The First Time Lord (Chapter 8)

Chapter 8 (Rebirth)



The memory vision had ended. The Doctor was stood over the console with his hands spread out in front of him. Lilly was sat cross-legged on the floor looking at the rocky wall in front of her whilst Holly sat beside her, her hand rubbing her shoulders to comfort her.

“This just can’t be happening,” said Lilly, shaking her head. “It just can’t be.”

The Doctor glanced down at her and then back to the console. “I’m sorry, Lilly. I didn’t know.”

“Didn’t know what? That my mother’s a psychopathic killer from times long gone?” She glared up at him. “I figure you would have told me about that one.”

“Was there ever any sign?” said Holly, trying to work it out for herself. She had only met Celestia briefly, but she had always seemed like a stable, friendly woman.

“Of course there wasn’t, Holly,” said the Doctor, shaking his head and closing his eyes. “But then there wouldn’t be.”

“But what do you know about Celestia?” asked Holly.

“I’ve known her for centuries,” said the Doctor, turning around to face Holly. “Reikon was abandoned as a baby – no idea of where he had come from – and my family took him in. We remained as close as brothers could be. When we were older her met Celestia and the two fell in love. That was the end of that. They had Caleb and then Reikon and Caleb disappeared. Your mother and father had a brief romance which produced you, Lilly.”

“Yay,” she said dead-pan.

“But what about Celestia? What do you know about her?” said Holly.

The Doctor held out his hands. “Nothing. Nothing at all really. Just the basics. She was a quiet young woman who lived in a small village. She met Reikon when he was working in Zeeka City at the TARDIS construction yards.”

“So it’s entirely possible that all this is true then?”

“Well of course it’s true!” snapped the Doctor. “We’ve just seen it.”

“Hey!” said Lilly. “Leave her alone!”

“Look,” said the Doctor crouching down to them, “I’m sorry, Holly, but this is as much a shock to me as it is to Lilly. Celestia was – is – like a sister to me.” He rubbed his forehead and sighed. “What on Earth are we going to do?”

“Are you okay, Lilly?” asked Holly.

“I’m fine, Dangerfield,” said Lilly, laughing. “Not only is my adopted family a bunch of murders and abusers, my real father a psychopathic villain intent or world domination, but now my mother’s a deranged killer from the dawn of time! Is there any wonder I’m so messed up?”

“You’re not messed up, Lilly,” said Holly, hugging her. “You know that.”

“How am I meant to feel?” asked Lilly.

“Celestia is not a deranged killer,” said the Doctor, taking Lilly’s face and looking into her eyes. “The Slayer is. Celestia isn’t. Remember that.”

“She’s a real person, Lilly,” said Holly.

“Yeah, Doctor, a real person who you’ve just sent to Earth where that regeneration energy is,” said Lilly.

The Doctor’s eyes widened and he got to his feet. “We need to get to UNIT:X HQ now!”



Celestia’s fingers were tingling with power. She wasn’t exactly sure what she was feeling, but the casket was drawing her closer and closer to it. It was like she wasn’t in control of her own actions. As her hand neared the lid she felt like a veil was beginning to lift and for a moment she felt as if nothing around her or even inside herself was real.

“What’s she doing?” she heard the man they had called Osborne say from the doorway.

“Celestia?” said Reikon.

Celestia turned to face her husband, a smile playing across her face. “Oh, my dear Reikon, it all makes sense now.”

“What makes sense?” asked Reikon, his brain trying to piece together a few things that he was trying to hope weren’t true.

Celestia froze for a moment and then brought her hands down on the casket.

“No!” said Faith.

The lights went out and the lid of the casket sprang open, reacting to Celestia’s touch. Inside the glowing cloud of orange and yellow light glowed bright – almost white – and rose up out of its confinement. The room shook as everyone backed up against the walls, shielding their eyes against the blinding light.

Tendrils of the cloud had already wrapped themselves around Celestia’s wrists. She closed her eyes as the light engulfed her, her body sparkling with pinpricks of light. Slowly but surely her body absorbed the light.

Celestia gave out a final cry and threw her arms to the side as the regeneration energy and Time Lady were reunited once more.

A huge shockwave exploded from underneath Celestia knocking the empty casket flying, scattering stools, tables and equipment around the room and causing everyone to press themselves up against the walls.

And then the lights went out.

When they flicked back on Celestia was standing in the centre of the room staring at her hands curiously.

Reikon got to his feet. “Celestia, please tell me this isn’t true.” His voice was broken in emotion.

Her green eyes flicked back up to him and she smiled. “Celestia is gone. She was just a creation.”

“I don’t believe that,” said Reikon.

“What you choose to believe is your choice of course,” she said, walking towards him, “but I wouldn’t hold onto any kind of hope.”

“But you were on Gallifrey when Stark was killed,” said Faith, getting to her feet.

Celestia smiled at the blonde woman and looked at Reikon. “You and I have a psychic connection.” She tapped on her right temple. “It wouldn’t have taken much for the raw energy to control you without you knowing.”

“I didn’t kill Stark,” said Reikon.

“Are you sure about that?”

Reikon looked down at the floor where the two poisoned daggers that had killed Stark were lying, still coated in dry blood. He knelt over them and picked them up, turning them over in his hands. He didn’t believe it, but somehow it felt true.

“You didn’t do it, Reikon,” said Maxus. “She just controlled you.”

“He’s broken,” said Celestia, turning to Maxus, “you won’t be able to bring him out of this.”

“It can’t be,” said Reikon.

Celestia slowly walked over to her husband. She looked completely different. She hadn’t regenerated, but her mannerisms were completely different. She was much colder looking. Although she was smiling there wasn’t any warmth there.

“Surely you must be in there somewhere,” said Reikon.

