Four Doctors (comic story)

Four Doctors was a miniseries published by Titan Comics. It served as a three-way crossover between Titan's ongoing series Doctor Who: The Twelfth Doctor, Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor and Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor, uniting the three Doctors and their companions, as well as marking the Titan Comics debut of the War Doctor.

Summary
What shocking past event brings three Doctors together — to combat an unknown foe with three incarnations in its sights?

Part one
On the planet, Marinus, in the year A10%?, of the Last Great Time War, the War Doctor, along with a group of Voord watch as a Dalek saucer crashes into the ground. The Doctor had forced the Daleks to go through advanced evolution, reducing them all to dust. The Voord leader collapses to the ground, as his paradox shield fails. Before he dies, his armor transforms into a liquid that engulfs one of the human servants, Moktek, joining him to the Voord group mind and making him the new leader. The leader remarks on how that aspect of their species has remained the same, while so much else has changed. The Doctor agrees, noting how Marinus is now an acid desert world, very different from the lush world it had once been.

The Doctor and the Voord leader head into the remains of the Dalek saucer, with the Doctor telling the leader about the weapon that the Daleks intended to use against the Voord. The weapon would've erased the Voord from existence, meaning the Daleks take the Voord's resistance seriously. The leader asks him if the Time Lords also do so. He mentions how the Time War has changed the Voord for the better, and wants to know if the Time Lords will revert everything back to how it was, when they win the Time War. The Doctor avoids answering, bringing up how tense relations are between him and the High Council. He also mentions that he doesn't make grand promises about anything, unlike his former selves. But, he does agree to act as an intermediary and to try to convince the High Council, but that's all he can do. Even with that, the Voord leader is still worried about the future.

Years later, in the TARDIS, Clara Oswald asks the Twelfth Doctor about the planet Marinus, to which he claims to have never heard of. He asks her why she asked him about it, but she lies and claims she heard the word in a dream. Later, when the Doctor is asleep, Clara enters the control room and uses the telepathic circuits to direct the TARDIS to land in Paris, 1923. As she steps outside, she thanks the TARDIS for bringing her here. She pulls out a photograph and looks at it, the picture showing the Twelfth, Eleventh, and Tenth Doctors on it. Clara remarks on how she must prevent this event from happening, for the sake of everything.

Across town, the Tenth Doctor and Gabby Gonzalez have just dealt with some Cybermen, who were trying to raid the French Gold Reserves. The two arrive at a cafe and the Doctor decides that they should have some crepes from there. He tells Gabby to go inside and order the crepes, while he disposes of the Cyberman head he is carrying. Gabby walks into the cafe and is seated at a table. She doesn't notice Clara sitting at the table next to hers.

At this time, the Eleventh Doctor and Alice Obiefune walk up to the cafe, having just stopped some radiation monsters who were coming out of the Seine. The Doctor notices that these streets look familiar and he remembers the cafe being great. So, he tells Alice to go in and order a coffee, while he goes and gets some comics.

Before Alice can be shown to her table, Clara gets up and introduces herself to Alice and Gabby. She tells them that while none of them know each other, they all know the Doctor, and she has five minutes to convince them of something, or the universe will be destroyed. The three sit at Gabby's table. Alice is a bit skeptical, so she asks Gabby what the name of the box is, to which she replies with the TARDIS. Alice then starts to ask Clara a question, but Clara cuts her off with the correct answer of sonic screwdriver.

Gabby and Alice are now fully convinced, so Clara shows them the photo of the three Doctors. Gabby and Alice start remarking on the appearances of the three Doctors, but Clara stops them. She tells them that the Tenth Doctor will return to the cafe in five minutes. He will decide that he doesn't want a crepe and the two will go elsewhere. Alice won't witness this as she'll be in the bathroom. After that, the Eleventh Doctor will return, just missing his former self. He and Alice will remain in the cafe and have the coffee. Clara tells them that these events are meant to happen because this is a fixed point in time. Thanks to the timespace info on the photo, plus her knowledge of the Doctor's past, Clara knows that Gabby and Alice were the companions of the other two Doctors at the time the photo was taken. Clara chose to come to the cafe at this time, because she knows it was the only time she could meet up with both Gabby and Alice without any repercussions. The two understand that the situation must be serious and tell her to tell her story.

