‘I'm sure they will be delighted to hear it,’ Lady Grantley said, smiling. ‘The telegraph is just down the hall.’
In the dining room, the Doctor made sure the door was firmly shut and turned to Vastra and Jenny. ‘Something is very, very wrong about all of this,’ he said.
‘What do you mean?’ Jenny asked.
‘Well, the Revealer itself is certainly real enough but there's one very important question I need to find the answer to.’
‘And that is?’ Vastra asked.
‘If this machine can really show us other universes, why haven't I heard of it before? In fact, why didn't it change the world as we know it? There has to be some explanation.’
‘I know you have the benefit of having seen the future, Doctor,’ Vastra said, ‘But didn't you once tell me that time can be rewritten?’
‘Yes. But, not without serious consequences for the fabric of time. No, something else is going on here. Something must've happened- sorry, will happen to prevent the Revealer from becoming public knowledge.’
‘That's a shame,’ Jenny said. ‘The world won't know what it's missing. I know Mr. Woodville said we can't travel to these other worlds but, just seeing them would change everything.’
‘That's true,’ the Doctor said. ‘You know, when the Time Lords were still around, travel between universes was relatively easy. Now, it's virtually impossible.’
‘But you're still here,’ Vastra said. ‘Is it possible that you could somehow enable inter-dimensional travel once again?’
The Doctor thought for a moment. ‘Well,’ he said, ‘I can't say for sure but if just one drop of my blood got into that machine, who knows what could happen.’
On the other side of the dining room door, Woodville smiled to himself. He had used the telegram as an excuse to follow and listen in to the conversation he was now witness to and now he had what he had really come for.
~~~
The Doctor, Vastra and Jenny returned to the parlor and found Woodville gazing knowingly at the Revealer. Lady Grantley stood up and said, ‘Well, Dr. Summerfield. Now that you've had time to confer with Vastra and Jenny, what do you think should be done about Mr. Woodville's discovery?'
The Doctor thought for a moment and said, ‘I suppose I should write a full report for my friends at the London Paranormal- er, whatever.’ Lady Grantley glared at him suspiciously.
‘Yes, I think you should,’ Woodville said with a smirk. ‘In fact, why don't we shake on it to affirm our potential partnership?’ He held out his hand. The Doctor hesitated. Woodville became impatient. ‘What's wrong, Doctor? This is, as they say, the opportunity of a lifetime.’
The Doctor reluctantly shook Woodville's hand- and suddenly felt a sharp pain in his index finger. He quickly withdrew his hand but not quickly enough, for a single drop of his blood had fallen onto the Revealer and was seeping into its wooden casing. The Doctor looked at Woodville and saw that he had concealed a small letter opener in his right sleeve.
‘Just what on Earth do you think you're doing?’ shouted the Doctor.
Woodville smiled and said, ‘I'm making a slight adjustment to the Revealer. I don't know who you are or where you come from, Doctor, but it's clear from your conversation in the dining room that you are no ordinary human being. I should have guessed that from the company you keep.’ He indicated Vastra who breathed in angrily.
‘So, you eavesdropped on our conversation and now you're hoping to use my blood to-‘
‘Precisely,’ Woodville interrupted.
‘Could someone please tell me what is going on?’ Lady Grantley demanded. ‘I think I deserve an explanation.’
‘I can do better than tell you, my lady,’ Woodville said. ‘I'll show you.’ He flipped a switch on the Revealer and yet another image was projected onto the wall. Only this time, the image was stationary. As the Doctor looked closer, he realised something else was different. He put his hand out and it went right through the picture into the room that was being projected. The others gasped. ‘Success!’ exclaimed Woodville. ‘Oh, Doctor! I cannot thank you enough!’
‘This isn't the time for that, Woodville.’ the Doctor said testily. ‘Right now, I have to deal with the fact that against all the laws of probability, a portal to another universe has been opened and I'm partially to blame for it.’ He hit himself on the head. ‘Ah! I knew this was going to be a bad day somehow! Why don't I ever listen to myself? “Just this once, you should stay out of trouble” I told myself. But no, I had to visit you two!’ He looked at Vastra and Jenny.