“Oh, my dear,” said Celestia, stretching out her arms and reaching for him, “I promise you that she did have feelings for you, but that woman wasn’t me. I’ve just woken up at last.”

Reikon couldn’t contain his emotions anymore and fell into her arms.

“Reikon, no,” said Faith from the back of the room.

In one quick move Celestia grabbed Reikon, twisted him around so his back was to her front, grabbed the daggers out of his hands and then stabbed into his chest. Reikon cried out in shock as he fell to his knees.

A shot rang out from Osborne’s plasma rifle as a bolt of energy hit Celestia in the centre of her back.

“That won’t work,” said the Master, his eyes dark as he watched on. “She’s the First Time Lord, remember?”

Celestia turned to the group of worried onlookers. A flare of golden light rippled up through her body, repairing any damage to herself before she advanced towards the group.

“Let her pass!” said the Master. “She can’t be beaten, believe me.”

“A wise move,” said Celestia. She turned to the Master as the group parted. “It goes some way as to explain our daughter’s psychopathic tendencies now, doesn’t it?” She smiled.

“Where are you going?”

“To plan,” she said, pushing the lab doors open and heading into the corridor.

“Sentinel?” said Osborne, eager to go after her.

“No,” said Faith, “we can’t lose anymore.” She brought a radio up to her mouth. “All units this is Sentinel. A hostile is going to attempt to leave the building.” She took a deep breath. “This hostile cannot be killed my normal means. Allow her to leave and do not engage. We’ll get our chance soon.”

Maxus shook his head, disappointed.

Reikon was lying on the floor, blood pouring from the two puncture wounds. Faith ran to his side and dropped to her knees.

“Can’t you regenerate?”

Reikon shook his head. “I said before – the poison on the daggers kills…regeneration process.” He closed his eyes, a tear falling from the corner of his eyes. “Perhaps it’s…time.”

Faith shook her head, feeling helpless. “Is there anything I can do?”

“Just…tell the Doctor that…that I’m sorry,” said Reikon. He winced in pain and then his eyes flicked open again. He gazed up at the ceiling. “Caleb….”

And then he was gone.



Reikon’s body was laid in the morgue underneath UNIT:X HQ. The Doctor was stood over his adopted brother. He held his hand and looked down at him. There was sadness in there, but there was also anger. Anger at what had happened.

Celestia had been his friend in those early years on Gallifrey and nobody had ever suspected it. How could they? To everyone – even to herself – she was just an ordinary Time Lady. Nobody could have known truth.

He shook his head as Holly walked into the morgue, her arms folded as she leaned on the door frame. “What now, Doctor?” The Doctor looked at Holly, a look of determination on his face. “Somehow we have to stop her before she kills again.”



To be continued...

The First Time Lord (Chapter 7)

Chapter 7 (Things Ain't What You Thought They Were)



Faith led Celestia and the Master down into the basement where Reikon and Maxus were still busy pouring over the readings from the casket. Reikon turned as his wife entered the room. He looked momentarily surprised and then broke out into a huge grin.

“Celestia!” he beamed.

“Reikon,” said Celestia, throwing her arms around her husband and holding him tight. “It’s been so long.”

“Not as long as it was last time,” laughed Reikon.

“Rassilon save us,” said the Master, rolling his eyes.

“What’s he doing here?” asked Reikon, breaking away from his wife and pointing towards the man that had caused him so many problems.

“Relax, Reikon,” said Celestia, “he’s under my control.”

“Control!?” spluttered the Master.

“You should be locked away for life,” said Reikon, his face getting redder and redder.

“Reikon,” said Celestia, trying to calm him down, “its fine. Really it is. He doesn’t have a hold on me anymore. Lilly is back with the Doctor.”

“That’s not the point, Celestia,” he said. “He continually gets away with things and there are never any repercussions.”

“As touching as this reunion is,” said Maxus, his arms folded, “we need to focus on this thing here,” he said pointing to the container. “Did you say the Doctor sent you?”

“That’s right,” said Celestia.

“And you must by another of his cast-offs,” said the Master, stepping forward to look at the casket. He ran his fingers along the top of it. “Can you feel the power?”

“I think we all can,” said Celestia.

“What we need to know,” said Faith, walking forward to stand beside the master (she still didn’t trust him), “is how Roger Stark died.”

“Did you ask Mr. Osborne?” said Reikon.

“Yeah, and it wasn’t me, mate,” said Osborne, looking frustrated from the doorway.

“No,” said Reikon, shaking his head, “I don’t think it was.”

“But then you were the only Time Lord here,” said Faith.

“Are we sure about that?” said Osborne. “I mean what if it was someone else. Who knows how many rogue Time Lords are out there?”

“Surely your alarm systems would have been alerted like they were when myself and the Master arrived.”

“Alarm systems can be disabled,” said the Master, peering at the readings on the monitor.

“Okay, then, so what if we say it was another Time Lord. They obviously didn’t open the casket or merge with it. So what’s that all about?” said Faith.

“If we presume that this is all real,” said the Master, turning to face the blonde woman, “then the real host of this energy will have a psychic link to it. It’s possible that the energy could have controlled the host body without manifesting itself fully.”

“And we are still left with the frightening possibility that it could be any of us,” said Faith. “If the host has converted himself into Human form.”

Maxus sighed and sat down on a stool rubbing his eyes. “It’s been a long day.”

“There’s only one way of finding out who it is,” said Reikon, “and that’s by opening the casket.”

“Don’t be so absurd!” spat the Master.

“I hate to say it, but he’s right,” said Faith. “Surely the best course of action would be to send it back to where it came from.”

“Yes, I agree, Mrs. Crossland that the Void would be the best place for it.” Reikon looked down at the container. “But that’s not going to solve anything. One of us in this building is a killer.”

