Star Trekking With Doctor Who

It's another edition of Star Trekking, my regular blog post devoted to my Star Trek fandom.

As you can see from the additional graphic below, my other fandom is visiting today, Doctor Who.

Today's topic is Star Trek crossing over with Doctor Who?

Can it happen?

According to Akiva Goldsman, showrunner for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, he was certainly trying to make it happen.  

In ST: SNW season 3's "The Sehlat Who Ate Its Tail", there is a blink and you'll miss it image of the TARDIS caught with the Enterprise by a scavenger ship.

Also the Enterprise's engineer Commander Pelia (Carol Kane) obliquely referenced accompanying a "time travelling doctor".

While discussing the Doctor's Easter Egg appearance in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Goldsman said he had been actively working with Russell T. Davies on pulling together a crossover.  

Goldsman said, “We were trying with Russell to do a crossover. We were for years. Again, these are the near misses, but we got not unclose, and we had some really cool conversations about it. And so, certainly in our view, I mean, Pelia traveled in the TARDIS. Why not?"

Russell T Davies has expressed his desire to make a crossover happen: "We would love to announce a crossover between Star Trek and Doctor Who!"   

"If anyone can make that happen... it’s fans that can make that happen! Two great big broadcasters, two great big empires – and their lawyers! – would have to come together, but we can do that, can’t we?"

Well, no! 

Does the BBC and Paramount not want our money? 

With both Star Trek AND Doctor Who not in active production, the chance of any kind of in canon crossover is very remote at this time.  

Where TV shows may not enter, comic books will not fear to tread.  

And where comics book dare to tred, some questionable fan fiction can certainly muck about.  

In the Doctor Who episode "Space Babies", in which the Fifteenth Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) declares to companion Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) that they should visit the Enterprise sometime.

Ruby knows them as characters in a TV show.  The Doctor knows them to be real. 

That was in 2024.  

But 11 years before that, this was sort of the premise of a little something-something I wrote and posted back on Sunday, May 26,2013.  

The Doctor Meets Captain Kirk

The Doctor Meets Captain Kirk

______________________________________________

Scene opens: the TARDIS console room as the 10th Doctor 

makes adjustments and Rose scrolls through data on a monitor.

Doctor: So, Rose, has the TARDIS database provided any inspiration where...or when...we should go next?

Rose: It's so overwhelming, all these choices. Still, after that

 mess with the Ood and the Beast, I think I can narrow down our search towards a...little...rest and relaxation.

Doctor: (leans against the console with a blissful smile) Ah, 

rest and relaxation. (Then he makes a face) Nyah! C'mon, Rose! Find some place exciting.

Rose: How about this place? Dahlforius Six seems interesting.

Doctor: Oh! Oh! Yes, Rose, I haven't been to Dahlforius Six in...in...centuries! Lots of fun stuff to do!

Rose: "Fun stuff", Doctor?

Doctor (pulls back a bit on his excitement): I can do fun stuff if I want to.

Rose (looking back at the read out): What are Vapor Jet Falls?

Doctor: Oh, what a rush, Rose! It is the most amazing ride! 

(pauses a second) Well, you just have to watch out for the odd mountain.

Rose: Odd mountain?

Doctor: There's this mountain that's quite...odd. Has some 

kind of personality disorder.

Rose: Doctor, how can a mountain..?

Suddenly the TARDIS lurches sideways as the time rotor slows down.

Rose and the Doctor (standing wobbily before falling to the 

floor): Whooaaaa!

Rose (slowly picking herself up off the floor): What was that, Doctor?

Doctor (springing to his feet and lunging towards the TARDIS console): Not sure. Finding out. It's OK, everything's going to be just fine.

Rose: I'm fine, Doctor. Don't worry about (she stops when she realizes the Doctor was talking to the TARDIS as he strokes the console) ...okay.

Doctor (still talking to the TARDIS): C'mon, old girl, what's got 

you in such a tizzy? Oh, there's the trouble.

Rose: What is it?

Doctor: Appears we're in the wake of a passing spaceship 

travelling at warp speed. Oh, warp speed? How quaint. Unfortunately, the TARDIS's temporal phase harmonics were 

out of sync with the bisecting warp field differential resulting in a spatial temporal incursion...

Rose: Doctor, can you put all that in English, please?

The Doctor turns to Rose as if to speak, then pauses for a 

moment's thought.

Doctor: Ah, no. No, I can't. Sorry. Anyway, it won't take long to 

get the TARDIS in proper working order but we will need to 

land for a few minutes. I can coax a short hop out of her.

Rose: Where're we going to land?

Doctor: Oh, I was thinking about...borrowing a lift from that 

passing spaceship. Well, they...whoever they are...caused all this trouble. It seems only fair.

Rose: We could be heading for more trouble.

Doctor (grinning broadly): Rose, we're always heading for more trouble. Still, a few minutes rest and we'll be on our way. I'll make sure to materialize somewhere inconspicuous.

