Leela Squared

Part 5

The Cyberleader grabbed the Doctor roughly by the arm and swung him around to face him.

Leader: What is this creature, and where is the Controller?

Doctor: I'm sorry, Leader, but I did destroy the Controller on Telos. This being simply took on his form, in order to gain your use for a while, and in order to get me into a place and time of his choosing. I must admit, I am impressed.

Stranger: Thank you, Doctor. You have always provided me with amusement, and I have been loathe to simply let you go. Why don't you introduce me to your lovely female companions, and this not-quite-bright boy?

The Stranger said this, even as he walked up to Fry's Leela, picking up her hand and giving it a chaste kiss. Leela shuddered (his touch was strange, as though he wasn't really there), and quickly pulled her hand back.

Doctor: Very well. Leela, Leela, Fry, Cybermen, allow me to introduce you to one of the most dangerous and evil beings in this universe.

Stranger: Doctor, I am neither evil nor dangerous, I am above such things. No my dear friends, I am simply a humble…Toymaker.

Both groups stood in front of the strange figure for a moment, digesting what he had said to them. Then the Doctor clapped his hands together loudly, making his humanoid friends jump, and even causing the Cybermen to startle.

Doctor: Well, I've solved your guessing game, Toymaker, so I suppose we should be leaving now. I must get my friends back to their proper places in time-and-space you know, so if you don't mind…

Toymaker: But I do mind, Doctor! Please, you must stay and accept my hospitality for a short while. I have so many things to show you, and so many games to play.

Fry: Cool, so you play games all the time? That means you're probably pretty good, but if we played Internet Tag, I bet I could take you, because when I was playing with my wife - well, she was just my friend back then…

Fry's Leela: Fry! Focus honey, I don't think this person plays games like we do.

Toymaker: Nonsense my dear, I simply love all kinds of toys and games. I suppose that I've had a hand in creating almost every toy or game that's ever existed in this universe. Why, I should show you my workshop; you could see some of the souvenirs I've kept over the years. You might find some that intrigue you.

The Doctor started to move his companions to the door, even as the Cybermen started to come out of their shock and move toward the Toymaker.

Doctor: I'm sure they'd love to see your Toyshop someday, but we really should be leaving now.

Just then, the Cyberleader strode up next to the Doctor and grabbed him painfully by the arm.

Doctor: Oooh, do you mind, Leader? I'm rather attached to that arm, and would like to continue using it for a while longer.

Cyberleader: What is this creature? He appears in none of our memory banks, and yet he has the power to deceive Cyber-technology? This "Toymaker" has never been encountered by the Cyber-race, yet he appears to be more powerful than you are Doctor. Is he a Time-Lord like you?

Doctor: No Leader, not exactly, you see he's, well, he's more like a…

Toymaker: Please, Doctor, do not strain yourself, these creature are very primitive in their mode of thinking; however, they did have their uses. Please release the Doctor! I would not have him damaged before our game begins.

Cyberleader: The Doctor is an enemy of the Cyber-race, and if you wish him unharmed, then logically, you must be one as well. Eradicate this creature.

The Leader gestured harshly at one of the Cybermen standing nearest him, and it immediately started to close on the Toymaker, raising its weapon. While the others stared at the drama now taking place before them, Fry's Leela glanced at the Doctor briefly, and then did a quick double take. The Doctor was shaking his head sadly, as though he already knew the outcome.

The Toymaker stood his ground, the smile that had lit his face earlier back in full force.

Toymaker: How quaint! A forced charge plasma disruption weapon, one that I'm sure would be very dangerous if it were in the wrong hands. Still, every race must play its own games, I suppose. Please, do your worst.

With that, he stood with his arms out, and leaned his head back, the smile still on his face. The Cyberman hesitated for a moment, then stood its ground, and fired. Both Leela and Fry's ears rang from the discharge, but when they looked up, the Toymaker was still standing there, in the same position, with the same smile on his face.

Toymaker: Well, I'm waiting for your attack, then it'll be my turn…oh, you've already done so. Oh well, not a very interesting game to be sure, but now, it's my turn. Maybe…I know, I've needed a new piece to replace a pair of knights that I lost years ago, and these silver beings would make excellent replacements, but I'll need two of them. I'm sure you won't miss them, since you've destroyed your emotions anyway.

The Toymaker directed this last comment at the Cyberleader, and then made a small gesture with his hand; the Cybermen that had attacked him was jerked forward as though attached to an invisible wire. Then one of his compatriots was jerked out of the Leader's group as well, and both of them stood in front of the Toymaker, at rigid attention. The Toymaker smiled gently and waved his hand again, and then Fry heard one of the most appalling sounds he'd ever experienced.

They Cybermen were screaming. Not wailing or yelling, but screaming in agony, as their limbs jerked and moved into strange positions, then changed to others as the Toymaker stood before them, shaking his head as though unsure of the look that he wanted. Finally he stopped and eyed them critically; seemingly unaware of the muffled sobbing that came from their faceplates, and then turned to the others.

Toymaker: Yes that will do very nicely indeed, don't you agree?

The Doctor's Leela stood in front of the Doctor, as though she were trying to shield him from the horror of the newly misshapen forms. The Cybermen had been remolded, and looked more like knights of medieval times than the modern creatures that they had previously resembled. Even as the group looked at them, they could see that the two beings were still desperately trying to move. The Doctor once again shook his head sadly, and nodded to the Toymaker.

Doctor: Torturing these beings should give you no pleasure, and yet, you continue to do so. You're like a small boy that pulls the wings off of flies, just to get a reaction from them, and from the others that see you do it. For the kind of creature that you are, your malice is still immeasurable.

Toymaker: Doctor, I assure you, I am above such things as malice. I am beyond what you define as good or evil. I simply want you, all of you, to play and enjoy my games. In fact, why don't we take a small side-trip, to a place just outside the time-stream?

Doctor: No, wait…

The next moment, they were simply…elsewhere. Fry's Leela blinked her eye for a moment, and then cautiously looked around her; it seemed that she was in some type of…workshop? At least it seemed like that at first glance, but as she became accustomed to her surroundings, she saw that the place was much bigger than she'd originally thought. In fact, much like the TARDIS. There wasn't a ceiling at all; it just seemed to go upwards, until it blended with what looked like a night sky. She caught her breath as a shooting star flew overhead; it was the sky. There was the Big Dipper, but…it looked different, as if it were somehow twisted. She felt rather than saw Fry walk up beside her.

Fry: Um, Leela, we've definitely gone someplace stranger than usual.

Fry's Leela: It's okay, because we're going to get through this, just like we've gotten through everything else that life's thrown at us. I know we will, because we're together, and that's what always worked for us, and then…hey, where's Nibbler?

Fry: I don't know, we were on the TARDIS, and then I put him down, and he went scooting off to look at something on the other wall, and then…I don't remember.

Fry's Leela: Damn it, nothing had better happen to him! He was my first little cutie, and I'm not going to lose him either. If I can just get a chance to…

She broke off as the being that called himself the Toymaker approached her.

Toymaker: Hmm, intelligent, resourceful, physically capable, yes, she should be a good player, and you, you seem to be highly imaginative, creative, emotional, yes, you should do as well.

The Toymaker had directed this last aside at Fry, and he then turned to the Doctor's Leela, staring at her for a few moments, before smiling broadly.

Toymaker: Ah, you used to be a simple human, and you've now been modified into a partial Time Lord, interesting. However, I only have need of the Doctor, and two other members for his team, so what should I do with you, hmm? Tell me, have you ever played fizzbin?

Just as the Doctor's Leela started to speak, the Cyberleader chose that moment to interrupt.

Leader: What is the purpose of our having been brought here? You are obviously more powerful than the Cyber-race at this moment of history, and you also have no apparent need for manual laborers. The logical conclusion would be that you have brought us here to play your games. For what purpose are these to be played?

Toymaker: Ah, you mean, what are the stakes? Well, that's very simple. If you win, then you and your group will be returned to your customary time and place, and as an added bonus, the Doctor will be added to my menagerie, at long last.

As he said this, his voice dropped for a second, and a shadow flitted across his face. He turned to look at the Doctor, who was apparently explaining to his companions about some fascinating type of board game that they had found. Even as he turned back to the Leader, though, the Doctor quickly glanced at him, and grinned wryly for a moment before turning his attention back to Fry and the two Leela's.

Toymaker: But, if you were to lose, well, then you'll meet the fate of all beings that lose to me, and will instead join my happy family.

He gestured towards a wall, where all types of dolls, action figures and puppets hung against a wall. The Cyberleader casually glanced at them before turning to walk back to his troops. He did not notice that the eyes of the toys looked at him, all of them hideously alive for a single moment, alive, and pleading.