‘Well, you can hardly blame us for this,’ Vastra said, ‘you’re the one who insisted on coming.’
‘Will you all stop arguing, please!’ Lady Grantley screamed. ‘If my dear old Leopold were here, he would have fired his pistol into the ceiling by now!’ She looked at the portrait of her late husband that hung over the mantelpiece. ‘I don't know what lies on the other side of that wall but I think it would be a disservice to his memory if we didn't venture at least partway into the great unknown.’
‘That's the spirit, my lady!’ Woodville said. ‘I trust the Doctor has no objections?’
‘Well, I don't suppose I have a choice,’ the Doctor said resignedly.
‘Right then,’ Lady Grantley said. ‘Perkins, fetch me my cloak. I want to look presentable to any natives we may come across.’
‘Of course, my lady,’ Perkins said.
‘What do you think?’ Vastra whispered to the Doctor. ‘Is it safe?’
‘I don't know,’ he replied. ‘It's been a while since I've visited a parallel universe. We'll have to be prepared for just about anything.’
‘How can we possibly be prepared for that?’
‘Just stick close to me. That usually works.’
Oh, enough of this standing about!’ Woodville interjected. ‘Let us be on our way! Ladies first, of course.’ He stepped aside as Lady Grantley and Perkins walked, with some trepidation, across the parlor and through the portal into the newly discovered universe. Woodville then indicated to Vastra and Jenny that they should go next. Once they had done so, Woodville turned to the Doctor. ‘Doctor, your turn.’
‘How do I know you won't close the portal once we're all on the other side?’ the Doctor asked.
Woodville laughed. ‘You think I'd give up the first opportunity in history to visit another reality just to trap you all? You clearly don't know me very well, Doctor.’
‘Well, we’ve only just met so, no I don’t. But from what I've seen, I don't think I want to get to know you any better. So how about we go in together?’
‘Fair enough,’ Woodville said, shrugging. They stepped through the portal side by side and the Doctor quickly took note of their surroundings. They were in a warehouse-sized room that was empty, silent and, as far as the Doctor could tell, free of dust and cobwebs. He noticed what appeared to be a large metallic door in the wall opposite the portal.
‘Do you have the faintest idea where we are, Doctor?’ Vastra asked.
‘I'll know in a minute,’ he said, taking out the sonic screwdriver.
‘What is that?’ enquired Lady Grantley as the Doctor’s sonic screwdriver got to work on their surroundings.
‘Just one of his little toys,’ Jenny replied with a smile. The Doctor moved the screwdriver over the door until it slowly began to open.
‘Well, I must say, I've never seen a door that opens upwards before,’ Woodville said. ‘I can't wait to see what else this universe has in store for us!'
‘Be careful what you wish for, Woodville,’ the Doctor said. ‘Because, unless I'm very much mistaken, we're on a spaceship.’ He indicated the corridor that lay beyond the doorway.
‘You mean as in extraterrestrial?’ Woodville asked.
‘Precisely,’ the Doctor replied. ‘So I suggest you let me lead the way. I have some experience with these matters.’ After taking care to look both ways, he led them down the corridor that seemed to stretch on forever. The walls, ceiling and floor were silver, shiny and spotless. As they walked, they could hear the distant hum of engines but saw no signs of life.
‘Why didn't we think to bring the swords?’ Vastra whispered to Jenny.‘
'Considering what the Doctor got us into last time, that should've been the first thing that came to mind.’
‘Well, I don't think Lady Grantley would've appreciated that,’ Jenny whispered back. ‘Besides, haven't you noticed how the Doctor uses his intellect to defeat his enemies? Weapons don't solve everything, you know.’
‘Yes, well, he and I have different methods for dealing with scum,’ Vastra replied. ‘As a warrior, I prefer brawn over brains.’
‘Maybe if you used your brains more often, you'd appreciate just how much I do for you,’ Jenny muttered under her breath.
