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Mission summary:
"A
Medical Officer on the Western Front receives a visit from Mr. Tibbs; someone
is saving lives of the dead and the Human Time-Line could be seriously
threatened. It's the eve of the Battle of the Somme [July 1st 1916] and
Jericho, with his team, are in the trenches on the day before the bloodiest
battle in British Military History. Now posing as foreign diplomats and
reporters, the team investigates Casualty Clearing Station No.21 and the
strange Doctor Alexander Harris."
Episode may contain the following warnings:
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER:
“All incidents and dialogue, and all characters with the exception of some well-known historical figures, are products of the author's imagination and are not to be construed as real. Where real-life historical figures appear, the situations, incidents, and dialogues concerning those persons are entirely fictional and are not intended to depict actual events or to change the entirely fictional nature of the work. In all other respects, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
SOME OF THESE EPISODES CONTAIN VERY STRONG LANGUAGE, VIOLENCE, HORROR AND SEXUAL REFERENCES. They are AGE RECOMMENDED suitable for persons aged 12+ years only. Some episodes are rated HIGHER at 15+ and ALL the 'ALEXANDRA' Series versions are AGE RATED at 18+”
Stephen Williams
THE AUTHOR.
Author’s notes about this episode:
[1] A little extra warning: this episode contains some scenes of death and suffering.
[2]
Names have been changed to protect the innocent!
[3]
The original Title for this episode was: ‘THE DOCTOR WHO DEFIED DEATH.’
[4]
A ‘Jericho Tibbs’ original story.
[5]"DOCTOR ALEXANDER HARRIS AND HIS BATTLE WITH GOD.” The original illustration for this episode was created by the author, as was this episode, which was also conceived and written by him. Copyright © 2011-2025 Stephen Williams. Please, no reproduction of any part without written permission.
[6] There is an 'ALEXANDRA' series adult extended version currently available entitled:
"ALEXANDRA: AN ANGEL OF MERCY?"
[7] This episode is based - in part - upon a true incident: the Battle of the Somme was a major WWI offensive launched by the British and French armies against the German army, taking place between July 1st and November 18th, 1916, in northern France. It is known for its immense casualties and the high cost in human lives. The first day of the battle remains the bloodiest day in British military history. For further background information please view the 'WIKIPEDIA' entry HERE.
Concept
date: 15th May 2017
First
published: 6th August 2017
Status: COMPLETED & PUBLISHED.
Location: BOOK SERIES 1 – EPISODE 4.
Revisions: 3 [Last revised May
2018]
Version:
Final.
Published
Episode No. 04
Previous
episode: "The ghosts and Miss Jessica Martin."
Next episode: "The impossible films of Miss Stockyard Canning."
Age
recommendation: 12+
Average
reading time: Approximately 60 Minutes.
Angel-in-charge: Margret
Team Assigned: Team 74
Mission: 8 - 112345 - 5 - 1916
Human times:Gregorian Calendar: MCMXVI
Muslim Calendar: 1334 - 1335 [AH]
Hebrew Calendar: 5676 - 5677
Christian Calendar: 1916AD
Episode preview:
1. JERICHO GETS A NEW CASE.
Jericho and Wilson walked slowly down the bright corridor towards the Angel’s office; both a little troubled about the summons from James, the Angel in charge of Collections, he didn’t often call for Temporal Detectives directly. They were stopped by Rufus who slapped hands with Wilson and nodded a greeting to Mr. Tibbs.
“You’re gonna love this weird shit brother!” Rufus exclaimed, pushing the dreadlocks from his grinning face; “Man, some dude is messing with the dying and its fucking up Records; they are coming up short – big time!”
Rufus was the Senior Collector for one entire Century of human existence and one of the busiest; the 20th. He held a bunch of brown paper folders under his arm and shook his head, still grinning; “Three of my Collectors have reported that souls they were suppose to pick up, were still in their damn flesh suits!”