Meanwhile, the Doctor was gently talking to his companions, though that didn't belie the urgency in his voice.

Doctor: This is going to be very difficult, and there'll be a lot of dangers around here. The realm that we're in now is the Toymaker's own, and he has complete control over it. It responds to his own will: he has but to think of something, and it will exist. You must take care! Don't challenge him to a game, and don't accept anything from him, else you'll end up like those figures on the walls around us.

Doctor's Leela: Doctor, do you mean that those figures…

Doctor: Yes, they're all sentient beings that the Toymaker challenged at some point in time, and that lost to him. Oh, his games are fair, to a degree, and there's always a possibility that you could win, thought it's not very probable. The games are always rigged to the Toymaker's advantage, though he must give you some sort of chance. It's in his nature, twisted though it may be.

Fry's Leela: You mean, we'll have to play his stupid games? Well why don't we just kick his ass, and leave?

Doctor: It's not that simple. The Toymaker is… well, he's from another universe actually, the one that…

But before the Doctor could explain more, they heard a deep "thoom", and turned to see the Toymaker standing beside a large gong. As both parties turned toward him, he smiled again, then held up his hand, and wagged his index finger at the Doctor.

Toymaker: Now Doctor, there's no reason to yammer on about my origins since that's unimportant for what's going to happen with all of you. Now shall we play a game?

Doctor: Um, I think that we'd really rather not, please.

Toymaker: (Pouting) Oh Doctor, I'm sure that you'll agree that it's going to be great fun. Now, how about we play a game, or…

Doctor's Leela: Or what?

The Toymaker's eyes narrowed dangerously when she said that, then resumed their usual merry look.

Toymaker: Or…nothing will happen to you, ever again.

Doctor: I suppose that we're left with no choice then. All right, Toymaker, what game shall we play, tri-logic again, or maybe one of your more aggressive video games.

Toymaker: No Doctor, I think that we should play a fun game, one that you and your companions, as well as the Cybermen, will enjoy, well, at least as far as they can enjoy anything. It's called 'Capture the Flag', and I'm sure you know the rules. All you have to do is capture your opponents flag, and then make it from there to the goal. When you arrive, you'll be the winner, and be free to leave at any time.

Fry: What happens if you lose?

Toymaker: Why, you'll simply stay with me in my Toyshop, forever and a day.

Fry, Leela and Leela all turned to look at the Doctor, and he nodded.

Doctor: All right, Toymaker, let's play this game and get it over with. Only one thing: I want your promise, that if we win, then you'll not bother any of my other companions, ever again. I don't want to have to come back here in a few centuries for some reason, only to find that you've taken someone who's traveled with me as some sort of petty revenge.

Toymaker: Agreed, Doctor though you shouldn't worry about it. I'm sure you'll be here with me for a very long time to come.

Doctor: (Scoffs) Yes, yes Toymaker, I'm sure that I'll provide centuries of amusement for you, if you win. However, I wouldn't count your eggs before they're scrambled.

The Toymaker looked at the Doctor quizzically for a moment, then looked around at his friends and enemies both.

Toymaker: Very well then, let the games begin…now!

At the word now, Fry's Leela found that she'd been tensing up for a moment, and then like before, simply found herself…elsewhere. She looked up and saw an entrance made up of two ornate double doors. A sign above them stated simply, Start. She sighed and turned towards Fry, who reached over and grabbed her hand warmly. She smiled at him and squeezed back for a moment, before she turned and glanced over at the Doctor's Leela, who had gone into a defensive crouch, already looking for attacks and areas of defense. The Doctor himself was standing before the double doors, eyeing them critically. She and Fry walked over to him, straining to hear what he was mumbling to himself.

Doctor: (Softly) Very nicely carved, beautiful mahogany, apparently from the Tan dynasty, a little garish, but what would you expect from that time period?

Fry's Leela stood there for a moment, looking at him in disbelief. Here they were in some kind of deadly game, where the stakes where higher than she'd have cared for, and the Doctor was going on about a pair of doors. For a moment she wondered if he'd gone crazy from the strain, when he suddenly turned back towards her, grinning.

Doctor: Just trying to get into my opponent's head for a moment. The Toymaker is supremely confident, and you know that that can sometimes lead to an adversary making mistakes.

Fry: Hey Doc, do you mind me asking, who, what is this Toymaker guy? I mean, is he an alien, you said something about him being from another universe, you mean a parallel one or…

He stopped as the Toymaker appeared before them again.

Toymaker: Ah yes, where to start? Very well, the object of the game is to capture the Cybermen's flag, and make it to the exit. Seems very simple for the most part, yes? Now, of course there'll be obstacles to get through, though for you, I've decided to make them more of the emotional sort. For the Cybermen, they'll be encountering obstacles of the more physical type. All four of you must complete the course, and make it back to the finish line; if that happens, then that team will be set free, and allowed to return to their customary time and place.

Doctor's Leela: So, how do we know that you'll live up to your end of the bargain? You will forgive me when I say that you don't seem to be a very trustworthy being.

The Toymaker smiled back at the Doctor's group for a moment.

Toymaker: Of course, you don't really know if I'm going to keep my end of the deal or not, but, in this case, you have no choice. If you refuse to play my game, then by my rules of challenge, you forfeit, and will become a part of my collection anyway. At least this way, you will have a fighting chance, though I must warn you, I hardly ever lose.

Fry: Except when you go up against the Doc here, huh? I'll bet you wished that…

He broke off. The Toymaker's face had gone dangerously dark, and his previous cheerful smile was now a shark-like grin.

Toymaker: The Doctor has been Luck's favorite over the years. However, your dance with her will only last so long so long, Doctor, and maybe you'll have the opportunity to meet a new dance partner, sooner than you'd like.

Doctor: If you mean Lady Death, well, I've had the pleasure of her company more times than I can remember over the years, though it may be time for us to step onto the floor sooner than I'd originally planned. However, I still don't plan on meeting her anytime soon, so shall we commence our own dance, Toymaker?

The Toymaker laughed at this, and his face regained its earlier jovial expression.

Toymaker: Doctor, you always keep me entertained, and I know you will when you become a part of my collection. However, I do go on so. Let the games begin!

As the final word faded, the Doctor's Leela blinked, only to find that she was…someplace else again. She looked around, expecting to see the Doctor, only to find Fry standing beside of her, shaking his head and holding his stomach, as though he was about to be ill. He grimaced at her, and she smiled and took his hand in her own for a moment.

Doctor's Leela: It was a transference effect. You should feel better in a moment, just breathe normally, and the nausea should go away by itself.

Fry: Hooboy…where are we, and why aren't the Doc and my wife here?

As Fry asked this, Leela glance up, to see another set of double doors, just as ornate as the ones from a moment ago. Like the others, these bore a Start sign.

Doctor's Leela: It appears that the Toymaker has decided that he wants to make the game a little harder for us. It looks like we'll have to find our way through the… whatever that he has planned for us without the Doctor's assistance. I imagine that he feels that you and I are not the smartest of the group.

Fry stood up straighter for a moment.

Fry: Yeah, well he doesn't know me then, because I smarter than I am…seem to think I was. Anyway, it's just a game of Capture the Flag, I used to play it all the time in school, and it's a fun game to boot. We shouldn't have a problem with this.

Doctor's Leela: I'm not sure. It sounded like things would be fairly straightforward, but from what I can discern from this being, things are never as simple as he would have us believe.

Fry: Well, we'll never find out until we start, huh? Let's go.

The two of them walked up to the doors, and with Fry taking a deep breath, they opened them, and stepped into the darkness that lay within.

While Fry and the Doctor's Leela were going through their doors, the Doctor and Fry's Leela had already went through theirs, and were progressing rapidly through what appeared to be a maze. While not running, the Doctor had a long stride, and was walking very fast; Leela found it hard to keep up without having to actually run.

Fry's Leela: Excuse me Doctor, but you haven't explained why we've gotten separated from my husband and your companion, and why we're moving so fast. The Toymaker said that this was going to be more of an emotional challenge.

Doctor: The Toymaker tells a truth, not all of the truth. There's probably more than a simple emotional challenge waiting for us, and I suspect this maze is a part of it.

Fry's Leela: Where does this guy come from anyway? You started to tell Fry something about another universe, so I mean - what, is he from an alternate universe or something?

The Doctor paused to take a breath, and turned back and looked at Leela.

Doctor: No, he's not from an alternate universe. He's from the one that existed before this one.

Leela stopped moving completely, and sat down on the floor, looking stunned. The Doctor sat down beside her, and she looked over at him.

Leela: What do you mean, he's from the universe that came before this one? There's always been this universe, hasn't there?