As the TARDIS dematerializes where it was floating in space, the scene shifts ahead to catch up with the spaceship.

The ship...is the Starship Enterprise, model 1701, flagship of 

the Federation. And our point of view passes through the top 

of the ship and on to the bridge. Captain Kirk is signing off on a computer pad as Scotty enters the bridge.

Scotty: Aye, Captain, that strange disruption in the warp field 

has gone away.

Kirk: Thank you, Mister Scott. Mister Spock! Analysis!

Spock: There is very little to give, Captain. The sensors 

detected a faint pulse of energy that I did not recognize. 

Whatever it was, it has vanished completely from our sensors.

Kirk: So maybe we just a hit a pebble in the road.

Spock: A pebble in the...

Kirk: Never mind, Spock. Mr. Sulu, steady as she goes, 

warp factor 2.

Sulu: Yes, Captain, warp factor two.

Kirk: Uhura, send a message to...Starfleet Command that the Enterprise is.....

Spock: Captain! The sensors are reading that unknown energy again. It's a stronger reading this time. And (Spock looks up from his station) it is heading for the Enterprise!

Kirk: Mister Sulu, screen on.

Sulu: Screen on, sir.

Kirk: Spock, can we...lock in coordinates, get a visual on this energy?

Spock: Captain, I surmise that...

Uhura: Captain, what is that strange noise?

Kirk: That...noise! Coming from everywhere...and nowhere. I've...never heard anything like it.

Spock: Captain, it seems the source of the energy..

Uhura: Captain Kirk! Look!

By the ship's flight console, the bridge crew sees a shimmering of color and light, feel a wind that is not entirely made of air and the growing sound that defies their ability to describe it. The shimmering becomes a shape and the noise suddenly ends with a 

loud "thunk".

Spock: The source of the energy has come here.

On the bridge of the Starship Enterprise, there now stood a quaintly designed blue box.

Sulu: "Police Box"? What's that?

Kirk (turning towards Spock): Analysis?

Spock (arching an eyebrow): Your guess is, as they say on 

Earth, as good as mine.

And inside the blue box, the TARDIS, the Doctor runs both 

his hands through his unruly hair while looking at the 

monitor showing the Enterprise bridge crew as Rose smirks, 

her back to the monitor.

Rose: Somewhere...inconspicuous, you said.

Doctor: Yeah, well, you know.

Rose: So, this is the part where I say, "What now, Doctor?"

Doctor: Well, the TARDIS still needs a little more time to 

finish recalibrating. And since I'm not familiar with this 

culture and I have no idea what their weaponry is...

Rose: You're going to talk to them.

Doctor (throwing on his long coat over his suit): I'm going to 

talk to them. The TARDIS only needs a few minutes more 

but there's no telling what kind of trouble they might cause out 

there in that time unless someone comes out and says 

"Hello". Rose, stay here. (The Doctor exits.)

Rose: Yeah, like that'll happen. Let me grab my jacket and...

(Rose looks at the monitor and sees the bridge crew for the first time.) They look familiar. Wait a minute! (Rose eyes go wide.) 

No way!

Meanwhile outside the TARDIS, the Doctor slips through the 

front door and is immediately greeted by Starfleet officers 

aiming phasers at him.

Doctor (grinning widely): Oh, hello!

Kirk: Who are...

Doctor (immediately starts roaming around the bridge): Wow! 

What a spaceship you've got here! Lots of lights and colors! Gleaming metal!

Kirk: Will you...

Doctor: Very sleek! Now this is a proper spaceship! Oh, some 

of the relics I've been on lately...

Kirk (very forcefully): WHO are you and WHAT are you doing on MY starship?
 
Doctor (stops, drops the grin): Oooh, sorry. I tend to gab a bit. 

I'm the Doctor.

Kirk: Doctor who?

Doctor (grinning again): Just the Doctor. (Pulls out psychic 

paper) You will see my credentials are in order.

Sulu: Captain, he's with the Senior Admiral's office!

Spock: No, Mr. Sulu, he is not.

Uhura: But we can see his identification...

Spock: Our visitor is holding a piece of paper with psychic 

attributes somehow imbedded in...

Rose (comes out of the TARDIS, excited, looks wide eyed at Spock): It IS you!

Kirk: And who...is this?

Doctor: Er, Rose. Rose Tyler. Sorry. Rose, I said to stay...

Rose (pointing at Spock): But that's Spock!

Doctor (puzzled): What? Who?

Rose: Yes, that's Spock and that's Uhura and Scotty and Sulu. 

And the Captain of the Startship Enterprise, James T Kirk.

Kirk: How do you know who...we are?

Doctor (equally incredulous): Yes, that's what I like to know. 

We just got here.

Rose (exasperated with the Doctor): They're from the TV 

show, Star Trek. Mickey and I used to watch it all the time 

when we were kids.

Scotty: TV show? What pray tell are you talking about, lassie!

Sulu: Could this be a Romulan plot?

Spock: Not very likely, Mr. Sulu.