“You seem very eager to get it open,” said Osborne, gripping his plasma rifle a little tighter.

“Yes and obviously that means I’m the killer, doesn’t it?” said Reikon sarcastically.

“Well you’re not doing anything to make us trust you anymore,” said Osborne.

“Reikon, you’ve got to see how this looks,” said Faith.

Reikon laughed. “Unbelievable. You’re all so close-minded.”

“Well if you had told the Doctor that you had the damn casket in the first place then Roger Stark might still be alive,” said Celestia.

Reikon looked genuinely hurt by his wife’s comment. He walked over to her. “We all have made mistakes, Celestia. It was mistakes and misfortune that led to Caleb being killed.”

“By my daughter?” said Celestia. Her eyes filled with tears. “Do you not think I don’t think about him every single day?”

“That’s not what I meant and you know it. All I’m saying is that we all make mistakes.”

“Oh for goodness sake,” said the Master, stepping nearly between them. “We need to make a decision on what we do with this thing.”

Celestia and Reikon stood staring at each other for a good few seconds before the both of them broke away from each other.

“Do we open it or not?” asked the Master.



The memories were becoming blurred as the female was strapped down to the table in the laboratory. She didn’t seem to be making any kind of movement. She wasn’t putting up any form of resistance either. Her face was shrouded in darkness as the surgeons fixed a number of tubes to her body.

“This is horrible,” said Holly.

“Indeed it is,” said the Doctor.

“Can’t we stop it?”

“It’s a memory. We can’t do anything. It’s already happened,” he sighed.

“So let’s take a moment here,” said Lilly. “The Slayer – the First Time Lord – is actually a female. A woman, yeah?”

“At the moment, yes,” said the Doctor.

“At the moment?”

“Well just because she’s a female now it doesn’t mean that she remained a female. Time Lord and Time Lady genders are occasionally interchangeable.”

“What?!” spluttered Holly.

“I’ve been female before,” said the Doctor.

Holly and Lilly looked at each other wide-eyed.

“You learn something new every day,” said Lilly.

“So just because the Slayer is a female here it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s someone we know as female now.”

“Nope,” said the Doctor, shaking his head with his arms folded.

The image in front of them was starting to fade as the surgeons finished fixing the wires, cables and pipes to the woman’s body.

“Is it complete?” asked the lead surgeon.

The other two bowed their heads.

“Excellent. Then we shall begin.”

He walked over to a console and began tapping in keys on a pad. The machinery surrounding the lab began to hum with power, the room began to vibrate and the image in front of the Doctor, Holly and Lilly started rippling.

The surgeon leant towards a microphone. “This is Roth. Are we ready?”

“All is ready,” came a voice through a speaker.

“Then detonate.”

“What’s happening, Doctor?” asked Holly.

“The legends say that the Gallifreyans used blew up two time moons to open an aperture into the vortex. The vortex broke through and they drew the time energy via a staff – which they eventually named the Staff of Roth – cute, eh? – and channeled it into what I presume is this lab.”

There was a great surge of energy. The room was bathed in a blue light as electricity coursed through the pipes and wires. The woman on the table screamed in agony and writhed around as the power of the vortex hit her.

“Of course this was just the first experiment - the mistake.”

The woman broke free of her restraints and was lifted into the air by the power channeling through her. The surgeons backed away from her.

“SWITCH IT OFF!” screamed Roth.

“Later experiments,” said the Doctor, “would see the Gallifreyans take things slowly. As legend has taught us – you can’t just make a Time Lord.”

The vision was beginning to flicker and change. The woman’s face was shrouded in blue light, her hair flailing around wildly.

One of the surgeons ran forward and tried to hit the woman with a medical implement, but a blast of energy sent him flying back across the room.

“You have made a mistake,” came the voice of the woman from within the haze of blue light.

“I recognise that voice,” said the Doctor, his blood running cold.

The energy began to subside as the woman floated down towards the ground. The image was flickering and changing and growing darker and darker.

“Stay back, creature!” said Roth.

“You will pay for what you have done,” said the woman.

Holly and Lilly gasped as the woman’s face came into focus. She didn’t look much different, maybe a little younger and her hair a different colour, but there was no mistaking who it was.

“I don’t believe it,” said Lilly, her eyes filling with tears.

“I’m so sorry, Lilly, but the First Time Lord – or rather the First Time Lady – is your mother, Celestia.”

On earth Celestia could feel the power. She wasn’t quite sure what she was feeling, but something was drawing her towards the container. She was feeling confused. She held up her hand and reached towards the top of the casket.



To be continued...

The First Time Lord (Chapter 6)

Chapter 6 (Treacherous Times)



“Don’t be so bloody stupid,” said Osborne, as he stuffed the last of his over-burnt bacon sandwich into his mouth.

“We’re not accusing you of anything, Oliver,” said Faith, “but I do need to ask you why you were here in the early hours.”

“I was working on the new plasma rifles,” said Osborne. “You know that, Faith.”

“I know you wanted to improve them, but-”

“But nothing,” said Osborne, shaking his head. “Why would I want to kill Stark? He was a pain in the arse, but he was our pain in the arse.”

“Oliver’s right, Faith.” said Benton, who was sat at his console with Beth. “We couldn’t be that unlucky.”

“What do you mean?” asked Faith.

“To have two traitors in the group in the space of a year.”

“Alistair,” said Beth, hitting him on his arm and frowning at him.

Faith shook her head.

“I’m sorry,” said Benton, realizing the nerve was still raw over what their old friend and colleague, Claire Taggart, had done, “but I seriously doubt Oliver was the one to blame. I trust him.”

“Cheers, mate,” said Oliver, clapping him on the back.

“Maxus is my suspect,” said Beth.

“Why?” asked Faith.

“Well he’s new,” said Beth. “We don’t know much about him.”