The Doctor took off his glasses for a moment, and massaged his eyes.

Doctor: Actually, no. You've heard of the "Big Bang", correct? The theory that there was once a tremendous explosion of matter that propelled outwards from a central point, and eventually came to form what is now known as the universe?

Leela nodded, and the Doctor continued.

Doctor: However, that matter had to come from someplace, and even I don't know where it originally came from, but, for this universe, the matter that got it started came from the Big Crunch that happened when the universe that existed before this one collapsed in on itself. In that universe, there were also Time Lords, and as they realized the inevitability of their universe's destruction, most of them came to accept it. However, there was a group that decided they wanted…more. So, they worked, and calculated, and finally, they managed to survive. When they found themselves in our universe, they discovered that somehow, and I'm not sure how it happened myself, their powers had been increased exponentially. They were as close to god-like beings as a mortal creature could achieve, which is no small feat I should say. Well, after finding that they had developed these powers, they decided to test them out, on one another at first, and then, they turned to other worlds in this universe. The Toymaker was one of these beings.

Leela: If that's the case, then how have you ever been able to beat him? He could wipe you out with a snap of his fingers, right?

Doctor: Too true! However, they have been alive for billions of years, and you must realize, that living for that amount of time, even godlings will eventually become bored. So, they started to concentrate on their own areas of interest. The Toymaker enjoys games, and so, he's decided to play his games with others, and limits himself as he does so. I mean, what's the fun in being able to simply wipe your opponent from the field of play, and then simply go on and do it again with someone else. No, he likes to at least give his opponent a modicum of a chance, which makes his victory all the sweeter.

Leela: Have you met any others of these…beings in the universe?

Doctor: Oh yes, I'm sure you've heard of some of their names. Let's see, Dagon, the water god, Azaroth, also known as the Intelligence, and Cthulhu. You may have heard them referred to as the "Great Old Ones" at one time or another.

Leela: …And we can defeat them, him, the Toymaker? You know of a way we can do that, and save my husband and your friend? You mean you really know how to do that?

Doctor: Well, knowing how to do it and doing it, those are two different things. My dear, let me tell you something, knowing, knowing is easy. Everyone does that ad nauseum. Myself, I just sort of…hope. Now, let's see what the Toymaker has in store for us, hm?

With that said, the Doctor quickly stood up and dusted of his pants, and then offered his hand to Leela. After a moment's hesitation, she clasped it and pulled herself up. The Doctor leaned towards her, and gave her another of his dazzling smiles, then held his hand upwards for a moment.

Doctor: You see my dear, there are things that still work, including… misdirection!

With that, he opened and closed his hand, and Leela stood puzzled for a second as his top hat popped open in his grip. Placing it on his head at a jaunty angle, he turned towards her, and then reached up and pulled a card out of her ear.

Leela: Gee Doctor that was pretty lame, do you have a rabbit in your hat too?

Doctor: (Winking) Hm, maybe, or maybe a little something more. Shall we be on our way again? We don't want the Cybermen to reach the end of the course first you know.

The Doctor started walking his long stride down the hallways again, and after hesitating a moment, Leela followed him. She wasn't sure why she did, but like Fry before her, she just felt that she could trust him. And if Fry trusted him, well then, that would have to be good enough for her. The pair continued down the hallway, turned a corner, and disappeared from view.

In another part of the of the maze, the Cyber-patrol was steadily advancing, their sensors at full scan, searching for any sign of treachery, or surprises that the Toymaker might have in store for them. The Cyberleader held up his hand as a smaller scout returned from the area ahead of them.

Cyberleader: Report.

Scout: I have scouted ahead of our main patrol for 500 meters, Leader. There is nothing of interest or consequence to note, currently safe for travel.

Cyberleader: Excellent! We shall reach the end of this course, and the Doctor will finally be defeated. Then we shall return to Telos, and make plans on an acceptable way to convert this being to our own uses.

The patrol started down the hallway, when they stopped at the sound of the Toymaker's voice echoing around them.

Toymaker: Convert me to your own use! Strange, that sounds remarkably like a threat to me. Need I remind you of your position as pieces in my game? Enjoy, or at least as much as you can enjoy anything.

With that, the voice faded away, but something else appeared in the hallway ahead of the Cybermen. The something soon resolved itself into several distinctive shapes. Each had a pyramidal body with a dome at the top, with what appeared to be a cyclopean eye protruding from it. In the middle of the body, there were two more projections. One had a sucker at the end, and the other was definitely gun barrel shaped. As they came within clearer visual range, the color of the creatures could be seen to be a creamy white, with edges trimmed in gold. They looked like nothing so much as oversized pepper pots. However, were you to glimpse the contents, you would be horrified.

Five minutes ago

On Aslatian 4, the campaign was going well. While the enemy had inflicted severe damage on their Task Force, the leaders and their families had been found hiding in what was supposedly a barren desert. They had been taken and brought before the Supreme Leader to face judgment, though of course there was only one form of judgment in cases like this. The humanoids were rounded up and herded into a makeshift arena, apparently used for some kind of sports event, but now only a more convenient location for executions; it made it much easier to haul the bodies out. The leader of the extermination squad pulled up to a spot fifty meters away from the doomed, and read out a list of charges. It spoke in the same harsh, staccato voice as its compatriots.

Leader: You have…been found guil-ty of attacking our settle-ment on this world, caus-ing- the death of three mem-bers of the elite classes, and general dissen-sion. You are here-by sentenced to complete and total extermination, along with your com-plete families, any friends that you may have con-tac-ted, and anyone who was in the gen-er-al vicinity when you were arrested.

The people in the stands gasped. That was a total of about 10,000 people that were to be executed, this couldn't happen, they couldn't just sit there and let their own people be wiped out in front of them, could they? However, as the squad leader turned towards the crowd, all dissension ceased, and everyone quietly sat, no one yet willing to speak up against their harsh alien taskmasters. The leader turned back towards the condemned and spoke up again.

Leader: Sentence to be carried out, immediately. Exterminate! Exterminate! EXTERMINATE THEM ALL!

As it finished speaking, the squad opened fire, and the circle of people began to shrink as a score of them fell to the ground, while others attempted to escape somehow, while others fell on their knees, begging for mercy. The squad leader felt content when they did that, it made it much easier to hit them, and there was less confusion among the crowd in moments. Where once had stood close to 10,000 people, now there was only a huge smoldering pile of flesh and bones. The leader turned back to the others watching, and spoke once again.

Leader: You are witness to what happens when you attack us! Any further attempt at dissension will lead to another group of your race to be exterminated, only next time; it will simply be all of your children! You will obey! YOU WILL OBEY!

As the crowd started to file slowly out of the arena, the leader turned and faced its squad. Fear and terror, something that had to be instilled in these inferior races, was the best way to control them. Of course it would eventually not be enough, and the population would revolt completely. However, by that time, they would have picked this world clean of all valuable materials, and then it would be simple to have a gun-ship come in and annihilate the planet, making it uninhabitable for anyone besides their race. It looked towards the others of its own perfect kind, and they silently acknowledged its transmitted commands, and fell into pace with the leader, which turned and started trundling towards the exit. Just as they were almost there, the leader felt a sense of…displacement for a moment. It came to an immediate halt, while the squad halted behind him. Just as suddenly, a figure appeared in front of them, dressed all in royal blues trimmed with ornate golden dragons on its clothing. The leader stared at it for a moment, but it was when the figure spoke, that the memories came flooding back.

Toymaker: I see that you have done well on this world, you have managed to cow the population and have gained a tremendous amount of control, however, I have need of you in another area. You are to face another race, and if you can defeat them, as per our agreement, you will be returned to your customary time and place, if not, then you will continue to work for me. Go now, and do what you do best. Destroy them all, at once.

The leader looked at the Toymaker for a moment, and then its eyestalk drooped for a moment, and it spoke again.

Leader: I…obey.

The Toymaker smiled grimly, as if to say, "Of course you do," and vanished as quickly as he appeared. The Leader felt the sense of displacement again, and staring at its controls for a moment, found that it had moved not only in time, but space as well. If it were to escape this time, then it could tell the Emperor on Skaro what had happened, and they could prepare accordingly. It must win, it would win this time, and it would not fail! The leader turned to its squad, and transmitted instructions to them, and like the loyal soldiers that they were, they immediately acknowledged and were battle-ready. As it started forward on its new campaign, now named Venzri de Danilea, the Campaign of Freedom, it noticed that something had appeared in its sensor sweep. Switching to visual, it immediately located its current enemy. Calling on its onboard computer, it swiftly absorbed all information about the enemy.