Doctor: This is NOT a television program, Rose.

Rose (rolling her eyes): Of course not, Doctor. No cameras, no studio lights. But still...

Kirk: Doctor, I want some straight answers and...I want 

them now.

Doctor: A most sensible suggestion, Captain...?

Rose: Kirk.

Doctor: Yes, Kirk! Well, Captain Kirk, we're just travelers and 

our vessel, my TARDIS, was damaged when....wait! 

(looks back at Rose) Did I just say Captain Kirk?

Rose: Yeah!

Doctor: Wow! Rose, you were right! They are...

Kirk: Doctor?!

Doctor: Yes, right, straight answers. Well...Captain Kirk...

we're just travelers and.... (The Doctor suddenly moves 

forward and shakes Kirk's hand) Oh, I must say what a thrill 

and an honor to meet-

Suddenly the TARDIS makes a quick VWORP noise and 

the light on top starts to flash.

Rose: Um, Doctor?

Doctor: Oh good! The TARDIS has finished recalibrating! 

Sorry for barging in like this. We'll just run along and 

I'll have this off your carpeting...ooh, a starship with carpeting...

Rose (smiling brightly and waving): Bye. It was fantastic meeting you for real. Oh, Mr. Spock?

Spock: Yes?

Rose (gives the Vulcan salute): Live long and prosper!

Spock gives the salute back, with a nod. Rose smiles and winks, then goes inside the TARDIS, leaving Spock arching a bemused eyebrow.

Doctor: Yeah, what she said. Alon-zy! (And he ducks inside the TARDIS which begins to dematerialize, then vanishes.)

Kirk: What...what is...going on here, Spock?

Spock: Inconclusive. But I estimate the probability at 92% 

that the Doctor and Rose were in fact who they said they were: merely a pair of travelers who were temporarily sidetracked 

to our ship. And quite probably, they were also...

Scotty: Bonkers?

Uhura: Mad?

Sulu: Off their rockers?

Spock: I believe the human idiom that comes closest to fairly 

and accurately describing their mental state would be..koo-koo.

Kirk: Koo-koo, Mister Spock?

Spock: It is the most logical assessment I can make

Uhura: Do you wish me to send word to Starfleet Command 

about-

Kirk: No, I...don't think so.

Spock: Captain, I am fascinated by their assertion that the 

Doctor and Rose recognized us from a fictional entertainment program.

Kirk: I...would not worry about that, Spock. As you say...koo-koo. In fact, I think...it might be best if we ...don't...mention this again.

Whole bridge crew murmurs their ascent.

Spock: A pebble in the road, Captain?

Kirk: Yes, Mr. Spock. Just a pebble in the road. Full ahead, Mr. Sulu; warp factor three.

Inside the TARDIS.

Rose: Doctor, how can there really be a Captain Kirk and an Enterprise and a Mister Spock in real life when they're just 

fictional characters on a TV show?

Doctor: Well, quantum variations in temporal mechanics 

in parallel to...

Rose: Just say you don't know.

Doctor (lowers voice as if embarrassed): I don't know.

Rose: Doctor, I was wondering: is it possible that somewhere 

our lives are just a TV show?

Doctor: What? A TV show about a daft old man in a box 

travelling randomly through time and space with a young 

female companion while always getting into trouble? 

(The Doctor pauses a moment. Then...) Nyah! Who would 

want to watch that?

Voice over: Annnnd..cut!

Scene shifts to a man with a head set standing next to a camera surrounded by more cameras, other TV equipment and various workers.

Director: And that's a wrap on another episode of Doctor Who. David and Billie, great job as always.

Billie: Thank you!

David (Scottish accent): Always a pleasure.

Director: Heads up, though. Russell's all frantic. Julie just 

told him we're over-budget on the last episode so Russell's 

doing a last minute re-write on the next one.

David: Uh oh! This won't be pretty!

Billie: Ooh boy! Russell and re-writes..brrrr! David, we 

best make ourselves scarce.

David: Right! Yeah, we can't stick around. I've got this...thing...

Billie: Yeah, me too. I've got a...thing too...

David & Billie: 'Bye!

David & Billie rush off in different directions as our view 

moves over to a cluster of equipment where, obscured from everyone else's view, is the Doctor and Rose.

Doctor (not happy): Well, that's rubbish! That...that doesn't even look like me!

Rose (also not happy): My butt is not that big.

Doctor: Well, you know what they say, Rose?

Rose: What's that, Doctor?

Doctor: That's show biz!

The Doctor aims his sonic screwdriver at the screen, then the screen goes black.

---fade out---

????^^^^????^^^^????^^^^????^^^^

For Doctor Who stuff, I've got a post forthcoming of Doctor Who Is CLASSIC! 

Jon Pertwee is the Doctor for one last epic adventure! 

It's "Planet of the Spiders!"

For Star Trek stuff, the 4th season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will premiere this week. 

The first episode “Valles Marineris” drops July 23rd.