Jericho and Wilson exchanged a puzzled look and Wilson asked; “How can that be man? Old man Death is always on top form when it comes to Dispatches!” Jericho nodded his agreement with Wilson’s comments and smiled – Arch-Angel Abraham who was in command of the Dispatch Department [responsible for scheduling human deaths] wouldn’t appreciate being called ‘Old Man Death’.
He had worked hard over the Millennia to give his department a new image; Even the old logo of the skeleton and scythe had been replaced with a bright white star and the names of his operatives had also been changed to ‘Dispatchers’ from the old title of ‘Death Stalkers’.
The Arch-Angel believed that the changes would give his Department a far friendlier appearance - Jericho chuckled to himself; I bet the living would disagree with that!
“It’s happening in one place at the start of the century; slam bang in the middle of a fucking big war!” Rufus tapped gently on the door and added; “We’re collecting loads every day and so far, nine souls have stayed firmly embedded in their fucking flesh suits and won’t come out.” He laughed loudly, flashing wonderful white teeth and threw back his head, the dreadlocks falling about his shoulders, adding; “Some dude is taking the piss and messing up our records and that isn’t right.”
Wilson grunted; "Which fucking big war is that - they had lot's in the century you cover Rufus." Jericho accepted a couple of files from Rufus, but turned to Wilson; "The First World war or the Great War, as it was originally called before the Second World war dropped by. Basically mass slaughter; it was the first real war of the Industrial Age and killing was now mechanised. The result was mass deaths - on a scale never seen before in human history."
"What's great about a war of mass killing and destruction?" Wilson asked and Jericho had to agree with him. Rufus tapped one of the brown paper files and said quietly; "We have nine souls still in their flesh suits and they were all soldiers who should have died. They were wounded in battle and should have passed over - it was scheduled. They were taken to...." He pulled open the file and then looked back up; "To Casualty Clearing Station No.21 - whatever that means - and every single one of them came into contact with one living human. Bit of a coincidence, eh?"
Jericho smiled; "I don't really believe in coincidence, what year are we talking about and who was it?"
Rufus pulled open the file again and pointed to the page; "Same dude each time; a Doctor Alexander Harris and the same year: 1916."
"Well, I think we have enough already, to get authority for a little mission to that bloody piece of madness and check out this Doctor Harris character. But we'll need a Doctor from that time period for advice on medical procedures and such. I think I know just the man." Jericho rubbed his chin and grinned, adding; "And it will make the girls happy."
Wilson gave Jericho a puzzled look, then shrugged his shoulders; "I don't expect I'll fit in back there." Jericho slapped him on the back; "You'll fit in like a glove - well, compared to our temporary new boy." Jericho chuckled; "I'll borrow him from Doc Underhill's team." Wilson caught on to what Jericho was saying and smiled; "Jesus Jericho, there won't be many of him around decent white folks
back in 1916!" The sarcasm in his voice was obvious.
The door slid open in invitation for them to enter and the threesome walked quietly in and the door slowly closed behind them.
Jericho had called a team meeting and the crew assembled in the Drawing Room, well supplied with coffee and tea by the ever attentive Mr. Harris. When everyone was seated, Jericho nodded to Owen who handed out a couple sheets of paper to each person. Alex quickly cast her eyes over the document and sighed loudly, she sipped her tea and spoke directly to Jericho; “Someone is saving lives of soldiers who should have died?”
“And messing up the Time-Line by doing that my baby girl!” Wilson commented and stirred more sugar into his thick dark coffee. He turned to the new member of the team and added; “Our lady Alex has a soft spot for the living!” Then smiled and sipped his coffee with relish, while everyone chuckled at his comment – including Alex.
The ‘new’ team member he referred to was a Temporal Detective on loan from another team: ‘Skyrise Young Mountain’ was a strapping Apache Indian with dark hair and eyes; he resembled a Greek statue fitted out with a Savile Row suit and expensive shoes. In any age populated by female humans he would be considered a handsome man; a very handsome man.