“Maxus is trustworthy. He used to travel with the Doctor,” said Faith.

“Where I heard he used to work for a dodgy group called the Eyeglass. A group that hated anything alien.”

“He lost his wife. He turned his life around,” said Faith.

“Look, this is stupid,” said Osborne. Leaning back in his chair and looking at his new commanding officer, “we’re all forgetting one thing here.”

“Which is what?” asked Beth.

“That neither I nor Maxus or any of us are actually Time Lords.”

“He’s got a point,” said Benton, doing his white lab coat up.

“That doesn’t mean we can’t be Time Lords,” said Faith. “The Doctor became Human once or twice. Lilly grew up as a Human.”

“I still don’t buy that it’s one of us,” said Beth.

“So the only other person it can be is Reikon,” said Osborne. “Face it, Faith; he’s trying to deflect any blame from himself onto us. He knows that it can’t be anyone other than him.”

“I just…I don’t know,” said Faith, looking frustrated. “He’s the Doctor’s brother.”

“Adopted brother,” corrected Osborne. “Where is he now?”

Faith looked a little uncomfortable. “He’s with Maxus in the lab. They’re examining the container and making sure it’s secure. Reikon even agreed he was the most likely suspect.”

“He’s playing us, Faith,” said Osborne, grabbing the prototype plasma rifle. “He’s trying to turn our attention away from him by admitting he is the most likely suspect. He’s playing with you.”

Faith looked uncomfortable. She always considered herself to be a good judge of character. She had only known Reikon briefly, but she had trusted him. She wondered if she should have though. He had already lied to the Doctor about keeping the container.

Could he really be trusted?

Her thoughts were interrupted when the intruder alarm went off. Red lights began flashing in the control centre as Osborne went for his plasma rifle.

“What is it?” said Faith.

Beth looked to her control station. “We have intruders in the front lobby.” She frowned at the readings and then looked back at Faith. “It’s a TARDIS. And it’s not the Doctors.”



“Greetings!” said the Master as he and Celestia stood with their hands held up. “We come in peace. At least this time we do.”

“Be quiet, Koschei,” said Celestia as a group of armed guards aimed their rifles at them.

The TARDIS had landed in the wood-paneled lobby and had changed its appearance into a large, oak cupboard. The glass double doors that exited the lobby had automatically sealed themselves when the alarms went off and the soldiers had formed a tight circle around the intruders.

“Okay, what’s going on here?” asked Faith as she briskly walked down the stairs with Osborne in tow.

“You don’t know us,” said Celestia, “but we’ve been sent by the Doctor.”

“And who exactly are you and why should we trust you?”

“Well I’m Reikon’s wife,” said Celestia, “and this is Lilly’s father. His name is Koschei.”

“Oh, you might as well tell them the name they all know me by,” said the Master, shaking his head and leaning against the cupboard, his arms folded.

“You may know him as the Master,” said Celestia.

As if on instinct all the UNIT troops raised their rifles and aimed them directly at the Master.

“Okay, relax everyone,” said Faith, moving down the staircase and towards Celestia and the Master. “You’re a wanted man, you know?”

“I’m wanted everywhere,” said the Master, dismissively. “But on this occasion you need to let me do what I need to do.”

“Which is what?” asked Osborne, his plasma rifle still trained on the Time Lord. “Because if I’m not mistaken, mate, you just became our prime suspect.”

“In what?” he asked, frowning.

“In being the real owner of that casket down in our labs.”

The Master frowned and then burst into a laugh. “Me? You think I’m the First Time Lord?” He shook his head and looked at Celestia. “And the Doctor expects these morons to protect this planet.”

“UNIT:X didn’t do a bad job of it against you before,” said Faith.

“Look,” said Celestia, stepping forward with her hands held up, “Koschei – the Master – is not the First Time Lord. I’d have known it if he was.”

“And trust me, my dears; if I was the First Time Lord I certainly wouldn’t have bothered with all of those plans to conquer this pathetic little planet.” He stared directly at Faith. “I’d have just slaughtered the lot of you.”

“Don’t let him wind you up, Double Zero,” said Faith, noticing the tension and anger building on Osborne’s face.

“What a double zero you are, Osborne,” laughed the Master.

“Enough!” said Celestia, her voice echoing around the lobby. “We need to see the container.”

Faith motioned for the UNIT troops to lower their weapons, which they did before disbanding but maintaining a close proximity to the two Time Lords.

“And you say the Doctor sent you?” asked Faith. “Why didn’t he just come himself?”

“He’s busy investigating the First Time Lord’s base of operations,” said Celestia.

“Out having adventures with my daughter,” said the Master, shaking his head.

“I only briefly met your daughter,” said Faith, glaring at the Master, “but I’m pleased she’s not a disappointment like her father.”

Celestia smiled at the Australian. “Bravo, Mrs. Crossland.”

“If you’ll follow me,” said Faith, “but stay close.”

“Don’t worry; we won’t do anything to endanger anybody else. I’m quite looking forward to seeing my husband,” said Celestia as Faith and Osborne led them away.



“Where are we, Doctor?” asked Holly.

They were standing in mostly darkness save for an illuminated area a few metres away. There was no colour to their surroundings, just darkness and black and white. The illuminated area was almost separate from where they were standing.

“We’re on the edge of a memory,” said the Doctor. “We can’t pass into it or interact with it. We can only observe.”

“Whose memory is it?” asked Lilly.

“The First Time Lord’s,” said the Doctor, his voice low. “We’re witnessing his memories. We’re the first people to ever have seen this outside of the Ancient Times.”

The three of them watched on as a metal chair came into focus. The room they were in looked like a lab with antiquated computer banks, wires, cables and all manner of surgical instruments.