The Twelfth Doctor and Clara had been visiting a nameless jungle planet. The Doctor was complaining about how the planet was nothing but jungle and ruins and proclaimed he would stand where he was, until that changed. Clara merely walked off, ignoring the Doctor's attitude. She stumbled upon the Museum of Terrible Fates, located inside a time shelter, which protected the contents from decay. The museum's computer tells her that the race that built it spent centuries scanning the timelines for turning points that would cause the end of the universe. Clara decided to look up the Doctor, knowing how he tends to be involved in situations that stop events that would cause the end. To her horror, she discovered an event with the Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelfth Doctors together on the planet Marinus. The computer told her that this event was a fatal turning point that must never happen, as all subsequent timelines of this event lead to the end of all things.

Gabby asks Clara if she told her Doctor about this, but Clara simply asks both her and Alice what their Doctors would do if told. All three know their Doctors would go to Marinus. Clara then reveals that the Tenth and Eleventh Doctors will eventually meet, as she was there for that event. She recalls that the Tenth Doctor didn't initially recognise the Eleventh Doctor, meaning the two never met prior to that incident. She also points out that neither of them could imagine the Twelfth Doctor existing, which is how she knows the picture shouldn't exist. She tells the other two, that when they all leave the cafe, all three of them must make sure their Doctors never go to Marinus.

To Clara's horror, both the Tenth and Eleventh Doctors come storming in, proclaiming that what Clara has told them is impossible. The Eleventh Doctor notices his former self, and as he doesn't remember this meeting, realises that this is bad for the universe. The Tenth Doctor is skeptical of the Eleventh Doctor's identity, having recently met an imposter. Using his sonic screwdriver, he confirms that the Eleventh Doctor is his next incarnation. Both then remark that the person they met outside is another story.

That person walks in, revealing himself to be the Twelfth Doctor. He tells his former selves to shut up and then turns his attention to Clara, revealing to her that he figured out what she was up to. He tried to talk sense into the other two Doctors, but they wouldn't listen. So, they're going to have a Multi-Doctor Event, whether they like it or not.

The Tenth Doctor has accepted that the Eleventh Doctor is his next and final incarnation, but doesn't accept that the Twelfth Doctor is a future incarnation, as it's not possible for him to exist. The Eleventh Doctor points out that they don't know what's going on here. Clara intervenes, telling the three Doctors to stop this and walk away. She knows this meeting didn't happen. Even though time can be rewritten, this moment is a fixed point in time. The Tenth and Twelfth Doctors keep arguing, with Gabby trying to convince the Tenth Doctor to leave, as she believes Clara is telling the truth. The Tenth Doctor refuses, proclaiming the Twelfth Doctor to be an abomination, a word the Daleks tend to use, as the Twelfth Doctor points out.

The Twelfth Doctor turns his attention to Gabby and Alice, asking the two to tell their Doctors to listen to him. Clara has given up by this point, knowing she can't stop this now. The Eleventh Doctor tries to be the peacemaker between his other two selves, but the Twelfth Doctor provokes the Tenth Doctor again. In the ensuing argument, the two Doctors touch, causing a spark to shoot between them. The Eleventh Doctor confirms this to be the Blinovitch Limitation Effect, which proves the Twelfth Doctor's identity. A look of dread is on his face at this revelation. As he and the other two Doctors point out, they have just caused a paradox at a fixed point in time, which means only one thing. The six look up to see Reapers appear above them.

Part two
The Doctors each come up with a different plan. While Alice and Clara are annoyed at the inability for the three Doctors to be on the same page, Gabby goes with the Twelfth Doctor's plan of finding the oldest thing in the room, by grabbing an old mirror, which a Reaper attacks. Alice asks what the creatures are, and the three Doctors explain. Suddenly, the Reapers focus on the Eleventh Doctor, who fends them off with his comic books.

The group quickly run out of the cafe, with the Reapers following, still targeting the Eleventh Doctor. He deliberately runs away from the group, with the Reapers following him. He tries running past the comic stand where he got his comics, but they ignore it, leaving him wondering why they are targeting him.

