Fleeing a doomed space station in tiny life capsules, the Doctor and Compassion find themselves prisoners of Parallel 59, a militaristic power on the planet Skale Meanwhile Fitz finds himself apparently safe in Mechta, a colony for convalescents A space-race is in full swing on Skale, with each of the planet’s many blocs desperate to be the first to reach the stars If the Doctor’s knowledge helps Parallel 59 succeed, the consequences for the rest of the world could be devastating But Fitz knows nothing of his friends’ predicament Enjoying his new life, he’s not even sure he wants to be rescued – which is a good thing Because the Doctor has no intention of going to Mechta He’s decreed that Fitz’s new-found utopia must be totally destroyed This is another in the series of original adventures for the Eighth Doctor PARALLEL 59 NATALIE DALLAIRE AND STEPHEN COLE Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank Peter Anghelides for all the time taken and effort spent on improving this book Also Sarah Griffen, Catherine Dickason, Lucy Campbell, Mike Tucker and Sue Cowley Steve would like to thank Justin and Jac, for safe hands Published by BBC Worldwide Ltd, Woodlands, 80 Wood Lane London W12 0TT First published 2000 Copyright © Natalie Dallaire and Stephen Cole 2000 The moral right of the authors has been asserted Original series broadcast on the BBC Format © BBC 1963 Doctor Who and TARDIS are trademarks of the BBC ISBN 563 55590 Imaging by Black Sheep, copyright © BBC 2000 Printed and bound in Great Britain by Mackays of Chatham Cover printed by Belmont Press Ltd, Northampton Dedications For Cassie, for Denis and for my beautiful bump – whoever you shall be ND For Jase, Mat and Unca Dunca, the fabulous Beaconsfield Boys And for Sean O’Meara, for wasting a summer so many years ago SC Contents Part One: Getting On 1: On the Edge of a Storm 2: Landing 11 3: The Earthling Patient 15 4: Conversations With the Enemy 19 5: Welcome to the Neighbourhood 27 6: Wrong Answers to Questions You Never Asked 31 7: Digging Holes for Yourself 41 8: Strange Meeting 45 9: Tram Scam, Mechtan Centreside 51 10: A Walk in the City (Under Strict Scrutiny) 55 11: The First Raid on Central 63 12: Wouldn’t You Like to Get Away? 67 13: Night Thoughts 71 14: Indiscretions 75 Part Two: Getting Harder 81 15: A Gentler Pace of Life 83 16: The Court, the King and his Fool 89 17: The Second Raid on Central 99 18: Compassion, Meet 103 19: Confession/Crime 107 20: What Happened to Yve 111 21: The Send-Off 115 22: What to Do in Case of Fire 119 23: Shadow 125 24: The Heat Is Rising, Slowly 127 25: You Do It to Yourself 137 26: Power and How to Wield It 141 27: Rabble-Rousing 145 28: Desperation Takes Hold 147 29: The Final Raid on Central 153 30: Resurrection 155 31: That’s That, Then 163 32: Visiting 167 33: Change the World 171 Part Three: Getting Out 175 34: Now That We’re Gathered Here 177 35: A Significant Betrayal 185 36: Ambition in Motion 195 37: Fall Back, Regroup 201 38: Leaving This Place Behind 209 39: Over 215 40: Change Yourself 221 41: Knocking At the Door 225 42: The Reunion 229 43: The Revelation 233 44: Brick Walls 235 45: The Strike 239 46: Emergency Exit 245 47: The Retribution 249 48: Last Moments 255 Epilogue 259 ... Dallaire and Stephen Cole 2000 The moral right of the authors has been asserted Original series broadcast on the BBC Format © BBC 1963 Doctor Who and TARDIS are trademarks of the BBC ISBN 563 5 5590 ... Tucker and Sue Cowley Steve would like to thank Justin and Jac, for safe hands Published by BBC Worldwide Ltd, Woodlands, 80 Wood Lane London W12 0TT First published 2000 Copyright © Natalie Dallaire. .. for the Eighth Doctor PARALLEL 59 NATALIE DALLAIRE AND STEPHEN COLE Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank Peter Anghelides for all the time taken and effort spent on improving this