might be more Mister Khan's area, though it burns me to say it."

The Doctor ruled his eyes.

"Well, yes, obviously," he replied, "I sincerely doubt these children have been to the remote, hellish places in which such diseases thrive. No, it's more likely a flu or a cold of some sort. We could return to our office and be back within a half-an-hour with the vaccine - well, any vaccine."

The Doctor reached and gently felt the girl's throat, feeling her lymph nodes.

"So, any issues with eating or, uh, waste disposal?" he asked, "Anything wrong with the stomach, basically?"

[Len Hyet]

The Master shrugged.

"Oh he's a doctor. Whether or not that should be comforting is another question entirely." He knelt near the children and spoke quietly to the Doctor.

"It's not Lazar's... not the GSP thank me... not Jax... could be Paxx-Sinopli syndrome but I doubt it... not Sinlurian, which reminds me I still need a new sample of that. Could be the Swarm, but those eyes... I think it might be a local disease. That might be more Mister Khan's area, though it burns me to say it."

The Doctor ruled his eyes.

"Well, yes, obviously," he replied, "I sincerely doubt these children have been to the remote, hellish places in which such diseases thrive. No, it's more likely a flu or a cold of some sort. We could return to our office and be back within a half-an-hour with the vaccine - well, any vaccine."

The Doctor reached and gently felt the girl's throat, feeling her lymph nodes.

"So, any issues with eating or, uh, waste disposal?" he asked, "Anything wrong with the stomach, basically?"

The Master cocked an eyebrow.

"I really doubt that Inter Minor counts as either remote or hellish. Quite nice before the GSP hit. Only an idiot doesn't first make entirely certain it isn't the GSP. That thing is horrific, even by my standards. Too broad, more your type of weapon actually Doctor. A hack saw rather than a scalpel."

He thought for a moment.

"There is a rare disease, which causes greying of the skin and occasionally redness in the eyes, actually I believe the first recorded case was in New England. Let me see... aha!" He snapped his fingers.

"Grayson-Willbrandt syndrome. No no, these lot are too young. And my dear Doctor, I really doubt it is the flu, what flu causes the skin to change color like that? No no, probably something a little rarer, although I doubt it's anything serious. Could be a mutation of the flu now that I think about it."

[Astrolinium]

Marietta coughed quietly and shook her head. "No, sir."

Samantha stared at the Doctor and the Master and then at her father. She said, "Daddy, what are they talkin' about? Are we gonna be alright?" Her voice quivered and her eyes were wide. She coughed, like her sister, but more violently.

Calvin walked over to the other side of the bed and knelt down, taking the little girl's hand in his own. "Now, Samantha, everything's going to be just fine. This man is a Doctor, just like Mr. Heers there said. He's going to make you better."

[Nationstatelandsville]

The Doctor ruled his eyes.

"Well, yes, obviously," he replied, "I sincerely doubt these children have been to the remote, hellish places in which such diseases thrive. No, it's more likely a flu or a cold of some sort. We could return to our office and be back within a half-an-hour with the vaccine - well, any vaccine."

The Doctor reached and gently felt the girl's throat, feeling her lymph nodes.

"So, any issues with eating or, uh, waste disposal?" he asked, "Anything wrong with the stomach, basically?"

The Master cocked an eyebrow.

"I really doubt that Inter Minor counts as either remote or hellish. Quite nice before the GSP hit. Only an idiot doesn't first make entirely certain it isn't the GSP. That thing is horrific, even by my standards. Too broad, more your type of weapon actually Doctor. A hack saw rather than a scalpel."

He thought for a moment.

"There is a rare disease, which causes greying of the skin and occasionally redness in the eyes, actually I believe the first recorded case was in New England. Let me see... aha!" He snapped his fingers.

"Grayson-Willbrandt syndrome. No no, these lot are too young. And my dear Doctor, I really doubt it is the flu, what flu causes the skin to change color like that? No no, probably something a little rarer, although I doubt it's anything serious. Could be a mutation of the flu now that I think about it."

"I remember Grayson and Willbrandt," the Doctor replied absentmindedly, "Stole all of their work from a doctoral student who was studying himself. Ended up dying of the disease, poor lad. But, Mr. Heers, as you may remember, one can only contract Grayson-Willbrandt and its cousins if you have the genetic predisposition to do so. A genetic predisposition, I might add, that does not commonly occur in non-Germanic peoples. So, it certainly isn't that."

He grimaced and pulled his hands away from the girl's throat, but quickly recovered with a wide grin.