Two men in white coats with fixed hoods and black visors stood either side of the chair. Another man – this time wearing a grey coat – stood in front of the chair holding a syringe. From somewhere around the darkness came the sound of chains and the dragging of bare feet against marble floor.

“Information,” said the lead surgeon.

One of the men in white coats pulled out a stone tablet. He pressed his hand to it and then looked across to the lead surgeon. “The patient is an unknown. It was taken from one of the outer towns. It won’t be missed.”

“Good,” said the surgeon. “Is all prepared?”

“Yes,” said the two white-coated surgeons in unison.

The lead surgeon cracked his knuckles as the figure was dragged into the room. It wore a long, grey hospital gown. Its feet and hands were chained together and a bag covered its head.

The Doctor frowned as the figure was dragged past them.

“Is that him?” asked Holly. “Is that the Slayer? The First Time Lord?”

The Doctor nodded slowly. “It would appears so.”

The surgeon stood in front of the patient and nodded. The three of them weren’t sure, but they had a feeling he was smiling in his mask.

“Remove the robes,” said the surgeon.

The two guards who had dragged the patient in grabbed and removed both the hood and the robes to reveal a naked body underneath.

The Doctor stepped back, gasping at what stood in front of him. Holly and Lilly looked confused. They looked to each other and then at the Doctor and then back to the scene in front of them.

Locks of long blonde hair fell out from under the hood. Although the Doctor could only see the back of the person there was no mistaking the shape of the body underneath the robes.

“Doctor,” said Lilly, frowning and pointing towards the figure, “am I right in putting this all together?”

The Doctor nodded slowly. “Indeed you are, Lilly.” He took a deep breath. “The legends got it wrong. The First Time Lord wasn’t a man at all. The First Time Lord was a woman.”

“But who?” said Holly.


To be continued...

The First Time Lord (Chapter 5)

Chapter 5 (Deadfort)



“Is there any point to this?” asked the Master, as the Doctor once again stopped him from entering his TARDIS.

“Yes there is,” said the Doctor, looking stern. “I’ve had enough of it. I know your hand was in there somewhere?”

“The stuff on the Runswick Estate?” said the Master. “With the Yaros. Simply a side project whilst I followed you and Lilly around.”

“Git,” said Holly, pushing past the Master and heading towards the Doctor’s TARDIS.

“When this is all over,” said the Doctor, “you will be brought to account.”

“I’m not bound by Gallifrey’s laws anymore, remember? Not whilst I occupy Jacarthia.”

Celestia raised her eyebrows. “Good job I held that election then.”

“What election?” asked the Master.

“The one where the people voted you out.”

“I beg your pardon?!” he spluttered.

“Do you think I spent these last few months doing nothing? Whilst you sat in the palace looking at yourself in the mirror I was down amongst the people making plans.”

Lilly burst out laughing. “Master of nothing. King of nobody.”

“And not only that,” said Celestia, “but as I’m now Lady Mayor of Jacarthia, President Anastania has also begun preparations to bring us back into the fold. Things are changing on Gallifrey for the better and the people of Jacarthia are going to finally get a fair hearing.”

“And I couldn’t think of anyone better to lead them to this bright new future, Celestia,” smiled the Doctor.

“This is unacceptable,” said the Master, looking a little lost.

“Welcome to the new world, dear,” said Celestia. “Now, in your TARDIS. We need to get to Earth.”

The Doctor turned to Celestia. “We’ll do some digging and then meet you there in a while. Be careful though. Don’t trust him.”

“I know how to handle him, Doctor,” said Celestia. “He’ll not be able to put a foot out of line amongst your UNIT:X friends.”

“Then we’ll be off,” said the Doctor, giving Celestia a goodbye hug. He pointed to the Master. “I’ve got many eyes watching you, Koschei.”



Except from ‘Armies of the Slayer’, written by Greystagg the Timeless during the First Gallifreyan Unification

“It is said that the Slayer, once it had fled from Gallifrey, led its army of Time Sensitive’s to the moon of Lanix. Lanix once orbited Gallifrey, but a great wave of temporal energy from the future caused it to break away from the system and reside in darkness.

Lanix was completely devoid of any kind of life. A lifeless rock with harsh, tall mountains that reached up high into the dark abyss of the forever night.

One particular mountain, which hung upside down over a valley, contained chambers and caves into which the Slayer built a home. Nothing could pass underneath without being seen.

From there he plotted his forthcoming war against the Gallifreyans."




“This is amazing,” said Holly, gazing up at the upside-down mountain.

It was raining, but the mountain protected them in the valley.

“Tell me again, Doctor, why did he come all the way out here?” asked Lilly, her eyes transfixed on the darkened windows high above.

“Well it’s all speculation and legend of course, but this was originally the nearest place off world before the Time War rippled back and moved it.”

“The Time War?” asked Holly, as they crossed the scrubby ground and headed towards a set of rock steps carved into the valley wall.

“He doesn’t speak about it much,” said Lilly.

“It’s in the past,” said the Doctor. “Or the future. It’s always difficult to tell.” They began to climb the steps. “Suffice to say the Time War disturbed the fabric and time, space and reality itself. It erased events from happening, it created new events and it even made the same events happen multiple times under multiple scenarios.”

“I’m sorry I asked,” said Holly.

“Be careful on these steps,” said the Doctor, nodding down towards the wet and slippery rock.

“They didn’t care about health and safety back in the day, did they?” said Lilly, taking Holly’s hand.

“I don’t get what we’re supposed to find here that the previous visitors haven’t already found,” said Holly.

“Well the last time I was here was during my 13th incarnation. I was waiting for the TARDIS to repair itself-”

“For a change,” interrupted Lilly.