“He’s so bloody handsome, he’s gorgeous!” Whispered young Ruth Hall who was peeking into the study with the Housekeeper Mrs. Harris; who chuckled and pointed out to young Ruth that men are not referred to as ‘gorgeous’; but just ‘handsome’. Ruth voiced her disagreement; “No, this one’s gorgeous.” Mrs. Harris gripped her arm and returned to the kitchen – taking the reluctant House Maid with her.
Alex studied the young man over her tea cup and had to admit to herself that young Skyrise was quite a magnificent specimen of manhood. She watched him walk over to the table and place his coffee cup down; he moved like a big cat – with grace and poise that didn’t match his size.
Had Alex heard young Ruth’s comments, she would agree with her – totally.
Jericho called the meeting to order and explained the forthcoming mission; "In late June of 1916 there is a war happening in Europe and the Collectors are out in force. But some have reported failures to collect certain souls because their lives have been saved and as Wilson pointed out, this is interfering with the Time-Line and messing up Records. The Angel is not happy and we’ve been tasked to investigate and bring this strange phenomenon to a close. I’ve borrowed Skyrise from Doc Underhill’s team because he has special knowledge of this particular time period – especially this war.”
Everyone glanced at Skyrise with the same thought; how the hell is an Apache Indian an expert on some European war?
Jericho Tibbs must have read their minds or their faces and chuckled loudly, slapping Skyrise on the shoulder; "People, Mr. Skyrise was one of some twenty thousand Native Americans who volunteered to serve their country in that war. He was in France, not at the time of this incident, but the following year after the United States joined the conflict in 1917. He volunteered as a Military Surgeon, so you see; he is superbly qualified to assist us.”
Everyone sat in silence, a little ashamed at their ignorance of the person that stood smiling before them. “May I ask a personal question Doctor Skyrise and please be assured that I mean no offense by it.” Alex rolled her tea cup around in her hands and smiled at him. He nodded his agreement with no comment.
“How on earth did you end up a Military Surgeon in that racist time period, when other American’s treated your people like bloody aliens in their own land?” Alex spoke softly, her voice betraying a little anger and amazement at the man’s incredible achievement; why had she never heard of his exploits?
Skyrise smiled; “Genetics Lady Alex, simple genetics.” He clasped his hands together and explained to a very receptive audience how an Apache Indian was posted to France as a Military Surgeon;
“My father had an aptitude for medicine and the Christian brothers who visited his reservation saw his talent and arranged for him to receive Medical Training. But he proved such a good student they enrolled him in Medical School, paying for a scholarship and giving him a small allowance to survive on. He became one of the first Native American Doctors and a fine surgeon – but he was only allowed to treat other Native Americans, Mexicans, the Chinese and African Americans. He had no white patients. But he met my white mother, who was a Doctor in her own right, and despite the opposition from both families they married. So you see I was destined to be a Doctor – whatever colour I was.”
He laughed and continued; “I practiced medicine on various reservations and quickly became proficient at gunshot wounds. My people had taken to alcohol and rifles; I was always busy. There were several mines staffed by the Mexican and Chinese settlers that used explosives; I became a regular visitor there too and finally when the war came I found I was uniquely qualified to be a battlefield Surgeon. After some opposition I was accepted into the Army Medical Corp and went to France in late 1917.”
He accepted another coffee from Mr. Harris and stood quietly by the fireplace, pulling a brown paper folder from his jacket pocket and glancing at the contents. Jericho addressed the meeting again; “Skyrise has a suspect in mind; it appears the nine souls that couldn’t be collected all passed through this person’s hands just before the Collectors arrived.”
Skyrise nodded his agreement with Jericho’s statement; “They all passed through a surgical unit located behind the Front-Line; No. 21 Casualty Clearing Station at Corbie, in the Somme Region and a Doctor called Captain Alexander Harris.”
"DR. ALEXANDER HARRIS AND HIS BATTLE WITH GOD" CONTINUES IN 'TEMPORAL DETECTIVES' BOOK SERIES 1 [EPISODE 4.]
End of Preview.
Copyright © 2011-2025 Stephen Williams. No reproduction of any part without permission.