"Seems fine," he lied, but lied well. He leaned in closer and sniffed the little girl's skin.

"Peppermint," he said to himself, purposefully leaving out the undertones of decaying corpses, "Indulging in Christmas candies, dear?"

He rested his hand on hers, and found something that shocked him quite a biit. She had, just moments ago, been burning with the fire of the twin suns of Gallifrey, but was now as frigid as a corpse. He removed his fob watch from his side and consulted it - her temperature had changed exactly two minutes after he had begun examining her. He then moved his hand from hers and pressed it into her temple, his eyes closing and face bunching up in concentration.

With a gasp, he ripped his hand from her head and stumbled backwards, overcome by utter surprise. His skin was whiter than the falling snow and his eyes wider than a space whale's mouth.

"I, uh," the Doctor muttered, collecting himself quickly, "sorry. I, myself, have a rare genetic disorders that makes me prone to random spasms. It's a mere flu, nothing to worry about.

Mr. Heers, Mr. Khan, we should discuss the details of their disease and cure in private. I would like to avoid the opinions of amateurs, with all due respect, Mr. Robinson."

The Doctor, of course, had already identified the disease, but did not see any point in frightening the Robinsons.

[Len Hyet]

The Master rolled his eyes.

"Of course my dear imbecile. Mister Robinson, no need for alarm. I believe my friend, and I use that term loosely, my friend and I have diagnosed the disease. Nothing to be alarmed about, we should be able to have you a cure relatively soon." He forced a smile, then grabbed Mister Khan by the shoulder and pulled him forcibly out of the room behind the Doctor, shutting the door behind him.

"Hot to cold skin?" Was the only question he asked when the door closed.

[Nationstatelandsville]

The Master rolled his eyes.

"Of course my dear imbecile. Mister Robinson, no need for alarm. I believe my friend, and I use that term loosely, my friend and I have diagnosed the disease. Nothing to be alarmed about, we should be able to have you a cure relatively soon." He forced a smile, then grabbed Mister Khan by the shoulder and pulled him forcibly out of the room behind the Doctor, shutting the door behind him.

"Hot to cold skin?" Was the only question he asked when the door closed.

"And their lymph nodes have completely disappeared," the Doctor whispered, "Their body temperatures will alternate between boiling and freezing every two minutes, if I am not mistaken. There is one more symptom, if my diagnosis is correct - at any moment, they could come under psychic attack from the virus.

I believe it is a psychoviral illness known as Menthe d'Mort, which, to any who have even the slightest knowledge of French, is absolutely terrifying. It is native to the planet Riparius 5, but hasn't turned up there for eleven centuries, after it killed nearly three fourths of the indigenous population. Medical scholars have previously thought that it was only compatible with the Riparians and their close sister species, the Hath, but I suppose that human children are also open to infection.

I don't think there's a cure."

[Nightkill the Emperor]

The Master rolled his eyes.

"Of course my dear imbecile. Mister Robinson, no need for alarm. I believe my friend, and I use that term loosely, my friend and I have diagnosed the disease. Nothing to be alarmed about, we should be able to have you a cure relatively soon." He forced a smile, then grabbed Mister Khan by the shoulder and pulled him forcibly out of the room behind the Doctor, shutting the door behind him.

"Hot to cold skin?" Was the only question he asked when the door closed.

"And their lymph nodes have completely disappeared," the Doctor whispered, "Their body temperatures will alternate between boiling and freezing every two minutes, if I am not mistaken. There is one more symptom, if my diagnosis is correct - at any moment, they could come under psychic attack from the virus.

I believe it is a psychoviral illness known as Menthe d'Mort, which, to any who have even the slightest knowledge of French, is absolutely terrifying. It is native to the planet Riparius 5, but hasn't turned up there for eleven centuries, after it killed nearly three fourths of the indigenous population. Medical scholars have previously thought that it was only compatible with the Riparians and their close sister species, the Hath, but I suppose that human children are also open to infection.

I don't think there's a cure."

Khan did have the slightest knowledge of French. He vaguely wondered just why the hell an alien disease had a French name. And had this name since before the French language existed in its current form.

More to the point, he was highly concerned. And pissed off. "Hold on." he said. "Back up. Psychic attack. And tell me just how the hell this disease got here. I don't think these kids are time travellers."

[Len Hyet]

The Master rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"Obviously, aliens brought it here. Probably testing chemical warfare. Do try and keep up Khan. Doctor, how long until they start using their minds to kill things?"