The others have already worked out where the Eleventh Doctor plans on going, and reach his TARDIS before he does. The Tenth Doctor snaps his fingers to open the door, but the TARDIS is nothing more than an empty Police Box. The Doctors were already expecting this and have a solution. By triggering another Blinovitch Limitation Effect, they can use the power from that paradox to access the TARDIS interior. The Twelfth Doctor tells the Tenth Doctor to start poking him, but the Tenth Doctor doesn't do so.

At this time, the Eleventh Doctor runs up to them, still being chased by the Reapers. One of the Reapers tries to strike him, but he and the other dodge, causing it to strike the TARDIS. Clara tells the three Doctors to hurry up. The three Doctors touch, using the energy to restore access to the TARDIS interior.

The group runs inside to find themselves in the Twelfth Doctor's control room. The Tenth Doctor mistakenly thinks it's the Master's, but the Twelfth Doctor corrects him. The Eleventh Doctor realises that it means all three TARDISes have merged. Alice points out that the Reapers are now breaking into the TARDIS. The group runs out of the control room and down some corridors, ending up in the Eleventh Doctor's control room. Clara asks why having all three of their TARDISes here is a good thing. The Doctors explain that the three TARDISes provide an escape from the Reapers. Before they can explain much more, the Reapers break into the control room, forcing the group to leave.

The group ends up in the Tenth Doctor's control room. The Twelfth Doctor starts using the controls, much to the objection of the Tenth Doctor. Gabby can see that there are hundreds of Reapers in the TARDIS, on the verge of breaking into the control room. The Eleventh Doctor slows them down, by making the air older. The Tenth Doctor thinks they should enact the plan now, as the Twelfth Doctor's decision to wait is putting the others in danger. The Twelfth Doctor continues to wait, stating it's for the greater good. The moment all the Reapers are in the control room, the Twelfth Doctor pulls a switch, causing the three TARDISes to demateralise and separate. This forces the Reapers out of their environment, leaving them with the option to either flee or die.

Now back in his TARDIS, the Twelfth Doctor slumps over the console. He explains to Clara that he waited, only to ensure he got all the Reapers. Otherwise, he'd never had put them at risk. He asks Clara if his previous selves will understand that. Clara thinks the three Doctors need a bit of time together, and Clara needs to explain what caused all this to happen. The three TARDISes land back in Paris, and the three companions let the three Doctors talk to each other for a bit.

The Eleventh Doctor is glad the Twelfth Doctor exists, because it means they have a future beyond their normal regeneration cycle. The Tenth Doctor, on the other hand, is concerned. Where could they have gotten more regenerations? He knows they couldn't have come from the Time Lords. Plus, he is still worried about the eventual existence of the Valeyard. The Twelfth Doctor refuses to tell the two about their future.

Clara decides now is the time to show the three Doctors the picture of them on Marinus, a planet that none of them remember. The Tenth Doctor wonders why it's only the three of them in the picture. He speculates it may be because the three of them are from after the Time War. The Eleventh Doctor is concerned about the fact that neither he nor the Twelfth Doctor have no recollection of these events. The Tenth Doctor states that the picture is a trap of some sort, and the three Doctors decide to head to Marinus, despite Clara's objections.

In the Tenth Doctor's TARDIS, Gabby asks the Tenth Doctor why he is going to Marinus. The Tenth Doctor explains that they could go to the museum Clara found, but he doubts they'll learn anything new. So, that leaves him with two options. He can either spring the trap or live in fear. He doesn't like living in fear.

The three TARDISes materialise on Marinus and the the three duos leave their respective TARDIS. The Tenth Doctor notices that there are no signs of life. He also notices that the planet seems familiar to him, an observation shared by the other Doctors. Clara asks the Tenth Doctor why he would risk the end of the universe by coming here. The Tenth Doctor says he is not. He points out the poses of himself and his other two selves in the picture. So long as they don't assume those poses, they are in no danger of causing the end, and can freely look around.

Unknown to the group, someone else is watching them. The unknown enemy decides to interfere, to force the Doctors to take the poses in the image. The group is struck by a beam, one which the Doctors note came from outside of spacetime. The three Doctors quickly discuss plans on how to face this threat, accidentally taking the poses in the picture. The unknown enemy quickly takes the picture. The unknown enemy reveals himself to be a Voord leader and proclaims that now the Doctors are locked onto their destiny. Every step they take will lead now to the ultimate conquest of the Voord.

