PROLOGUE - 19 Years Ago.
The roar of the distortion echoed around the place. All five dimensions were tied in to this one point of singularity and then just as suddenly as it started, it stopped, two figures were left standing there, all alone. One male, one female.
"Unique," said the male. "I've never done anything like that before."
"I have a question," said the female. "I know you, I can feel that in my heart - but who are you?"
"I'm..." said the man. "I'm.... I can't remember."
"Neither can I."
"That's strange. Let me check my pockets, see if we have any ID." He searched through his pockets and found a couple of cards, ID badges with their pictures on. However there was no writing. He looked her. She shrugged. "Okay. Let's sort this out. For arguments sake I'll be Peter."
"I'll be Lisa." 'Peter' nodded, then he noticed the rings on their fingers. "We're married."
"Logical conclusion. We need a last name then."
"How about Trayne?"
"Where'd you get that from?"
"Don't know. Maybe that is our name?"
"Could be. Come on let's go find a town."
"In the middle of a desert?"
"There'll be one somewhere. Come on." Peter Trayne followed her, hoping that they'd remember something to find out how they got here, and where from. Also he wanted to know why he couldn't remember. There were too many questions to ask. He sighed. One day, he thought. One day. They walked off not noticing a solitary piece of paper with one word written on it. 'Aughoti.'
Preparations
Dave Goldfish sat in his office at C&C. He had a lot of work to do before he could rest. He was quickly typing in to his console, preparing for the day he'd no longer be able to do so. The command network was set. He had given priority control over the complex to 'Cutting Edge' - the computer codename for the one person he could trust above all others. However the final commands had to be given verbally.
"Computer - set for Cutting Edge voice recognition and DNA scans only. Command 'Goldfish Omega One.'" He sighed and hoped it wouldn't come to that. In fact he hoped the computer never had to hear those words. But the responsibility of running this place was a great one, and even then Dave had buried certain files in the data store so deeply, he wasn't certain he could get them back, if he needed them. Not even Dave trusted them that much. He didn't even trust himself that much. He made a few final preparations and stored the new programme. Then he had to make some physical adjustments to the place and make sure the retrieval commands were working. He went out to view the new placements he had had R&D fit. They were secure, and Dave self tested them, using his powers. They worked fine. Dave smiled and went back to his office.
"Computer, Goldfish Omega Alpha One."
"Confirmed. Point of origin is locked and steady. Return in 0 seconds." The complex shook as it was locked in to place. Dave nodded and called it a night. He just hoped that what he had done was never needed. But knowing the people he knew, he didn't think that was likely.
The Death of Goldfish and Geneva
Several weeks later, an invasion had occurred, a Dalek strike force attacking the Earth to gain control of the timestream itself. Dave had teamed up with his old friend the Doctor – an alien time traveller, and had saved the planet by sucking the Daleks in to a temporal vortex, shifting them just outside of the timeline by a fraction of a second but enough to displace them forever. However the Doctor had become snared in his own trap and Dave and Jo hjad rescued him, but at a cost. Dave and Jo were gone as well. A crystal had been delivered to Blaquesmith who played it for and to the team. The members of the Fringe clustered around the holocrystals as Dave spoke.
"If you're watching this, then something extremely bad has occurred and not only am I missing but Jo is as well and you cannot find a trace of either of us. If this is the case, whilst it is unlikely that we are still alive, there's always a chance so someday we may return. There's so much I want to say to you all, but there's not much room on these holocrystals so I'll have to keep it brief. Heck, this is hard.
"First of all to Fever. I'd like to thank you for recruiting me to the team. I may not have always been a... good follower, but that is, was and never has been not your problem. Of all those I have called leader, you're up there with the best of 'em. If I ever let you down in any way at all, I apologise. You deserved better from me.
"Crystal. You and I joined the team at about the same time. You were there for me, backing me up in all those escapades I got in to. For that I thank you and hope that your life with Blaquesmith is happy and joyous - for there's no reason it shouldn't be.