[Nightkill the Emperor]

The Master rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"Obviously, aliens brought it here. Probably testing chemical warfare. Do try and keep up Khan. Doctor, how long until they start using their minds to kill things?"

Khan's expression was an interesting mix of surprise, horror and just plain old "what the fuck" fighting for dominance. "What the fuck" was the narrow winner but the others had left their mark. "Those kids are going to kill things." he said flatly.

[Len Hyet]

The Master rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"Obviously, aliens brought it here. Probably testing chemical warfare. Do try and keep up Khan. Doctor, how long until they start using their minds to kill things?"

Khan's expression was an interesting mix of surprise, horror and just plain old "what the fuck" fighting for dominance. "What the fuck" was the narrow winner but the others had left their mark. "Those kids are going to kill things." he said flatly.

The Master shrugged.

"Actually they might not. It's entirely possible that their psychic powers won't develop, after all this disease isn't supposed to be able to effect humans. However it's also possible that they might develop partially, and only throw some things around the room. Or, conversely, and more terrifyingly, they could develop the psychic bit tenfold, and wipe out all life for several miles simply by sneezing. Actually the Kids won't be doing the killing, the excess Psychic energy from the Virus will."

[Nationstatelandsville]

Khan's expression was an interesting mix of surprise, horror and just plain old "what the fuck" fighting for dominance. "What the fuck" was the narrow winner but the others had left their mark. "Those kids are going to kill things." he said flatly.

The Master shrugged.

"Actually they might not. It's entirely possible that their psychic powers won't develop, after all this disease isn't supposed to be able to effect humans. However it's also possible that they might develop partially, and only throw some things around the room. Or, conversely, and more terrifyingly, they could develop the psychic bit tenfold, and wipe out all life for several miles simply by sneezing. Actually the Kids won't be doing the killing, the excess Psychic energy from the Virus will."

The Doctor sighed.

"Don't listen to him," he said to Krishna, "he's a drama queen. Their infections aren't anywhere near that drastic. I can't say how they'll manifest - it fluctuates between age, sex, and species, and this is the first time a human's been infected - but they're likely only a danger to themselves.

As for how they were infected, I honestly have no idea. I would suggest a meteorite, but I doubt the virus could survive the vacuum of space, let alone re-entry. It's possible that some Riparians or Hath landed here and brought the disease with them, though I can't be sure. We'll have to ask Calvin if he's seen anything; that's their father, by the way, I found out his name when I went spelunking in Marietta's mind.

Now, I think I may have an idea for treatment, but it's risky, untested, and quite frankly, stupid. Isn't that fun?"

The Doctor barged back into their room, smiling knowingly at the children and their father.

"Well, there's good news and bad news," the Doctor said, "the good news is that it isn't fatal nor harmful in the long run. The bad news is that there's nothing I can do. The girls will recover on their own, and quite quickly, too.

I'd like to take their temperate again and gather some more data, if that's alright with you, Mr. Robinson."

Before Calvin could reply, the Doctor was bent over the bed, placing his hands gently on each girl's forehead individually, his eyes shut tightly and his face warped with effort as he did so. Once he was done, he straightened up and addressed the father.

"They'll be fine," he assured him, "Tell me - you haven't seen anything strange lately, have you? Anything out of the ordinary? Stress may have weakened their systems."

[Astrolinium]

Calvin shook his head slowly. "No, sir, I haven't. Everything was perfectly normal until a few days ago, when they began to feel under the wea..."

He trailed off and stared at his daughters. Their eyes had snapped open and begun to glow. "Oh my god," he said softly. "Doctor, what's happening to them? What's happening to my girls!?"

[Nationstatelandsville]

Calvin shook his head slowly. "No, sir, I haven't. Everything was perfectly normal until a few days ago, when they began to feel under the wea..."

He trailed off and stared at his daughters. Their eyes had snapped open and begun to glow. "Oh my god," he said softly. "Doctor, what's happening to them? What's happening to my girls!?"

"It's puberty, Mr. Anderson," the Doctor replied, "nothing to be concerned for. Except the boys, be concerned for that. Also, the glowing eyes. Actually, I suggest you run."

The Doctor held the door open expectantly for Calvin to flee.

"You as well, Sydney," he advised, "Mr. Khan, we no longer need you, thank you. Matt and I can handle this ourselves - in fact, we must. Go.

[Len Hyet]

The Master walked into the room and cocked a single eyebrow.