Characters

 * Twelfth Doctor
 * Eleventh Doctor
 * Tenth Doctor
 * War Doctor
 * Clara Oswald
 * Alice Obiefune
 * Gabby Gonzalez
 * Moktek
 * Siatak
 * Reapers

Continuity

 * Clara knows that the Tenth and Eleventh Doctors meet at another point in their lives, which she was also present for. (TV: The Day of the Doctor)
 * The Tenth Doctor states that he recently met a Doctor imposter. (TV: The Next Doctor)
 * The Tenth Doctor is untrusting of the Twelfth Doctor, believing he is "impossible". This is due to the Doctor assuming that he has used all but one of his regenerations. (TV: Journey's End, The Time of the Doctor)
 * The Eleventh Doctor has not met Clara before, nor does he recognise her as her Victorian London splinter. (TV: The Snowmen)
 * The Doctors causing a paradox within a fixed point in time results in the appearance of the Reapers. (TV: Father's Day)
 * The Twelfth Doctor appears to be unable to remember Marinus. He has seemingly forgotten other details of past adventures before. (TV: Deep Breath) This was further complicated by the reveal that the Tenth and Eleventh Doctors also can't remember Marinus.
 * Once again, Clara uses the TARDIS telepathic circuits to pilot the ship while the Doctor is asleep. (TV: Listen) This time, however, she is able to pilot the TARDIS with pinpoint precision. She also speaks kindly to the TARDIS afterwards. (TV: Clara and the TARDIS)
 * The Eleventh Doctor drops Alice Obiefune at the Cafe as he heads off to get "bande dessinée," meaning Franco-Belgian comics. This leads up to COMIC: The Doctor Shops for Comics, where the Doctor picks up a bundle of french comics. He has that bundle throughout the first two issues of the series, and passes the shop in issue 2 while running from the Reapers. He hopes that this will distract them, but it does not.
 * To concur with Clara Oswald's words about the Fixed point in time, the Tenth Doctor says "one point to the girl from Gryffendor" - a reference to Harry Potter. (TV: The Shakespeare Code) The Twelfth Doctor proudly proclaims that Clara is a Slytherin, which he says is a complement.
 * The Doctor calls the events that they are living through "an abomination." The Twelfth Doctor retorts "Dalek word. Nice." (PROSE: Remembrance of the Daleks, TV: The Parting of the Ways, TV: The Stolen Earth, COMIC: The Only Good Dalek)
 * While trying to figure out the situation, The Twelfth Doctor predicts that the Tenth Doctor is going to say "I'm so sorry" to him. (TV: Doomsday, et. al)
 * The Tenth and Twelfth Doctors accidentally set off the Blinovitch Limitation Effect in their argument. (TV: Mawdryn Undead et al.) Turlough had speculated that different incarnations of the Doctor couldn't trigger the Effect, since it was not observed during an encounter between four different Doctors. (TV: The Five Doctors) This causes Reapers to appear. (TV: Father's Day)
 * The Tenth Doctor opens the TARDIS door by snapping his fingers. (TV: Forest of the Dead, et. al)
 * The presence of the Reapers causes the TARDIS to become an empty shell. (TV: Father's Day)
 * The Twelfth Doctor says "now let's go," and adds "or you could leave that untranslated if you wanted to show how in-control of the TARDIS Translation circuits you are." (TV: Army of Ghosts, et. al.)
 * The Tenth Doctor momentarily mistakes the Twelfth Doctor's TARDIS for The Master's due to its dark lighting. When the Twelfth Doctor clarifies that it is his TARDIS, the Tenth Doctor asks "So why the Dalek bumps?" This appears to by a subtle reference to The Curse of Fatal Death.
 * The Tenth Doctor remarks "I don't like it" at the Eleventh Doctor's TARDIS control room. (TV: The Three Doctors, The Day of the Doctor) The Twelfth Doctor retorts that in the Tenth Doctor's case, he just kept the previous version. (TV: The Parting of the Ways)
 * The Tenth Doctor is worried about where they will get their future regenerations, and speculates that the Twelfth Doctor may be the Valeyard. The Twelfth Doctor comments "Do I look like I'm out of Panto?" (TV: The Trial of a Time Lord)