From:
Subject: A story we can all create
Date: 19 February 2002 11:43

[ Tailless Tiger (before the story starts)]

Harmon (AI) " Sir I have a message from one of the watchers.  W771 has
detected a Tardis landing."

Magnus " Contract please?"

Varne " Even I can remember that one.  If only because it was one of the few
that went exactly as planned.  'The Lord of the Vale' Lord."

Magnus " Bugger, don't tell me I used Time Lord blood as the contingency
clause."

Varne " Very well Lord, I won't tell you, you used Time Lord blood as the
contingency clause.  I will tell you that you said if a Time Lord comes here,
he would have to be out of his tiny mind."

Harmon " Contingency clause?"

[ Both Magnus and Varne start to speak at the same time, with a shrug Magnus
indicates Varne to go ahead.]

Varne " For a curse or a binding to bite, there has to be some sort of
escape.  Either a time limit or a way of removing it.  It is unfortunately,
the only known way to stabilise the structure.  "

Harmon " Well why not use something impossible to get hold off?"

Varne " There are limits on how improbable the escape can be.  The more
impossible it is, the less stable the intrinsic structure.  Check your
archives, there should be a couple of books on the theory and placing of
curses."

Magnus " That still leaves us with the problem of a timelord or lords on the
same planet as the Lord of the Vale.  The contract called for binding him
permanently?"

Harmon " I thought Varne said that was not possible."

Magnus " It is not in theory but possible in practice, that is provided the
correct contingency is selected and the subject does not know what it is."

Varne " What do you want to do Lord?"

Magnus " I do not want to do anything.  However we are going to have to go to
Varus III.  With luck just warning the timelord will be enough."

Varne " And without luck, can you rebind the Vale Lord."

Magnus " I don't know, last time I took him by surprise, he was expecting a
physical attack.  Harmon how long to get to Varus III?

Harmon "Let me see, allowing for a safe refuelling port six weeks , the
planet is way off charted routes, and the coordinates for the area are not
well enough charted for point jumps, and before you ask the best accuracy I
can get out of the time displacement unit in your warp belt is plus or minus
five years, that is if you want to take the ship with you."

Varne " If we use the belt without the ship?"

Magnus " Too far and if we can't bind Old Stony I want the ship's weapons as
back up.  Harmon lay in the course and execute."