"Stout. We've not known each other long, but I recognise you to be a valuable ally and a worthy friend. Take good care of yourself, you're a survivor.
"I have to mention Blaquesmith and I just have. Only joking, mate. You know I couldn't leave it at that. You've been too good a friend to me to do that. You and I have seen so much, yet rarely together. At least it gave us something to talk about. Whatever form you choose upon, you will always have the same heart, courage and fire that makes you the person that you are. This is why I can ask you the following. If C&C still stands, I'd like you to take over the running of the place. It's all set up for you. The information in there is very valuable, and very dangerous. If you decide that you cannot accept, I'll understand, even though I'll not be there but you should know what I mean. In that case go to my office and activate the computer. Tell it 'Goldfish Omega One - engage.' Then you'll have about a minute to leave, but that shouldn't be a problem. Then the complex will fire off in to deep space, only to return if I do.
"Decibel, Shadowcat, Gizmo and everyone else. You were good team mates. I don't think I've known better.
"I'm getting a little preachy, so I'd better finish. But how? We lived and died, laughed and cried. Nothing is absolute. I've learned that the hard way, several times. As someone once said to me 'What is, is.' Simple, profound and a damn good policy.
"If there is any way at all to return, we will. But for now this is Chevalier Goldfish wishing you all good fortune and not too quiet lives. After all, what's chaos for?"
Funeral for the Fallen
It was a small service, just outside C&C UK. Present were the members of the X-Wars team, the Fringe as well as a representative from each team. There were also his parents and her father as well as the team known as Andromeda and Adam Drake, Commander of C&C USA. Dave Goldfish and his wife Jo Geneva had died defending their friends No trace of them could be found and now after a month there had been still been no trace of them. They had to face facts - Goldfish and Geneva were dead, they would be having no more adventures, save the greatest of all. There was also a third memorial stone next to theirs - that of their unborn child. They had not decided on a name so the stone just read 'Goldfish Junior'. The stones were made of black marble with the lettering in gold. As there were no bodies they could not be buried so a memorial stone was the best that could be done. Embedded in Dave's was his Fringe ID. Then it was time for some of the people to say a few words. Stout went first.
"I didn't know them that well, yet I knew that a crisis always seemed to follow them about. Whatever the emergency, they were there. They were good people." He looked as if he didn't know what else to say and he left it at that. Fever went next.
"He always t'ought I was too formal wid 'Guardian' dis and 'Chevalier' dat. It was always a sign of respect, and if you listening - you never let me down.' She spoke in reference to the message he had sent via Blaquesmith. She stepped down and Blaquesmith stood up.
"What is... is," he said after a long pause. "I've always known that, though sometimes I do forget. Dave reminded me of this a couple of times. He always asked me how I knew so much about him. I hope now he knows. Goodbye, my friend." He stepped down and a few others spoke about them. In this business, everyone knew the risks - though sometimes it was hammered home.
After the ceremony, people started to depart. There wasn't much to stay for. Andromeda were heading back to the stars and Adam was going with them. C&C had lost something for him, and there was no need to stay. As everyone left, a small man watched the events. He wrapped his scarf around his neck and put his hat back on.
"Sorry," he said, "it wasn't meant to be like this." The young girl at his side put her arm around him, and they walked into what appeared to be a police box. It whirred and vanished, as if had never been there. Also a galaxy away, a being of cosmic might watched the events. It was an strange experience for him, but he had other matters to attend to, in realities other than this one. However he had to see this to the end and when everyone left, he went on his way.
EPILOGUE - The Present
The phone rang and he picked it up.
"Midnight Trayne."
"I have a job for you. It's a special."
"Usual money."
"Of course. I'll have the details sent over. This one might be problematic."
"We'll deal with it. Timescale?"
"Within a year."
"A year?"
"Yes."
"Fair enough. I'll contact you after its done, Mr Aughoti." He put the telephone down. "Emma! Lisa!" he called out. "We've work to do."