Chapter 9 (Planet of the Time Kings)
“How can I trust him?” asked the Doctor as he sat beside the swimming pool sipping on a glass of lemonade.
“You have to,” said Dr. Who. “You have to put your faith in him.”
“He just blew up the last survivors of Mondas. How do we know he’ll keep his word to have a fair hearing about Rock and Dome’s people?”
“Life is about uncertainties, isn’t it?” said Dr. Who. “Borshack will do what he needs to do to protect his people, but it doesn’t lie with him in the end. The final decision will have to be decided between the Earth council and the Moon people.”
“I suppose,” said the Doctor, taking another sip of his pink lemonade, “I just hope we can trust the Earth council.
“Let’s think about it logically, lad,” said Dr. Who, nibbling on a large, multicoloured biscuit, “the Moon men are happy to leave the residents of Lunar City Alpha in peace as long as the Earth doesn’t build any more cities. If they do they may attack.”
“And there are more moon people then they realise,” said the Doctor.
“So the Earth council shouldn’t want to jeopardise what they already have here.”
“What do you intend on doing next?” asked the Doctor.
Dr. Who tapped on his chin, considering his options. “I shall continue on my path to the planet of the Time Kings.”
“You mean Gallifrey?”
Dr. Who nodded, a smile on his face. “If that is what you call it in your universe, then yes, Gallifrey.”
The Doctor finished his biscuit and then leant back on the chair, pondering the questions that had been rattling around in his head since he had first met this strange, white-haired man.
“You seem a little perturbed, my boy,” said Dr. Who, sipping on a tea.
“I am in a way,” said the Doctor. “Our lives seem to be so completely different. Whenever I’ve met an alternate version of myself he has always been from the same place – from Gallifrey. You’re from Earth.”
He leant back and interlocked his fingers. “I was found on the doorstep of an orphanage in London in the early 20th century. I don’t know much more than that other than there was a bright light in the sky that morning.”
“And how many hearts do you have?”
“I beg your pardon?” he chuckled. “What a funny question. One of course!”
The Doctor smiled.
“My brother used to say that we were meant for a different purpose.”
“You had a brother?”
“He came a few years later in exactly the same circumstances. I don’t see much of him now.” Dr. Who laughed. “You know, it’s funny – he used to tell me that we were half human on our mother’s side.”
The Doctor nodded and smiled. Instead of growing up on this alternate Gallifrey he had instead grown up on Earth. A whole different person had been born from totally different experiences. This version of him was old, but brand new at the same time. He had the entire universe to look forward to.
“Grandfather, are we ready?” asked Susan, running up to them.
“In a moment, Susie, dear,” said Dr. Who, patting her on the head. “We must first see Miss Dangerfield and Doctor Smith back to their spaceship, remember?”
“Have we got the fluid link fixed?” asked Holly.
“Yes,” said the Doctor, tapping his blazer pocket, “Ridge helped out with that, but if you don’t mind I wouldn’t mind accompanying you and your friends.”
“Oh, where too?” asked Dr. Who.
“The Gallifrey. To the planet of the Time Kings.”
“Well, if you really want to.”
“Oh, I do,” said the Doctor, touching him affectionately on his arm. “I very rarely get to visit my home planet now. It’d be nice to see how it’s doing on this side.”
“Doctor,” said Holly, “I thought we were going to our Gallifrey?”
“We are, Miss Dangerfield,” said the Doctor, “and I promise we shan’t be long.”
Susan, Ian and Barbara had said their goodbyes to the crew of Luna City Alpha and the Doctor was standing with Dr. Who and Holly opposite Borshack and Rock.
“Thank you, Doctor,” said Rock. “We have hope now.”
“You’re very welcome,” said the Doctor. He was about to crouch down and offer his hand before realising he didn’t really know what he was supposed to shake. Instead he just nodded.
“And you, Mr Borshack, have a lot to atone for,” said Dr. Who.
“I don’t regret destroying the Cybergiants,” said Borshack. “I did it to protect my world.”
“You may have protected your world,” said the Doctor, “but you’re going to have to live with that crime for the rest of your life. Try and make up for it by helping Rock and his people.”
“I have nothing to feel guilty about,” said Borshack, but in reality he knew this strange man spoke the truth. “I will, however, do everything I can do to help the Moon Men.”
“Good,” said the Doctor.
“Well, Miss Dangerfield, are we ready?” asked Dr. Who.
“Ready,” she said, smiling.
The three of them entered the TARDIS. Standing in the corner of the jumbled up, wire-strewn console room was the Doctor’s own TARDIS. Susan, Ian and Barbara were stood around talking.
“Bit more basic than your pad, isn’t it?” said Holly, looking around.
“I would dearly like to have a look around your ship,” said Dr. Who, crossing over to the large, red lever in the centre of the room.
“I’d love for you to look around,” said the Doctor, “but I’m not sure you’re ready for it yet. Remember – one stage at a time. Let’s get you to Gallifrey first.”
Outside Borshack and Rock watched on as the blue police box dematerialised.
Borshack stood staring at the empty corridor space for a good few seconds before shaking his head and walking slowly away with Rock.
“What shall we do with Mondas?” asked Rock, remembering the dead world hanging just next to the moon.