“Thank you, Lilly,” said the Doctor, giving her a dubious glance. “As I was saying I was here during my 13th incarnation. I didn’t get much of a chance to look around, but the top of the mountain extends high into the air. He built a castle on top of it. The tunnels from that lowest chamber wind all the way up to the castle above.”

“It still doesn’t explain what we’re going to find,” said Holly. “If archeologists didn’t find anything then what hope do we have?”

“Maybe this will help,” said the Doctor, pulling out the small, silver siege-mode TARDIS.

“But the casket isn’t in there anymore,” said Lilly. “Reikon has it back on Earth.”

The Doctor nodded as he tossed the box from one hand to the other. “Yep, you’re right, but the box has been in contact with the energy from the casket. I’m hoping that may give us an advantage.”

As they reached the top of the stairs Holly found herself nearly pressing herself against the wall. The rain was now teaming down, but they managed to safely make their way through the open archway and to the steps that wound up into the chamber that overlooked the valley.

“This is amazing!” said Holly as they walked out into a large, circular room. A large, open window looked out onto the valley below and a huge, glass and metallic console dominated the centre of the chamber.

“Apparently this is where he did most of his planning for the war against the Gallifreyans.”

Lilly sat herself up on the console and ran her hand across the dust. Most of the glass top was shattered, but the bulk of the console still looked intact. “I don’t get it though. What exactly happened? What pissed him off so much?”

“Wouldn’t you be slightly aggrieved if you’d have been experimented upon?”

“In a way I suppose I was,” said Lilly, looking forlorn.

Holly joined her on the table and held her hand.

The Doctor held up the siege-mode TARDIS and peered at it with curiosity. He ran his finger along the ornate carvings and then rubbed his chin.

“You just gonna stare at that, old man?” asked Lilly.

The Doctor smiled at her and then walked over to the console. “Shift your bums, you two,” he said.

Lilly and Holly slid of the console as the Doctor held the box over the console. “Worth a shot, I suppose.”

“A shot at what?” asked Holly.

With both hands he lifted the box high into the air and with such a force he brought it crashing down against the console. The box penetrated the already damaged glass, hitting the long-dormant circuits below. A surge of power erupted from beneath the box as the Doctor quickly let go and stepped back. Tendrils of blue electricity writhed out from the box and into the console. Lights and machinery whirred into life.

The Doctor looked back at Holly and Lilly. “This is fascinating.”

“What’s happening?” asked Holly over the hum of electricity.

“The box has been touched by the essence of the Slayer. Similarly the console is psychically still linked to him.”

“The same as your TARDIS being linked to you?” said Lilly.

“Exactly,” said the Doctor, a look of excitement on his face. “This console – this box – contains memories.” He edged towards the console.

“Doctor…” said Lilly, touching his arm. “Are you sure about this?”

“Lilly,” said the Doctor, turning back to her, “Holly, both of you grab a hold of me.”

“Why? What’s happening?” asked a slightly worried looking Holly.

“You see nobody really knows the origin of the Slayer,” said the Doctor, a twinkle in his eyes. “It’s all myths and legends and conjecture. With this link we can access the truth. We’ll be the first people to witness the true story.”

“How?”

“I’m telepathic. Lilly’s telepathic. Prepare yourselves for a trip to the ancient past.”

Lilly grabbed Holly and then the Doctor’s left hand as he reached towards the glowing, electrified box and pressed his hand to the surface.


To be continued...

The First Time Lord (Chapter 4)

Chapter 4 (Sleep, My Brother)



“I was always concerned after Caleb died. I was always worried that somebody would get hurt again because of me. That’s one of the reasons why I was so against having you onboard, Holly. I was worried that you getting involved would cause me to hurt you. The Doctor was too trusting of me. He really shouldn’t have trusted me. I was too unstable and Caleb died because of me. I was terrified it would happen again.

At the time my screwed up head just though that Caleb was a daft kid - A daft brother who wasn’t clever enough to focus on the dangers around him – mainly myself. And the new psychic abilities didn’t help. You’ve got to remember that I was a Human girl suddenly becoming a Gallifreyan. I had all these new feelings and thoughts. It completely and utterly screwed with my mind. I’m not excusing my actions though. I killed him and I knew what I was doing.

It was tough to start with but I think we all realized that things were becoming a little bit better. A little strained, maybe, but it felt like we were starting to gel. We were a strange, dysfunctional family.

I remember the turning point though; the point everything seemed to revert back again. I had tried so, so hard to help myself to heal, but just when everyone started to become a bit more comfortable I screwed up again.

We were visiting the Ruins of the Night Fortress on Capa-Sol. I was just sat on a rock watching Caleb and the Doctor prance about discussing how beautiful the two purple moons looked and how the stars were reflecting back in the black water. Something in my head just seemed to fall away. It was like I couldn’t accept who I was. I was never going to be like those two. I was never going to get excited about flickering lights and stupid moons.

So I just got up and walked back to the TARDIS. I walked and walked for hours until I found the escape pods. I just jumped onboard one and let it take me wherever it wanted to. I was in a complete brain fug. I found myself in a backwater café on Earth in the 1970’s. I was starving and scoffed down two full English breakfasts. I still can’t quite remember how I got there. But it was like nothing else mattered to me - just the breakfast in front of me. In fact when the Doctor and Caleb finally found me I was feeling quite happy.

They took me back to the TARDIS but as soon as I got there I felt conflicted again. I felt angry that I was trapped in that bloody box again with two people who wanted me to be something I wasn’t.

I feel ashamed, but I flipped out. Somehow I found myself with a knife that I’d – and please don’t freak out, Dangerfield – I’d pocketed from the café. A big steak knife. I just slashed him across his arm. There was blood everywhere. He looked so frightened, Holly.

I’m sorry.

