War-Game (comic story)

Summary
Frobisher is beat 23 times at a game the Doctor extrapolated from chess, the Doctor having added extra levels.

The local name of planet U-235 is Actinon, untechnological; but they're now reading technological activity on it. Frobisher crosses his flappers, "Uh oh, Mr. I love a Mystery is back in business." The Doctor makes the TARDIS appear on a hillside out of sight of the walled city below.

The Doctor dons a sun hat with hanging beads, suggesting Frobisher change his form. But he likes being a Penguin. Watching them from the rocks are a band of barbaric looking Viking type men with strange dino like camels. Frobisher, before they get into town, changes into a loin cloth wearing long haired, 7 foot tall barbarian with lots of muscles. The Doctor says, "Gaudy, Frobisher, very gaudy."

Frobisher pushes a eye patch wearing salesman off of them as they move through the city. In a bar, Frobisher almost orders a drink named a Manhattan...but the Doctor elbows him. They don't have any money to pay for their drinks. The Doctor smiles and will explain it to the owner, "After all, what can they do to us?"

Later, the Doctor, shirt off, is chained to a wooden frame from which his head sticks out. He and Frobisher are being sold as slaves! Frobisher thinks they should have washed a few dishes instead. A man in a black hood buys them and sets them free, but was instructed to bring them to his master as guests. He is Achmar, advisor to Kaon, lord of 7 provinces.

Three moons ago, an enemy of Kaon named Vegar the Vengeful took the daughter of Kaon. A bare boy on a dino listens to them. They ride to Kaon, pulled by this boy and the dino. Brought by the Viking guards to the master...they are made to kneel before him... a Draconian lizard warrior, "Welcome, Time Lord. Your fame hass sspread even to this Galactic Backwater!"

This Draconian, Kaon, knows the Doctor's Blue Box and knows the Doctor is a Time Lord. A craft taking Kaon to an outlying world of the Draconian Empire ran into a meteor field and crashed here. Only he and his wife survived. He established himself as a warrior and leader over a small group of barbarians. His wife died in childbirth -- his daughter Kara became a fine son. The land taken by Kaon once belonged to Vegar. Kaon tells the Doctor that the Draconians value the lives of their females and daughters little but a long way from Draconia -- Kaon's ways have changed.

Frobisher asks him what that has to do with them. "Your mannerless friend is not ass dull las he seemss." To prevent bloodshed, the Doctor agrees to help. A troll like servant reports Kaon's movements to Vegar, who has Kara chained to a pole with her wrists above her. On dino horses with the others, Frobisher complains, "Oh, my achin' back!" Frobisher hopes this rescue doesn't take too long, "I'm getting pretty tired of this shape." The Doctor will take Kaon and Kara to civilised outpost as Kaon asked -- once they free her.

Kaon's troops storm the stronghold of Vegar. The Doctor did not know this would happen while Frobisher thinks it is pretty neat for a diversion and that Kaon is a good father, even if he doesn't tell the truth. Frobisher gets a sword point to his thick muscled neck, ending the Doctor's chat with him over chess and the real war game they are in now. But he makes himself get bigger but a warrior pokes his leg with a sword.

Two elite bodyguards with Kaon and the Doctor take care of the warriors from Vegar's side. Kaon also kills a few with his axe. They follow another warrior toward where they think Kara will be. Vegar kills the two elite bodyguards but Kaon kills Vegar with his sword. Frobisher frees Kara with a sword. Kaon tells her they are going home to Draconia. From behind him, the troll servant stabs a sword through his back and out his chest and upper stomach. Kaon turns and shings his sword into the troll, killing him down.

Frobisher says, "We'd better all get out here, Doctor...I'd hate to be caught red handed by the locals with all these stiffs." The Doctor agrees, "This time I can forgive your caution, Frobisher..." Kara elects to stay behind to lead her father's people, to bury her father. She has no place away from here. His people need her now more than ever. The Doctor says goodbye to her. Frobisher says, "C'mon, Doctor. The TARDIS is waiting.

Characters

 * The Doctor
 * Frobisher
 * Vegar

Continuity
to be added