"Well this is interesting." He said. The Master reached into his suit pocket and pulled out a Sonic Screwdriver, which he spun the dial on and pointed at the two children.

"Manifesting itself rather quickly... hm... I'm thinking third stage, though I could be wrong, but I doubt that I am. Doctor?"

[Astrolinium]

Marietta sat straight up in bed, as did her sister. A blast of energy forced the father from the room and the door slammed shut after him. In a voice as cold as ice, Samantha said, "It's lovely weather for a slay ride together with you."

There was a blinding blast of white light rather reminiscent of a synapse firing. When everyone stopped seeing spots, the Doctor, Master, Sydney, and Khan all found themselves in the middle of a snowy forest. All the trees were evergreens, and gumdrops hung from their branches. Giant candy canes lined a path in front of them, and the clouds overhead were literally marshmallows.

[Len Hyet]

The Master blinked.

"Definitely third stage." He said, agreeing with himself.

"Next time I hypothesize about a virus mutated for humans, Doctor could you be do kind as to tell me not to jinx it. Again."

That done, he peered around the forest, uncertain.

[Nationstatelandsville]

The Master blinked.

"Definitely third stage." He said, agreeing with himself.

"Next time I hypothesize about a virus mutated for humans, Doctor could you be do kind as to tell me not to jinx it. Again."

That done, he peered around the forest, uncertain.

"How was I supposed to know the virus was this advanced?" the Doctor demanded, "They weren't exhibiting any stage three symptoms until now, likely on purpose. Clever little bugs."

He looked around the forest, grimacing something terrible.

"I'll never be able to stomach Christmas again," he sighed, "Does anyone else smell rotting ham? I just don't think this world was thought through very well."

He began to advance down the path, gesturing for the others to follow.

"Don't eat anything," he warned, "and follow me."

[Len Hyet]

The Master coughed.

"I did say they were stage three. But ah well. It seems this is my lot so long as I'm with you. Anyways, rotting ham. Yes, actually rather pungent."

He blinked, stopped walking, and uttered an expletive in Gallifreyan that could only be described as the unholy compilation of every foul word in the known universe. The Master blushed slightly, and looked sideways at the Doctor.

"I'm terribly sorry, don't know what came over me. What I was trying to say is this. Doctor you remember that Philosopher, Greek I think, he said that he feared a child with a man's body more than anything else? Doctor this virus... It hasn't been mutated to effect humans, or their Father would have gotten it as well. It adapted to infect Children, and some side effect of that is the Children are influencing the disease as much as it influences them! That is where the Christmas Carol came from, that is why the rotting ham!"

He paled.

"Doctor that thought scared me. Almost as much as the Last Battle scared me."

[Nationstatelandsville]

The Master coughed.

"I did say they were stage three. But ah well. It seems this is my lot so long as I'm with you. Anyways, rotting ham. Yes, actually rather pungent."

He blinked, stopped walking, and uttered an expletive in Gallifreyan that could only be described as the unholy compilation of every foul word in the known universe. The Master blushed slightly, and looked sideways at the Doctor.

"I'm terribly sorry, don't know what came over me. What I was trying to say is this. Doctor you remember that Philosopher, Greek I think, he said that he feared a child with a man's body more than anything else? Doctor this virus... It hasn't been mutated to effect humans, or their Father would have gotten it as well. It adapted to infect Children, and some side effect of that is the Children are influencing the disease as much as it influences them! That is where the Christmas Carol came from, that is why the rotting ham!"

He paled.

"Doctor that thought scared me. Almost as much as the Last Battle scared me."

The Doctor rolled his eyes.

"The disease is literally called 'Menthe d'Mort'," he said, "Did you expect jack o'lanterns and children in witch costumes? No, the universe does love its puns."

He sighed.

"I'm afraid we're trapped in here until we can cure the disease," he explained, "and the only way I can think to do that is hunt for the virus and destroy it. It is a psychic-based infection, after all, it must have form of representation in this fantasy world. Reminds a great deal of the Matrix. Not the movie, mind you."

He gave the Master an irritated look

"You still owe me for that nice new body, by the way," he said.

[Len Hyet]

The Master didn't grace the statement with a glance.

"And you owe me for our little escapade at the end of the Last Great Time War. In fact, the entire Universe owes me for that. So let's call that one even."

He half turned.

"I will be holding the humans to that when we get out of here. Now, considering the universe loves certain cliches, the manifestation will be something, well I hate to say it but either ironic or obvious. Thoughts?"