The Doctor patched him up and I spent the rest of the night in my room crying into my pillow. I don’t know how long I was there, but you know what? Still the Doctor didn’t give up on me. No matter what I did he still stood by me. And I think something changed for Caleb as well. I think he accepted it wasn’t going to be how he wanted it to be and that’s when he started to accept me.

But that’s when I hurt him. That’s when I…well, that’s when I killed him.

He was writing in his diary one evening. We’d just had a picnic in this lovely little meadow. It was probably the last time I felt content before it happened. Certainly the last time before I met you, Dangerfield.

Something just snapped in me. I sat on his bed and was talking to him about West Pilton and Earth. He got up and brought out this old fashioned camera. He said he wanted a picture with his sister. He said he was so happy to have found me and he wanted to get to know the real me. Whilst he was looking in his drawer for the camera I glanced down at his diary. I only saw a few sentences, but it was enough to set me off. It was like throwing a match into a gas-filled room. It was just a few words – just one sentence – but it ignited the fury in me again.

You know what the sad part is, Dangerfield? I can’t even remember what it was. Something he had written about being frustrated with me. Something he’d written before we’d reached this kind of peace, but I saw nothing but red clouds in my vision.

He stuck his head up from the drawer and took a quick snap of me. The flash nearly blinded me and when I opened my eyes he was stood there smiling. Grinning like a stupid little kid.

I don’t think he knew what had hit him. I threw myself at him. I went for his throat and clamped my hands tightly around his neck. I remember him crying out in shock and fear. I pushed him to the floor and sat on his chest throwing my fists down at his stupid, scared face. He tried to push me off him and I fell back. A load of objects fell off this daft display he’d put up – collections from him and the Doctors travels. I grabbed the first object I could – some ornate, jeweled dagger from the Middle East.

It was almost like time had frozen as I brought the dagger up and then thrust it down towards his chest. He looked surprised. He didn’t look like he was in any pain – just confused and surprised. When I saw the bloods begin to soak his white shirt it was like I had snapped back to my senses.

I threw myself off him and just walked away.

The Doctor had heard the commotion and ran in. I saw him drop to his knees and try his best to save Caleb, but there was nothing he could do. I sat in the console room for a long, long time just staring at the time rotor, trying to work out exactly what I’d done.

Eventually the Doctor walked out with Caleb in his arms. He didn’t say anything. He didn’t shout or look angry. He punched in a few coordinates and took us back to the meadow we’d had the picnic in. He glanced at me once and then went outside. He was gone for a long time. When he returned he just crouched in front of me. He said one simple sentence to me - a sentence that I will never forget. He said:

“This is not who you are.”

Somehow I didn’t believe it, but I was amazed at the strength of the man. I had just killed his nephew, yet he wasn’t going to punish me. He wasn’t mad at me. He wanted to help me.

We didn’t talk. I don’t know how long it was before we spoke to each other again. Maybe days. I’m not sure, but he took me to that water planet I told you about – Pelios. It was when we were there that we finally spoke again. And despite everything he never treated me any differently. He never really spoke of Caleb again and slowly I felt calmer. I never got over it though. I never will do.

I still see Caleb’s face when I close my eyes. I still think I’m a killer. No, I know I’m a killer. And that is why, Holly, you are so unbelievable to me. How can you feel the way you do after everything I’ve done?”

“Because,” said Holly, her hands around Lilly’s, “I see a strong-minded woman in there. You’re broken. Or at least you were. You’ve shown remorse. You know what you did was wrong. If you hadn’t changed then that would be different. But think of all the good you’ve done.”

A tear fell from Lilly’s eye.

Holly wiped it away with her finger. “These tears are real, Lilly. You miss your brother. You wish you could do anything to go back and change it. That’s not the thoughts of a killer. You’ve done wrong and you know that. A killer – a real murderer – doesn’t regret. There is good inside you. There is light.”

Lilly smiled sadly and closed her eyes as more tears fell. “I don’t deserve you, Dangerfield.”

“Tough bananas, Galloway,” said Holly. “You’re stuck with me.”

Lilly opened her eyes and looked into Holly’s. “I love you, Holly.”

“I love you too, Lilly,” she replied. And the two of them embraced tightly, and in that moment the both of them knew that nothing would pull them apart again. Not time. Not space. Not even death.



To be continued...

The First Time Lord (Chapter 3)

 Chapter 3 (The Infection)




“How could I have been so foolish?” said the Doctor, shaking his head.

Lilly was lying on a hospital bed, a number of wires connected up to her. A screen monitored her vital statistics.

“We weren’t to know,” said Celestia.

“We did know though,” said Holly, shaking her head. She was sat next to Lilly on a chair and was holding her left hand in hers. “I just assumed it had cleared up.”

“And what exactly happened?” asked the Master, standing a little way off towards the entrance to the hospital room.

“Why do you care?” asked Holly.

“Tell him,” said the Doctor.

Holly exhaled. “It was a while back. She was fighting a Kro’Tenk soldier back on Earth. Some of its blood got into a wound on her side. The TARDIS was running tests when you attacked.”

“She never showed any signs of an infection,” said the Master. “Not whilst she’s been here on Gallifrey.”

“It’s likely her symptoms abated. I expect they were just there, lingering in her system.”

“And why didn’t you tell me any of this?” asked the Master.

Holly was surprised. He seemed genuinely worried about his estranged daughter.

“Because the TARDIS was running tests when the console exploded,” said the Doctor, rounding on his old friend. “And then you happened and it all got forgotten.”

“I should have remembered,” said Holly.

“It’s not your fault, my dear,” said Celestia, placing a hand on Holly’s shoulder.

Holly smiled up at the woman. She barely knew Celestia, but she seemed kind. She was pleased Lilly had such a caring mother.

“The question is – what do we do now?” said Holly.

