The Twelfth Doctor crashes an intergalactic treasure hunt with Bernice Summerfield—because if there’s one thing worse than a universe-ending weapon, it’s archaeologists with egos.
Short Synopsis
When a mysterious alien artifact called the God Engine reappears on 23rd-century Earth, chaos ensues. The Doctor arrives to stop it from rewriting reality, but he’s not the only time traveler on the scene. Enter Professor Bernice “Benny” Summerfield, archaeologist, adventurer, and professional thorn in the Doctor’s side. It’s a race against time, space, and an awful lot of bad decisions.
Extended Storyline
Our tale begins in the 23rd century, where Sydney, Australia, has been replaced with Technopolis, a glittering sprawl of futuristic skyscrapers, floating museums, and people who think hover-scooters are a personality trait. But beneath the sleek exterior lies a secret—an ancient, alien artifact has resurfaced: the God Engine, a device from the mysterious Glamour that can reshape space-time itself.
Naturally, every treasure hunter, collector, and morally flexible archaeologist in the galaxy wants it. And naturally, so does Bernice Summerfield, the Doctor’s former companion, now a seasoned time-traveling academic with a talent for getting into trouble and a sense of humor sharp enough to cut through time.
Unfortunately for everyone involved, she’s not alone. Dozens of other “archaeologists” (read: thieves with degrees) have descended on Technopolis, turning it into a cosmic free-for-all. Think Indiana Jones meets Mad Max, with slightly more paperwork.
Enter the Twelfth Doctor—still grumpy, still brilliant, and completely unimpressed by the entire spectacle. He’s investigating the Glamour, an elusive cosmic energy that manipulates perception, luck, and desire—basically, it makes people irrationally want things they shouldn’t. And right now, everyone wants the God Engine.
When the Doctor and Bernice cross paths, it’s like watching two different eras of Doctor Who collide—and argue about who’s older. Their banter crackles with history: she teases him about his regeneration; he pretends not to remember her, which, given his usual social skills, might even be true. Clara’s notably absent here (this adventure takes place while she’s off being human somewhere), giving the story a delightfully classic tone—part New Who, part New Adventures.
As the treasure hunt escalates, the Doctor discovers that the God Engine isn’t just a weapon—it’s a living consciousness left over from an ancient civilization, capable of rewriting entire timelines in an instant. Worse, the Glamour is using the artifact to draw people in, feeding on their greed and ambition. Humanity’s capacity for wanting shiny things is, as always, the universe’s greatest liability.
Benny, meanwhile, finds herself leading a ragtag team of opportunists, double agents, and one particularly talkative cat-person, all of whom want the Engine for themselves. She’s the voice of chaotic reason, constantly saving lives between sarcastic quips and exasperated sighs. The Doctor, trying to play the grown-up (a role he barely manages), attempts to contain the situation before the God Engine “redecorates” reality with itself as architect.
Things spiral quickly—cities start warping, gravity stops working properly, and the sky briefly turns inside out (which is generally considered bad for tourism). The Doctor and Bernice finally join forces, realizing that the only way to stop the God Engine is to trick it into shutting down. Using a mix of reverse engineering, time loops, and pure stubbornness, they convince the Glamour that it’s achieved perfection—causing it to collapse in on itself, because even cosmic entities can’t resist a good paradox.
When the dust settles (and Technopolis stops glowing ominously), the Doctor offers Bernice a lift in the TARDIS. She declines, of course—she has lectures to give, museums to raid, and a universe to annoy. The two part on a note of affectionate bickering, leaving behind one of the most gloriously chaotic team-ups in modern Doctor Who fiction.