‘What did you say?’ Vastra hissed.
‘Ladies, I don't think this the opportune moment for arguing,’ the Doctor said.
‘And why not?’ asked Vastra.
‘Look,’ the Doctor replied, pointing the sonic screwdriver further down the corridor. They were being approached by a short, fat, shifty-eyed man in raggedy clothes. He held up his hands as he came towards them.
‘It's all right,’ he said in a quivering voice. ‘I mean you no harm. I merely wish to welcome you aboard our ship.’ He bowed awkwardly.
‘That's… very kind of you,’ the Doctor said graciously. ‘Is it possible you could… take us to your leader?’
‘Oh, by all means,’ the raggedy man replied. ‘He is the one who sent me to fetch you. Right this way please.’ He led them further down the corridor until they came to an arched doorway. The raggedy man pressed some buttons on a panel and the door opened. They entered a dimly lit room that the Doctor instantly recognised as a command center. There were battle stations manned by crewmembers that appeared to be wearing HAZMAT suits. While the others marveled at the technology surrounding them, the Doctor's attention was drawn to a chair in the center of the room. It was facing away from them and before anyone could utter a word, a voice emanated from the chair.
‘Forgive me if my ship seems overwhelming at first,’ the voice said. The occupant of the chair turned around to face them. ‘I can tell from the way you dress that your world is, shall we say, more primitive than our own.’ The voice belonged to an imposing man with white hair dressed in a black and gold uniform. His unblinking eyes sent a shiver down the spines of all but the Doctor. ‘I am Grand Admiral Tarquon of the Chochtic and this is my servant Frapo.’ He indicated the raggedy man. ‘I observed your arrival via a security camera. Normally, unauthorised personnel would have been incinerated on sight but you present me with a unique situation.’
‘Ah, well, lucky for us then!’ the Doctor said, clapping his hands together. ‘I'm the Doctor, by the way. This is Vastra, Jenny and-‘
‘You can dispense with the introductions,’ Tarquon interrupted. ‘I'm not interested in who you are, only in where you come from.’
‘What do you mean?’ Lady Grantley asked.
‘Well, madam,’ said Tarquon, ‘ever since my people succeeded in decimating the planet Everdunes, I have been tasked with finding our next conquest. Now that you are here, I believe my search is at an end.’He smiled triumphantly.
~~~
'Frapo, confiscate that device,’ Tarquon ordered, pointing to the sonic screwdriver. Frapo did so before the Doctor could react. He then pressed a large button on the wall and the Doctor and his companions found themselves trapped behind a force field.
‘Is this how you treat all your guests?’ asked the Doctor.
‘Only those that might pose the tiniest threat to me,’ Tarquon replied.
‘What makes you think we're a threat?’ Vastra asked. Tarquon rose from his chair and came up to the edge of the force field.
‘Because you're dirty,’ Tarquon said with a sneer. Upon hearing the word "dirty" Frapo and even some of the HAZMAT-wearing crewmembers shivered. ‘You see, Doctor, my people have always valued cleanliness above all else. We abhor anyone and anything that is unclean. You may have already noticed that my ship is immaculate.’
‘If you don't mind my asking, how do you decide what is clean and what is unclean?’ the Doctor asked pointedly.
‘Oh, that depends,’ Tarquon said, circling the force field. ‘We have a system that determines levels of cleanliness among the various races we encounter. I won't bore you with the details but most of them wind up on the low end of the scale.’
‘And you've just decimated a planet because of that?’
‘Indeed. The people of Everdunes were among the dirtiest we've ever encountered. Do you know they didn't even wash their hands before eating?’ Tarquon shook his head in contempt. ‘People like that don't deserve to live, Doctor. We're doing the universe a great service. And now, it looks as if we'll be able to do the same for your universe.’ The Doctor and his companions looked at Woodville who swallowed hard.
‘Well, I- I must say,’ he stammered, ‘When I first started this p- project, I never intended that it would lead to anything like this.'