Home planet: Telos

Race: Humanoid/Cybernetic fusion

Category: Neomorph

Identity: Cybermen

The leader immediately powered up its gun unit, and made ready for battle. This was what its race lived for, for only with purpose was there life, and for there to be life, all other inferior races must be completely exterminated, which in its case meant all life, organic, mechanical or otherwise. There could be only one race to rule the universe, and they were the ones destined to do so. The leader was unaware that the only reason that this was its way of thinking was that it had been instilled in them genetically by its original creator, Davros. However, for the here and now, that made no difference, it was what it was, and that was good enough. The leader transmitted silently to the others, and started forward. It was time to bring death upon its enemies, and they would triumph, they were Daleks! They would always triumph, and then they would…it stopped, for the leader of the Cybermen had caught sight of them in it visual sensors, and had halted its patrol. Realizing that it was becoming agitated, the leader turned its voice modulator to full power, and shouted out instructions, in order to bring the full force of Dalek intimidation to bear on the Telosians.

Dalek Squad leader: Cyber life forms! Weapons at maximum power! Exterminate them! Exterminate! EXTERMINATE!

Cyberleader: Daleks! Patrol, advance and eradicate them, at once!

The ancient enemies closed rapidly with one another, and the battle was joined.

While the Cybermen and Daleks fought, in another part of the maze, Fry and the Doctor's Leela were making good time in their travels, though neither of them had any clue as to where they were actually going. However, both of them had to admit they were getting there pretty quickly.

Fry: Whew! I don't ever think I was in this good a shape when I was younger. I'm glad Leela was there to help train me, she was always able to, to… oh man, what if she's been hurt, or worse? If this Toymaker guy is as strong as he seems, then I don't know how we're gonna be able to take him, and believe me, I've met some weird guys over the years.

Doctor's Leela: You must have…faith that things will work out for the best. The Doctor will do everything that he can, which in my experience is quite a lot, and I'm sure that your wife will do the same. One thing that he told me, when I had started to travel with him for the first time, was that while there's life, there's hope. I think that he may well have a plan that he is working on at this time, or at least trying to…work on. Let's see if he will be able to…oof! What are you doing, Fry?

Leela stopped and stared at what had caught Fry's attention. It was another set of doors, just as ornate as the last ones, but this time two signs said, Fry and Leela. The two of them stared for a moment more, and then Fry shrugged his shoulders and walked to the door with his name on it. Leela stared at him as he reached towards the knob, then shrugged her shoulders and approached her door as well. They looked at each other, and then turned the knobs, nervously sharing one last look before they went inside. After closing, the doors faded away, vanishing as quietly as a phantasm.

At the same time, the Doctor and Fry's Leela were rounding another corner. Leela was a little short of breath, but the Doctor appeared to be as fresh as he had when they had started on this journey.

Leela: Excuse me Doctor, but do you mind if we rest for a moment, I'm not as young as I used to be.

Doctor: None of us are as young as we used to be, but I suppose we can stop for just a moment, though we shouldn't take too long. The Cybermen don't have any need to rest, and if I know the Toymaker, while he may throw something in their path from time to time, they'll be as indomitable as usual. Oh well, ready to get going again, time waits for no pigeon, or… something like that.

Leela: Doctor, what do you think the Toymaker has waiting for us?

Doctor: Something very nasty, I'd wager, very nasty indeed.

The two started off again, and had turned another corner, when they came to a set of doors like the ones Fry and the Doctor's Leela had met earlier. These had the names Doctor and Leela embossed in golden script. The Doctor slowly walked around them, placing his hands on them as though he were trying to feel something. After a few moments, he walked back over to Leela, who, eyeing them warily, had retreated a respectable distance.

Leela: I don't like it, it feels like a trap.

Doctor: I imagine it's something like that. Welcome to my parlor and all that. Oh well, we can try to go around it if you'd like; though I'm not sure it'll do any good.

With that, the two passed around the doors and continued around the next turn, only to find themselves staring at the same two doors again. The Doctor stopped and quickly turned around only to find that the corridor had disappeared, with only a blank wall behind them. After the Doctor cleared his throat, and Leela had turned around to see the same thing, she glanced nervously over, and summoning up her courage, started to walk by the doors, only to have them move with her. The Doctor moved in the other direction, and the doors moved in his direction, then suddenly, the doors expanded to fill the entirety of the hallway, and they knew that they were stuck.

Doctor: Well, it appears that we've no choice, hm?

Leela: I hate being forced to do anything, I wish that this Toymaker would pop up in front of us now, just so I could get one shot to his nose.

Doctor: I understand and sincerely empathize, my dear, but we have no choice for the time being, since the Toymaker's calling the shots. Oh well, shall we?

The Doctor gestured towards the doors, and Leela stepped forward, and with a deep, shuddering breath, pulled them open, revealing blackness inside. The Doctor peered over her shoulder, and then spoke quietly.

Doctor: Well, let's see what we can see.

With that, he walked up to the void, and pausing only for a moment, stepped through, only to be swallowed by the blackness. Leela paused for a moment, then swallowed and crossed her fingers, and whispered to herself.

Leela: I'm coming to get you Fry, just hold on for me. I'll be with you soon, one way or another.

Saying that, she also stepped through, and the doors swung shut and faded away, leaving nothing to show that they'd ever existed.

The first thing that all four of them noticed when the doors had closed behind them, was the complete absence of light. This was literally a place were they couldn't see their hands in front of their faces. Fry didn't mind the dark so much as just the feeling of aloneness that he'd developed while standing there, a feeling rapidly turning into fear now, as he had started to worry that moving would bring him to something that he'd regret later on. What was strange was that his other senses were deadened; he couldn't make out any sounds., and he felt neither hot nor cold. The Doctor's Leela had been right beside him when they'd walked in, but now, he couldn't feel anyone at all. It was worse than nights when he'd been alone at home, when his parents had gone out and Yancy was out somewhere as well, and Fry had cried himself to sleep with loneliness. He hated to feel like this, it was why he'd been so happy to meet Leela, Bender, Amy and the others; he'd felt like he finally belonged, not like his old life. He sighed, then started walking, taking small tentative steps, arms outstretched. Surely his friend was in here somewhere.

As Fry slowly made his way through the room, the Doctor's Leela was trying to find her way around as well. She had all of her senses at hyper-alert, yet she still couldn't make out where she was, her inner locator was simply not working. She settled down in a crouch for a moment, and grinned ruefully; she'd not felt like this in ages. While a little afraid, she was also exhilarated. This was something she'd missed ever since she had gotten married and found her true calling on Gallifrey. Not that she would have traded her time there for anything, but Gallifrey was still, Gallifrey. Things hardly ever changed there, in fact, things only seemed to get exciting when the Doctor dropped by for an infrequent visit. She smiled a little more warmly. When the Doctor stopped by; things were more likely to go to hell than anything else. Still, he'd made her life more exciting than she'd ever thought possible.

If not for him, then she may well have ended up dead on her home planet, killed in the experiment that that insane computer Xoanon had been conducting. She mentally made a note to herself, that maybe she would go back to her home world someday, just to see what had changed. That is, if she got through this latest adventure with the Doctor. Leela rolled her eyes for a moment, then chuckled. At least there weren't any giant rats this time around.

Fry's Leela had gotten into self-defense mode as soon as she'd walked through the door. Not only was she unable to see the Doctor anymore, but she couldn't see anything at all, and she hated that feeling. Hated not being able to see, not being able to feel anyone around her, especially with her childhood memories. She shook her head violently. Damn it, why couldn't she shake those off? They seemed to always be right there, perched on her shoulder, always whispering to her, telling her how she was worthless, useless, unloved. Leela frowned for a moment. Useless, who was a spaceship captain, worthless, she'd saved the Earth more times than she could remember, as well as the lives of her friends and coworkers, and unloved? Her love, her true love, was somewhere in this maze. Leela stood and mused for a moment; true love, had she ever thought that she'd find that? For the longest time, it'd felt like it wasn't going to happen, and yet, her true love had been waiting for her for 1000 years. She smiled to herself; Fry had always been there, waiting in his cryo-tube, for that moment to wake up, even though when he had, she'd not recognized him for what he was. Yet, there had always been something about him, something different from any of the other guys that she'd known. Fry had definitely not been the sharpest knife in the drawer, he still wasn't, and yet, he'd done more for her than she'd ever thought any man was capable of doing. She smiled grimly, all self-defense again. All she had to do now, was get out of here, find Fry, and then just go the hell home. Let someone else save the universe, it was time for her to live her life, and Fry was gonna live it with her, or she'd break his jaw for even questioning it. Leela paused for a second, where the hell had that come from? She shook her head softly, and continued to try to find her way.