Borshack narrowed his eyes and then looked at Rock. “What indeed?” He smiled. “I suddenly see more space cities popping up, my friend!”
A glittering city of spiral staircases, glass buildings, golden trees and shimmering, liquid skies hung in space like a shimmering, shining beacon inviting travellers of all races and beliefs.
The planet of the Time Kings.
In the city of Polyhex in the destrict of Dijax stood the huge, golden tower of the Council of Time, like a great, metallic needle pointing into the wispy, copper-coloured clouds.
A large set of golden steps led from a cobbled walkway to the large, iron door.
“Now this is a little more impressive!” said Holly.
“I’ll say!” said Ian.
“More impressive than what?” asked the Doctor. “My TARDIS?”
“I mean the moon,” said Ian, “I didn’t see inside your ship, remember?”
“Oh, yes, of course,” said the Doctor, looking sheepish.
“Stop getting defensive,” said Holly. “I love the TARDIS.” She gave him an affectionate nudge on the arm.
“Well, here we are,” said Dr. Who. “I’ve been reviewing some of the information Rassilon left us. I believe this is the Tower of Time.”
“There’s nobody about,” said Barbara. “Shouldn’t we expect a welcome party or something?”
As if to punctuate her question the large iron doors suddenly clunked open and from them streamed row upon row of men, women and children all dressed in silver, white, gold, cream, red and all other manner of coloured robes with high-backed collars.
A man with a bald head and deep-set green eyes approached Dr. Who.
“You have brought friends.”
“Yes, my family,” said Dr. Who, indicating the rest of the travellers. “Is that a crime?”
“Not at all,” said the man. “I am the Emperor of the Time Kings - Rassilon,” he said, nodding his head.
Dr. Who bowed a little and then looked at the rest of the travellers, who followed suit.
Rassilon frowned and approached the Doctor, narrowing his eyes to look at him more closely. “This is interesting...”
“Erm,” said Barbara, realising the implications of her grandfather bringing his own doppelganger to the planet, “your letter mentioned tests.”
“Yes, of course,” said Rassilon. “One test in fact.”
“Which is?” asked Susan.
“It has already been completed,” said Rassilon, smiling.
“I beg your pardon?” asked the Doctor. He had been careful not to speak up too much, but he was confused.
“We have been watching your actions at Lunar City Alpha – your encounter with the Cybergiants.”
“You mean spying?” said Susan, looking furious.
“No, not at all,” said Rassilon, smiling again, “merely observing.”
Dr. Who relaxed a little. “So that was my test?”
He nodded. “Yes.” He raised his arms and held his hands about a metre apart. A wavy orange line curved and arced from his right palm to his left. Another orange line followed suit and the two lines intertwined.
Holly and the others looked on in awe. “Time is such a malleable construct. We were aware of the arrival of Mondas. What happened to it was the test.”
“But we failed,” said Dr. Who. “The Cybergiants were wiped out.”
“But the point is that you tried. You did your very best to save those unfortunate, wretched creatures. You were there for the encounter.”
“So I can become a Time King?” asked Dr. Who.
“Not yet,” said Rassilon. He clapped his hands together, extinguishing the orange lines and then stepped aside to present the staircase to the iron door. “There are many more studies you must embark on before you join our people.”
“What about us?” asked Ian.
“Your friends are quite welcome to stay until you have completed your training.”
Dr. Who turned to the others and they shrugged their shoulders.
“Do what you need to do, grandfather,” said Susan.
“Most exciting!” said Dr. Who, his eyes twinkling as he rubbed his hands together.
“You will learn of the secrets of time and space.” He nodded to a couple of aids who brought forward some white and black robes. “Come. I will show you and your friends around the Tower of Time.”
Dr. Who looked back at the Doctor and Holly, who had safely kept their distance from the limelight.
“One moment,” said Dr. Who, as his companions excitedly gazed around at the towering buildings.
“I suppose this is where we say goodbye,” said the Doctor, looking down affectionately at the old man.
“You need to return to your own universe,” said Dr. Who.
“All of this is so different to what’s in my world.” The Doctor looked around at the all the life; the hope. “I envy you in some ways.”
“There is still time to enjoy your world again,” said Dr. Who.
“It is home after all,” said Holly.
The Doctor nodded. “Mind if I just reclaim my TARDIS from inside yours?”
“Not at all, young man,” said Dr. Who. He extended his hand and shook the Doctors before planting a kiss on Holly’s cheek.
“Goodbye, you lot!” said the Doctor, waving at his other self’s family as they mulled around the gathering crowd of Time Kings.
“Bye,” said Susan, waving at the others.
“Just one more thing,” said the Doctor as Dr. Who turned to leave. “Just one bit of advice – if you get bored then please don’t stay here. No matter what the Time Kings teach you nothing will ever beat being out amongst the stars. Enjoy your time here, but don’t let it ground you.”
Dr. Who didn’t reply, he simply nodded and smiled as the Doctor and Holly turned to leave.
Rassilon smiled at the old man as he took the robes from him. “Who was that man and woman?”
“Just a close – very close – friend,” he said, watching as the two returned to the TARDIS. “Now, let’s see what this planet of yours has to offer.”
To be concluded...
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