The Doctor sat on the floor, using the position the old master had taught him so very long ago, before he'd even started to think of leaving home. He meditated, trying to get his thoughts into some kind of order. The Toymaker was definitely up to something, and this room was a part of it, but what the trap was to be, he was unsure for the moment. He sighed, remembering what the Nibblonian had said about being tired, he could definitely relate to those words. The Doctor had become more tired as the years wore on him like a coat of lead. Had he been able to really help anyone in the larger scheme of things, or was he simply running from place to place, trying to put a patch on the ruptured areas of the universe, when in reality, the patient needed a major transfusion and operation? He thought back to when he'd decided to use his seventh incarnation to make major changes in the universe. He'd succeeded, in a way, he'd destroyed whole worlds and races, but that had just become as large a failure as everything else had. He'd affected the time-stream somewhat, but in the end, had he made a huge difference, had he made the really tough decisions? No, he hadn't, but he knew that he'd never have the will to do that, not completely, maybe because when you started to make those kinds of decisions, then there was no going back. Maybe he was just becoming an anachronism, and old fogy who was trying to effect change when the universe didn't really need it. Maybe, he was becoming as useless as he'd been feeling for the last three centuries. Maybe, it was time, time for him to give up the fight, and just…what? He wasn't sure, but knew that the answer was right there for him, just out of reach. He nodded to himself, the answer would pop up when he needed it, and it always did.

As the four of them pondered their individual predicaments, each of them suddenly heard a voice that came from all around. The Toymaker had definitely returned.

Toymaker's voice: Ah, my dear friends and fellow game players, I suppose that you have wondered for some time where you are, and what is the purpose of your being here. Well, wonder no more, for now the next stage of the game begins. I said that the Cybermen would have a more physical confrontation, and so they have. You on the other hand are to have a more…emotional challenge. All you have to do is not scream, and you will win, yet, if you do scream then you will join me in my Toyshop, and there, you will be with me, until you play another game, and possibly win your freedom. Now, doesn't this sound like fun? I'm sure you'll get quite a thrill out of it, so without further ado, let the next stage of our little adventure begin.

With that, the voice drifted away, and then the four, each unaware of the other, noticed that the room was changing somehow, even though it was still dark. It appeared to be…folding around them, wrapping them in their own little cocoon, and yet, not giving them a feeling of entrapment. Fry turned to his right, was that a light? Maybe his Leela was there, or the other Leela, or the Doc. Hell, he'd have been happy if it was just Nibbler, eating a goat or something. He turned to the light and walked towards it, not knowing that the other three had experienced the same thing and had started to move toward their own lights. As he got closer, he saw that the light was forming into something, but what…?

Philip J. Fry

Voice: Philip J. Fry! Get down here, right now! I've got to get to work, and you've got to get down and make sure that your dad's bag is changed. Hurry it up, I don't have all day!

Fry: Mom?

He looked around, and then it struck him, he was back in his old room, back in…Old New York? This wasn't possible, he'd just been in a dark room, where was Leela, no this was just one of those halluci, hallici, mirage things, this was just something…? No, he was married to the most beautiful woman in the universe, he had two beautiful children, Hilary and David, and he lived in the 30th century. He was a friend with a robot named Bender; his nephew was named, named…Farnsworth!

Fry: (To himself) I know that's true, I know it, right?

Fry's mother: Fry, hurry up, you've got to give your dad his sponge bath, and then take Yancy Jr. out for his walk in the park.

Fry: Yancy's got to go for a walk in the park, and I've got to help him? Since when do I do that, Mom?

Fry's mother: Since they went out two years ago and had that accident! Since you were too stupid to finish up working on the car like you'd promised, and didn't put the brake fluid in like you said you were going to do. Since it's your fault that your father ended up a cripple, and your brother Yancy is brain-damaged! Because of you Fry, ALL BECAUSE OF YOU! WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST DIE BEFORE YOU WERE EVEN BORN? Things would have been so much simpler, for all of us, you stupid…

Fry's mother turned around and stalked off, leaving Fry in tears, and wondering how much worse his life would get, when his mother came back in the door, and looked at him for a moment.

Fry's mother: (Harshly) Oh yeah Fry, you've got to pick up your tux for the wedding Saturday.

Fry: Why, who do I know that's getting married, mom?

Fry's mother: (Rolling her eyes) Michelle, remember, you introduced her to that Panucci guy a little while back when you were dating, and you…God, how stupid are you? Sometimes I think Yancy has got more active brain cells than you!

Fry felt the tears come back anew, and he hung his head for a moment, before looking up at the ceiling.

Fry: This can't be, this isn't right, Leela, where are you? I know I loved you, this can't be happening, it can't be, NO IT JUST ISN'T FAIR! DAMN IT TO HELL, NOOOOO!

As Fry's scream echoed around him, he fell to the ground weeping, unaware of a pair of watching eyes. They had narrowed, and were now looking upon him with a curious type of pity.

Toymaker: (Smiling) Well, that's one down, only three to go, now, who's next?

Leela, of the Sevateem

Leela's warrior senses were fully active now. This "Toymaker" was a devious being, probably more so than the Doctor himself, whom she knew to be quite tricky indeed, when the time called for it. The light ahead of her was resolving into a new shape, but what was it becoming…?

Leela sucked her breath in sharply; this couldn't be, could it? She actually felt like she was going to faint, and she never fainted. She would have taken a Janus thorn to anyone who ever accused her of something like that, but, this was…Andred?

Her former husband of seventy-eight years turned towards her, that same gentle grin on his face, the one that always made him look so goofy yet endearing. She started to run to him, intending to give him the biggest kiss ever, but pulled up short. He had died during the Dalek invasion of time, she knew it, this must be the Toymaker's illusion, and it simply had to be! Andred was…dead, but right now, here he was, and she just didn't care. He was her husband, and damn it, she wanted him, even if it was only an illusion, even if it was just for a moment, she was with her love again.

Leela: Andred, I've missed you so much, you can't believe how much I missed you.

Andred: I know my dear, and I missed you too, there was always something that I wanted to tell you. I'm sorry, I'm sorry that I was stupid enough to get myself killed by those idiotic pepper pots, I never had a chance to tell you my final thoughts. I wanted you to know that I loved you so much, and that I was so proud of you. You saved almost everyone on Gallifrey, well, except me of course.

Leela: Andred, I, I tried to save you, I didn't even now you were in danger, until it was too late for me to...

Andred: (Leaning into her) My wild savage, tell me something, did you miss me? Or did the Doctor comfort you on those lonely cold nights?

Leela jerked back with such force that a bystander would have thought she'd been slapped, which for her at the moment, was close to the truth.

Leela: Andred, no! The Doctor is my friend, and a wonderful companion. He helped me to actually experience the universe for the first time, and showed me my ancestors, as well as leading me into a world I knew nothing about.

Andred looked at her accusingly for a moment, then walked over to her and got close to her face again.

Andred: Leela, please don't lie to me, you're not very good at it at all. I remembered when you came to Gallifrey, with him. You were star struck, weren't you?

As he spoke, he seemed to metamorphose into another figure for a moment, and then the Doctor was standing there, not the current incarnation, but the one she'd met so many years ago. She couldn't help but smile at the sight. He with his curly mop-top, that mouthful of teeth that always seemed to be on the verge of breaking free, and that scarf, all 30 feet of it, that he always managed to keep in some kind of order around him. As he stood there, he spoke to her, in Andred's voice.

Doctor/Andred: You don't think that I didn't know you had a crush on him? The only reason you left him to be with me was because you knew you'd never have him. He'd never be able to reciprocate the feelings you had, because the Doctor is an alien, and even to his own people, he's different, an outcast, and a freak. A meddling busybody, who doesn't know when to leave things well enough alone! You think he knows what he's doing, Ha! he doesn't even know himself. He simply bungles into one situation or another, and then waltzes out when he thinks he's been there long enough. You know that, I know it, even the Doctor knows it, he's simply too proud to admit it to himself, let alone anyone else.

Leela gaped at Andred, furious and yet saddened as well, he didn't know the Doctor like she did, he'd been the one to petition her being loomed, the one who had allowed her to accompany him to Gallifrey, and the one who had subtly pushed her towards Andred…?

Leela: No, the Doctor is a good man, someone who cares about all life, and will try never to harm anyone if he can.

The Doctor smiled for a moment, and then reverted back to Andred's form.

Andred: Ha! The Doctor cares about all life, you should ask some of his enemies if they believe that. The Sontarans call him the Grand Admiral, because of all the defeats he's handed them, the Ice Warriors know him as the Great Flame, and the Daleks, they hate and fear him most of all. Do you know what they call him in Dalekenese; they know him as the Ka Faraq Gatri, which means he who brings Death, the Destroyer of Worlds. The Doctor is an evil being who uses you and all of his companions for his own purposes, and you continued to follow him blindly, when you know that he will never return your feelings for him.

Leela: (Near tears) No, the Doctor has done the best that he can, and how dare you sympathize with the Daleks, when they were the ones that killed you. You are not the Andred that I knew, you are a phantasm, an illusion, a…

Leela stopped as the "illusion" reached over and roughly grabbed her arms. His grip was real enough, but it was impossible, wasn't it?

Andred: Leela, if you persist in your idiotic worship, then you will eventually fall like all others that have fallen before him. If you don't believe me, then ask him, he's right there.

Leela looked to where Andred was pointing, and indeed, the Doctor in his current incarnation was standing there, with an inscrutable look on his face, one that made her think that he was looking at a bug.

Leela: Doctor! Help me, we must escape from whatever the Toymaker has done to us, we must get away, before we fall deeper into his trap.

Doctor: Leela, why have I wasted my time with you all these years? I would have been better off training a monkey, than watching you act the fool. You have been one of the biggest disappointments it has been my displeasure to know. All of those monkeys from Earth, they have been such…failures. Why have I stood around them for so long, I don't know, when they have continued to kill each other over petty problems of ignorance, stupidity, and greed?

Leela: (Shocked) Doctor, you don't mean that, you can't… it's not in your nature.

Doctor: You have no idea what my nature is, savage. Even as a pretend Gallifreyan, you have no clue as to my true identity; I am more than anyone in this universe has ever had the honor of meeting. And you, you are…nothing. I feel no pity for you, because I know what my destiny is. I will lead, and my warriors will control, and the universe will be the better for it.

Leela: What, what warriors are you…?

She stopped as the Doctor stood aside, and familiar pepper pot shapes began to materialize around them all. Leela looked up at the Doctor, and the smile on his face was terrible, because it was full of glee, and she knew then, that the Doctor was lost to her, maybe forever. But, she growled to herself, I won't be the only one to be lost, and she reached down to pull her knife from her boot, the trusty hunting knife that had been her good luck charm for years. She stood up and rushed the Doctor, only to have him wheel on her suddenly, and she found herself on the ground, with the Doctor holding her knife, along with one of her fingers as well. She flinched back as he crouched down before her and grabbed a handful of her hair.

Doctor: Leela, Leela, Leela, I will miss you, you know. Well, not really, but I suppose that is what humans are supposed to say in cases like this.

Andred: Leela, I tried to tell you the truth, and you simply refused to listen to me, now it's too late, and…

Doctor: Oh shut him up would you!

Dalek: I obey!

Leela cried out loud, as the cyborg turned on her former love and burned him down. The last thing that she recognized of him was that familiar goofy smile, just before his face melted away. He fell roughly to the ground. She turned back to the Doctor, who stood in front of her now, and had that terrible grin back on his face.

Doctor: Such a disappointment. Finish her off, and then join me with your compatriots, on the plains of Vendalia. We have work to do, and the universe waits.

Dalek: I obey, master!

The Doctor turned on his heel, and started to walk away, while Leela sobbed on the ground before the cybernetic killer.

Dalek: You are an enemy of the Doctor, and must be exterminated! Exterminate! EXTERMINATE! EX-TER-MI-NATE!

As Leela felt the heat and energy from the blast envelop her, the pain was more than she'd ever felt, possibly only matched by the pain her heart felt at the Doctor's betrayal. The scream she let out was louder than the fatal disintegration blast, and the full hatred and sadness that she felt was something that would never be matched by anything else again. Then there was nothingness.

The Toymaker grinned happily and clapped his hands.

Toymaker: Splendid, simply splendid! She held out much longer than I expected, though it was inevitable. Now, let's see what this other Leela fears.

With that said, he turned back to a screen, and watched as Leela continued her journey into darkness.

Turanga Leela

Leela walked towards the light, her senses on full alert. She frowned to herself; she'd had enough of this game. The Doctor had some interesting enemies, that was for sure, but not interesting enough that she wanted to stick around. All she had to do was not scream, the Toymaker had whispered. Well, she was Turanga Leela, damn it, and she didn't get to where she was now by being a squealing girlie-girl. Let's see what's so bad that that jerk thinks I'll scream, and with that thought, she entered the light. The next thing she knew, she was lying flat on her back, and appeared to be in some sort of… restraints?

Leela: What the hell's going on around here, let me up, now!

She started to struggle against the restraints, but was unable to gain enough leverage to be able to move more than an inch. An icicle went through her heart as she heard an all too familiar voice, and she craned her head around, hoping against hope that it wasn't really the person she knew it belong to.

Zapp: Well, if it isn't my sexilicious star-ship captain! My, you look as delectable as ever, though I hope you aren't too cold in that.

Leela was puzzled for a moment, then looked down to see that she was wearing a flimsy hospital gown. She looked back up at Zapp, who continued to pace in front of her; his arms behind his back, looking every bit like the heroic image of the Space captain that he supposedly was. He stopped beside her bed, then leant down and came level with her head, staring intently into her eyes for a moment.

Zapp: Oh, my lovely angel of lust, the beautiful siren of space, Captain Turanga Leela, you know, we were made for each other. I'm a captain, you're a captain, and we should spend all of our days with one another. You making sure that my fabulous velour uniform looks nice, and me being able to come home every night, satisfying your every wanton desire.

Leela smirked at him for a moment, then turned her head away, determined to not to give him any benefit of the doubt.

Leela: Well Zapp, as small as you are, I doubt you'd be able to satisfy an ant's desires, let alone mine. You know I've already met my true love, and that I'm only here in order to find him. Anyway, I thought that the Cybermen, uh, converted you. Haven't they finished the job yet?

Zapp: Oh, they will soon do so my love, but my desire for you meant that I had to see you one more time, and that meant cheating for a bit. But I'm sure that the Toymaker will make it up to me.

Leela: (Perking up) The Toymaker? So you know what's going on here?

Zapp: Of course, and I gratefully volunteered to help him, if it would allow me to be with you for just a little longer. Now, all we have to do is take care of a few inconveniences, and then we can be with each other for eternity.

Leela: Forget it Zapp, I'm not going anywhere with you, so why don't you just drop it? There's no way I'll ever be stupid enough to fall for your act again, so why don't you just drop it? Go back to Amazonia or something.

Zapp: Ah my sweet chocolate cake of sensuousness, you know that I'll never leave you alone, now why don't we just take care of a few things, and…

Leela: (Starting to panic) Take care of what Zapp?

Zapp: Well, the first thing we did was to remove the hairball, you know, he was a bore anyway.

Leela: Fry? If you've hurt or…

Zapp: Killed him? No, of course, that would simply be a waste of resources, just like your own death would be. Instead, it's better this way, Leela, there's no pain, no illness, and you realize your place in the universe. Just like I have.

As Leela stared in horror, Zapp moved his arms from behind his back, and she again saw the cybernetic prostheses that had taken the place of his real arms. He placed a metal hand against her face, and she shivered.

Zapp: Don't be afraid, this is for the best, you know, and I think that after you get a taste of the power I received, you'll thank me for it later.

Leela: Don't be so smug, Zapp, you don't think that I'll ever willingly go with you anywhere, do you?

Zapp: In time, you will learn to appreciate what I do for you, including this.

Leela gaped in horror, as Zapp held up a medical instrument and walked around to stand in front of her.

Zapp: Now, while there may be some momentary discomfort, it'll all be over soon, and then you and I can start our new life together, without any part of Fry having to be around you again.

As he started to move towards her, she closed her eye, and flinched when the cold instrument touched her.

Leela: (Thinking) No, I won't scream, this is just a trick, I'm not going to scream, I won't! Fry I love you! Always know that I love you Fry!

Leela bit the inside of her mouth, and then…the sensation that she'd felt a moment ago vanished. She warily opened her eye, and saw that Zapp had disappeared though she still rested on the same table as before. Then suddenly, the table was stood upright, and Leela found herself moving backwards, only to come to a sudden stop. She desperately tried to move from the restraints that held her, only to halt when two Cybermen appeared in front of her.

Cybermen 1: The Earthling female is a mutation, though it does posses great physical strength. If allowances can be made for it deficits, then it will make an excellent soldier.

Cybermen 2: Agreed. Begin the upgrade.

Leela stared at the two creatures, which continued to stare at her as if she was an insect on a tray. The next thing she heard was a high-pitched whine, and then she saw that there were more medical instruments coming towards her.

Leela: (Thinking) What the hell is going on here, what do they mean by "upgrade"…oh no! No, I don't want this to happen, Fry, if you can hear me, please help me, someone, anyone, please? I don't want to be like these things, I just want to live a nice life with the man I fell in love with, watch our children grow up, and just…please, somebody help me!

Leela gasped as she saw the needle-like object that came around and centered in front of her face. She tried to shrink from it as it slowly approached her eye.

Leela: No, I don't want this, somebody, anybody, Fry, Doctor, Leela, ZAPP, someone, please help me, I don't want to lose me, I don't want to lose myself, please, anyone, help me! Help Me! Oh GOD, somebody help meeee!

Leela had closed her eyes, but when she felt the soft push of the needle against her eye, the scream that had been trying to find its way out of her for the last few minutes, finally did. The sound was like a mournful whistle, and even as she screamed her head off, the Toymaker sat in his chair and nodded his head slowly.

Toymaker: And then there was one. Now Doctor, it's time for me to revisit upon you every loss, every defeat, everything that you've ever failed at, and I will break you, oh yes, and you will be mine!.

The Doctor

. He expected something very bad in the light ahead, but the Doctor continued to walk forward. As he entered it, he heard a voice in his call out.

Voice: Time-lord! Doctor; do not enter, for danger awaits you!

Doctor: Of course there is. I wouldn't have expected otherwise.

The Doctor entered and then…

Doctor: I must get the controls working again, I must save Adric! Make sure that both of them are dead; Tegan, Nyssa, hand me my tool-kit, hurry! I have to hurry if we're going to get him…

The Doctor stopped for a moment, where was this? Who was he? He looked down at himself, and saw that he was wearing his own familiar clothes, the same ones he'd picked out centuries ago. The situation seemed familiar, and yet, it was different as well. What was strange about it? Oh yes, I said 'Adric'. Adric… no, that wasn't possible. He had died, long ago in his personal history, when the space freighter he was trapped on had hit the Earth some 65 million years ago, causing the dinosaur extinction. He looked again at his surroundings, and saw that…he was in the console room as it had been back then. The wall were the same creamy white, with roundels all over it, and the console was the older style that he'd preferred in those days, but why was there smoke coming from it?

Doctor: No, the Toymaker has reached into my mind, and pulled this day out from it, but I know that there's nothing I can do, and so, while I may feel guilty about it, I can't stop it. Tegan, Nyssa; I'm sorry, there was nothing I could…do?

The Doctor had turned around, looking for his other two companions from that time: Tegan, the Australian stewardess, and Nyssa of Traken, but neither was there.

Doctor: Tegan? Nyssa? Now where did they go off to, they were here just a moment ago.

A moment later, the Doctor heard a faint crackling noise from the far side of the room. He walked over, continuing to make adjustments to the console, trying desperately to get it working again. He stared at the spot where the Cyberleader had fallen, and seeing nothing, turned towards where the Lieutenant lay. He heard the crackling again, and saw a small transmitter lying on the floor. Picking it up, he stared at it for a moment; he'd thought the Leader had crushed it. The crackle resolved into a voice, coming through the radio.

Transmitter: …can you…us…tor? Please, the Cyber…holdin…on freighter! Lieutenant Scott…Adric trying…can't change course! Doctor, can you hear us, we're on the freighter and, oh rabbits!

The Doctor stood in shock for a moment. What the devil was Tegan doing on the freighter? Adric was the one that the Leader had made him leave behind. Tegan and Nyssa had accompanied him, along with the Leader and his Lieutenant. In fact, it'd only been with Tegan and Nyssa's help that they'd managed to beat them, even though the console had been damaged in the fight. He had always cursed that day, when he'd let repairs on the TARDIS lapse. It was one of the reasons he was fairly regular in his repair work from that point forward. Still, this wasn't how he'd remembered it. Was it?

Doctor: Tegan, what are you doing on the freighter? Is Nyssa with you, along with Adric?

Tegan: Doctor! The controls are shot, and we can't change course. You've to help us, please!

Doctor: I'm doing my best, Tegan; the Cybermen have damaged the controls severely, and I'm having trouble getting the TARDIS to respond.

Nyssa: Doctor, please, we've only got a few minutes till we hit the Earth's atmosphere!

The Doctor glanced at the old view-screen. Actually, it was less than a minute until the freighter would impact upon the planet's surface. That explosion would end up causing the extinction of the dinosaurs, and the beginning of a new era on the Earth. The Doctor desperately tried to get the console operational, finally hammering on it with his fists.

Doctor: Come on, you have to work, I've got to save them, I let Adric die before, but maybe I can make things happen differently this time! I must!

The Doctor looked at the screen again in despair; the freighter had already entered the atmosphere, and was only moments away from impacting on the surface.

Tegan: Doctor, help us please! Don't let us die, please help us! Doctor!

The Doctor stood at the console, gripping it fiercely with his hands, as he saw the freighter impact. The cloud from the antimatter detonation must have risen upwards for miles. He closed his eyes, trying to hold back the tears, then turned back to the screen.

Doctor: Is that the best you can do, Toymaker? I've been through worse, you know.

The screen suddenly blanked out and darkness returned, only to be replaced in another moment by…

Doctor: Greel!

The Doctor paused, then looked down at himself again. He was clothed in Edwardian garb, a deerstalker, and he was definitely underground. What was this in his hand, a hatchet? What was he doing with a hatchet, and who was bumping into him from behind?

Man: I say Doctor, we'd better hurry if we're to stop this fellow Greel, Weng Chiang or whatever his name is, he has your companion, Miss Leela, you know!

The memories flooded back. Jago and Lightfoot, the two men who had helped him fight Magnus Greel, the 50th century villain who'd escaped in time back to 19th century China. Greel had eventually made his way to London, looking for his time-cabinet. Leela was trapped in his molecular absorption device, basically a cannibalism machine, except, and as he'd wryly told the men, it kept Greel from having to chew on the gristle. The Doctor dashed forward, and they ran into the chamber. Even as Greel was starting the machine, Leela was still spitting her defiance at him.

Greel: Let the talons of Weng Chiang, shred your fleeeesh!

Doctor: Greel!

The Doctor remembered the hatchet in his hand, and without hesitation lifted it and threw it as hard as he could, at Greel's control console. It flashed through the air, but just before it made contact, it was suddenly hit by a coruscating beam and disintegrated. The Doctor gaped for a moment, then turned and looked up at the dragon's head with the glowing eyes; that damn puppet with the pig's brain, Mr. Sin, must have been at the controls. At that moment he heard a scream from the box, and saw Leela, now motionless, her features slowly crumbling into dust.

Doctor: Leela, no, this can't be, it's not how it happened!

Greel cackled insanely, then turned to his time cabinet. The Doctor started towards him, when the light ray flashed directly before him, and he and the others ducked behind an overturned desk.

Greel: Now Doctor, I shall show the world the brilliance of Magnus Greel! I shall return in my cabinet to the 50th century, and rule all!

Doctor: Greel, listen to me. The cabinet was a failure; you're just as liable to create a rift in time that'll be impossible to heal! Greel, listen to me!

Greel: No Doctor, it was a success, a magnificent, glorious success!

The Doctor stood up sharply, determined that he would stop this madman, only to see the door to the cabinet close, and saw it activate. It glowed for a moment, and then the explosion that followed was terrible to behold. The Doctor stood transfixed, seeing everything in slow motion as the explosion came towards him. Lightfoot and Jago tried to run, and Mr. Sin laded on his back. The Doctor didn't really feel the knife, only a moment of pain, then fell to his knees as the explosion reached him. The Doctor closed his eyes. He wanted to scream against the unjustness of it all, he wanted to…The Doctor blinked his eyes for a moment, then took in a deep shuddering breath.

Doctor: No, it won't work, Toymaker! I'm not going to let you take me as well as the others; you may as well let us go now.

In his Toyshop, the Toymaker leaned forward in his chair, eyeing the Doctor on his own view-screen.

Toymaker: Very good, Doctor, but let's see what happens when you go back to a time when you let a whole Earth be destroyed.

The Doctor stood stock-still for a moment, then noticed the view beginning to change again, and braced himself mentally for whatever might come next.

Doctor: Hurry up, we've got to get to my console!

The Doctor quickly glanced down at his clothes; smoking jacket, lace shirt, his third incarnation, so where was he?

Doctor: Oh no, not here, not this time and place.

The Doctor looked up to see a river of lava bearing down on him, and immediately knew where he was. This was an alternate timeline, one he'd accidentally been sent to when exiled to Earth so many years ago. He'd tried to get his TARDIS working in those years, and had been sent across to another Earth, one that existed a few hours ahead of the one he came from. On that Earth, a drilling project that was supposed to find a new source of limitless energy for the planet had turned into a disaster, and had ended up causing the planet to crack itself open like an egg. He'd only just managed to escape, before the final fires destroyed that world, and made it back to his correct timeline and stopped the same drilling going on there. Still, it'd left him with one of his biggest fears, a near phobia, that of burning alive; It had caused his third persona problems more than once. And now also; his old fears came welling back in a rush, and he knew that this was going to be trouble.

Woman's voice: Doctor, get out of here, go now!

The Doctor looked up. It was the parallel version of his companion, Liz Shaw. She was desperately holding onto that drilling expert, what was his name, Greg something-or-other? The Doctor looked down at the console, and flipped the switch which would command the TARDIS to return him to his Earth.

Nothing happened.

He flipped the switch again, and still nothing happened.

Liz: Doctor, get going man, you have to hurry if you're going to save your world!

Doctor: Liz, I'm doing my best, but it seems like nothing's working right! I can't get the TARDIS to respond as it should!

Liz: Doctor, hurry, you have to…eyaahh!

The lava had caught up to the two humans, and Liz screamed shrilly for a moment, before the lava rolled over her and she was mercifully finished. The Doctor stood wild-eyed for a moment longer, then following his own instinct for survival, took off running, only to find that the lava was all around him and he had nowhere to go. The instant before it finally engulfed him, he wished that he hadn't been so stubborn sometimes, and that he'd appreciated the friends that he had. Then the molten lava struck, and the Doctor gritted his teeth at the pain.

Doctor: (Thinking) Must not scream, must fight, this is an illusion, I deny this reality, I deny this feeling, it's only in my mind, THE PAIN!

Just as he was ready to let go, he heard a voice in his head.

Nibbler: (Mentally) Time Lord, you must fight the pain, it is all illusion, it is not real!

Doctor: (Mentally) I know that, but the Toymaker is breaking down my defenses, I can't resist for much longer.

Nibbler: You must, the Fry brain is under your protection, you must fight!

Doctor: I understand, but…I can't fight it but for a little while more, and it seems that the Toymaker is more powerful than I remembered. He's going to win, unless I take drastic measures!

Nibbler: What do you mean, what measures?

Doctor: Time Lords have the ability to shut themselves down, both physically and mentally, when their bodies are under great strain, and I may be able to gain the others their own respite, gain us a moment to think, and plan!

Unfortunately, there is some danger with this, and I may have some small difficulty, after all my current body is wearing a bit thin these days. Here goes nothing and everything!

With that, the Doctor closed his eyes, shut out the pain from his screaming nerve endings for just a moment more, and concentrated. He visualized the inside of his body, moving through the muscle layer, down into the internal organs, and finally, a view of his right side heart, which was beating wildly now with adrenaline. He visualized a hand that closed around the heart, smoothly stroking it for a moment, and then squeezing it as hard as it could, only to let it go a second later. The heart started to beat wildly out of rhythm, and the Doctor understood this was going to be bad. A few moments later he felt his chest rocked with pain, and found that he couldn't breathe at all. He fell down on his knee, then plopped unceremoniously onto his back, his breath coming in short gasps.

Doctor: (Mentally) Oh dear, I may have miscalculated.

The Toymaker sat bolt upright for a moment, staring at the Doctor writhing on the floor, in the throes of an apparent heart attack.

Toymaker: No! What have you done, Doctor? I will not be cheated this way; my compatriots will not be cheated this way!

He stood up and glided off to the Doctor's location.

The Doctor had grown very still, and there was a bluish tint to his lips. Fry, Leela, and Leela had came out of their own trances, and were sitting, simply catching their breath, when the Doctor's Leela turned around and saw the Doctor lying on the floor.

Doctor's Leela: Doctor! Oh no, what has he done to you?

She ran over to him, kneeling down and, feeling for a pulse, detected a thready double one. Fry and his wife ran over as well, though neither of them knew what could help him.

Doctor's Leela: Doctor, come on and get up, you have to, so we can all leave together, get up, please!

Doctor: (Whispering) Leela, take the others and get ready to leave. The Toymaker made the rules of the game: if one of us fails to make it, then he has to let the others go, and since its me, I'm sure he'll live up to it. I'm whom he wanted, and without me, anything he'd try to inflict on the rest of you would be hollow at best. Go to the TARDIS, she knows how to get you home.

Doctor's Leela: Damn you Doctor, I will not leave you here, if nothing else, then regenerate into a new body.

Doctor: Can't do it, I've had an unfortunate side effect of my plan, one I didn't count on. It appears that I've had a massive stroke, in the part of my brain that controls regeneration. Couldn't regenerate now if I wanted to, not enough time for that part to heal. I've always been proud of you Leela, tell K-9 that I'm sorry I couldn't come back to de-bug him, sorry for not having been a better friend to so many over the years, sorry for not…

The Doctor fell silent, and Leela stared down at him. He was breathing, but only shallowly.

Fry's Leela: Isn't there anything that could help him?

Doctor's Leela: The Elixir of Life could, but we're nowhere near Karn, and the Toymaker wouldn't let us go anyway. Damn it Doctor, don't do this to me, I…I love you too much to let you go now.

Fry and Leela turned away from the scene for a moment as the Doctor's companion buried her face in his chest, tears flowing freely.

Then he stood up. What was all the fuss about? It was only a few seconds later when he turned and stared down at his body lying on the ground, with his companion crying over him, and his two new Earth friends turning away from the scene. The Doctor mused on this for a second, and then squatted down beside his Leela.

Doctor: Leela, I'm sorry about this, I'm sorry that things haven't turned out the way that we wanted then to sometimes, but I've always been proud of you my dear.

He turned his head sharply at the touch of a hand on his own shoulder. He craned his head upwards, to see…one of the most beautiful women he'd ever seen in his lifetimes. She wore a light green dress, and had a milky-white complexion, with raven-colored tresses that hung down to the middle of her back. She held her hand out, and the Doctor accepted it a moment later.

Woman: Hello Doctor, it's been a long time hasn't it, and this looks like the final time for you, I'm afraid. I have been looking forward to seeing you again.

Doctor: I'm afraid you have the advantage on me, milady.

Woman: (Giggling) Let's just say that we're old friends, you and I, and this appearance is of a companion long gone now, one that you've forgotten over the years, but one you could have given your hearts to easily, if you had let yourself. You met her at the beginning of this incarnation you know.

Doctor: (Eyes wide) I remember now, I can't believe that I forgot so easily.

Woman: It's all right Doctor, I can say that she forgave you, and she's here with me, and you can visit her whenever you want to do so. Still, I must ask that you do me a favor first.

Doctor: (Standing up) I will do what I can to help anyone that I can, including you. I know who you are now. Tell me something, milady, I hope you don't hold things against me.

Woman: Doctor, I'm never one to hold a grudge, you know that. Still, I do require something from you, that only you can give me.

Doctor: Name it then.

Woman: I require a dance with you, Doctor. Just as you have danced with my sisters Time and Luck over the years, so I have required a dance with each of your other incarnations, when they have come to meet me, and those dances have always been too sweet, and yet, too short. It's time that you and I had a proper dance. I've been waiting for this a long time, my love. Shall we?

She held out her arm, and the Doctor, after a moment's hesitation, took it in his own, and the two started to walk away together. The Doctor hesitated for a moment, turning back to look at his current companions.

Doctor: Will they be all right? Will the Toymaker harm them?

Woman: Do not concern yourself with them Doctor, you owe me a dance, remember?

The woman tugged on the Doctor's arm, and he continued to walk with her, towards what looked like a grand ballroom, though he continued to glance back.

Doctor: I wonder…

At the instant the Doctor said those words, the body on the floor, that had previously housed his consciousness, ceased breathing altogether. Leela lifter her head from the Doctor's chest, and looked down upon him, her voice warm, and tinged with sadness.

Doctor's Leela: He's dead.

To be continued

Well, how was that for a cliffhanger, the Doctor's dead, Fry, Leela and Leela are still trapped in the Toyshop, there's Cybermen, Daleks and a Toymaker flitting around, oh my! Many thanks to my beta, David, who has been a great help to me over the last year, not only with my stories, but with helping me through some tough times in my personal life, which I guess is where the darker parts of this story came from. Also thanks go out to my good PEEL buddy, FuturamaHil, and all of the help, confidence building and editorial work that she's done for me, and to Graham, Teral, and the other folks over at TLZ, for allowing me the opportunity to publish my stories there. Part six will be here when it's done, since I'm working on the fourth and final part of No More Fun and Games 2. As always, criticism is sought out, and I hope that lots comes my way. My email is still and I try to answer everyone that mails me; if I haven't I apologize for my mistake. The Doctor's bit about knowing's easy comes from a TV episode, "State of Decay", and here's another bit to go out on. "Never be certain of anything, it's a sign of weakness"-from the episode The Face of Evil, the first time that we get introduced to the Doctor's Leela. See you around.