“If she accepted the regeneration energy that I’ve spoken to her about and became a Time Lady - ”

“She doesn’t want to become a Time Lady,” said Celestia. “She spoke about that often enough.”

“The regeneration energy would save her though,” said the Master.

“And why do you care?” asked Holly.

“I am her father, whether you like it or not,” said the Master.

“All this bickering isn’t going to get us anywhere,” said the Doctor. “We have to respect Lilly’s wishes.” He looked down at her. “No matter what that means for her future.”

“But if she dies - ”

“She’s not going to die,” said the Doctor. He checked the monitor. “In fact her vitals are returning to normal. She’s been pumped full of drugs. They should mask the effects of the infection until we can work out a way forward - a way to deal with it.”

“Regeneration is the only way,” snapped the Master.

“A way to deal with it without going against her wishes.”

Lilly’s eyes slowly flickered open and she looked around the room until she focused on Holly. “Dangerfield.” She smiled.

“Hey,” said Holly, squeezing her hand gently. “Welcome back to the land of the living.”

“I think we should leave these two alone for a while,” said Celestia. “Come on, you two.” She led the two Time Lords away from her bedside and out of the room.

“How are you feeling?” asked Holly, leaning in closer to Lilly.

“Groggy, but better than I did before.” Realisation dawned on her. “Oh, god, I fainted, didn’t I?”

“Afraid so,” smiled Holly sadly.

“I was feeling a bit funny before we saw the President. I hadn’t felt that ill for ages. I just assumed the infection had gone.”

“I’m sorry,” said Holly. “I should have remembered. I should have done better.”

“Hey,” said Lilly, rubbing her hand, “you can’t be responsible for me all the time, Dangerfield.”

“But still…”

“No buts, Dangerfield,” said Lilly.

“The Master said you could take the regeneration ritual or something,” said Holly. She looked confused. “You don’t want it though.”

“I’ve discussed regeneration with you before,” said Lilly, shifting herself into a more comfortable position. “I don’t want to change.”

“But if it saves your life - ”

Lilly put a finger to Holly’s lips. “You’ve already saved my life,” she said, smiling.

“Then we’ll find another way,” said Holly. “I promise.”

“I’ll hold you to that, Dangerfield.” She inched herself up on her elbows until she was in a sitting position, the big pillows supporting her back. “And I have something I want to tell you.”

“Which is?”

“I never finished my story.” She looked down and then finally back up at Holly. “I need to tell you about what happened to Caleb.”



Maxus and Faith stood in front of the container. It was set up in the lab and had a number of wires and cables trailing away from it, although it remained closed. It didn’t look like anything was happening with it, and there was a systematic, rhythmic beeping coming from a nearby monitor screen.

Reikon was sat on a stool peering at the monitor. He was wearing a lab coat and made the occasional adjustment to a control panel. He had been chewing on a pen and a smear of blue ink had appeared on his chin.

“It’s not doing much,” said Maxus, his arms folded.

Reikon turned to face him and frowned, almost as if he had forgotten why he had asked them down there.

“You asked us down here, Reikon,” said Faith.

“Ah, yes. The container – it’s giving off some strange readings.”

“It looks fairly dormant to me,” said Faith, glancing back at the strange, cylindrical container.

“Not through the readings though,” said Reikon, turning the monitor to face them and tapping the screen with the chewed end of the pen. “There has been a slight fluctuation in the power levels.”

“Meaning?” asked Maxus.

“Meaning that the energy inside has been disturbed.” He looked excited and punched in a few keys on the pad. CCTV footage of the lab appeared on the monitor. It was a grayscale image of the container. “This is precisely 1.16am this morning. Watch carefully.”

Maxus and Faith peered down at the screen. All was silent and then suddenly a light appeared to flare out from underneath the containers lid. The screen went white and then all was still and silent again.

“Alistair estimated Starks murder to be between 1.30am and 2am this morning,” said Faith. “So do we think this flare has something to do with it?”

“Most likely,” said Reikon. “And I’m also slightly worried.”

“About what?” asked Maxus.

“Well I was under the assumption that the regeneration energy had to bond with the host body, but that might not be the case. The energy might have a way of actually telepathically reaching out to the host and controlling it.”

“I don’t want to point out the obvious, mate,” said Maxus, looking down at Reikon, “but you are the only other Time Lord here now.”

“That we know of,” said Reikon.

“Well Stark’s dead and the rest of us are from Earth,” said Faith.

Reikon nodded his agreement. “I would agree that if this is indeed the regeneration energy of the First Time Lord, then the most likely suspect for the host body is myself.” He nodded to himself. “I was abandoned as a baby and taken in by the people who I’d come to consider my family. I don’t know my origins. I am the most likely suspect.”

“You seem pretty calm about all of this,” said Maxus.

“I am, except I’m the most likely suspect and the most obvious. It was obviously someone in the building at the time.”

“Other than soldiers and you there was nobody else,” said Maxus. “We reviewed the logs.”

“Except our weapons expert, Oliver Osborne,” said Reikon.

“What?” said Faith. “What was he doing here at that time?”

“I don’t know,” said Reikon, “but I wonder if it’s time we asked him a few questions.”



Anastania was now sat on her own in the council chambers. She was reading through a few data pads when the Doctor walked in, his hands in his pockets. He smiled at her and indicated a seat at the end of the long table.

“May I?”

“Be my guest, Doctor,” she smiled.

He pulled out the chair and sat down. “Reading material?”

She laughed. “Just trying to do my own bit of research of this First Time Lord legend.” She sighed. “There are so many different stories. It’s all Chinese whispers. Stories that have been passed down through the ages. Stories that have changed and morphed into something new and different.”

“There’s one constant in all of it though,” said the Doctor, interlocking his fingers and leaning back in his chair.

“The Deadfort on Lanix?” asked Anastania.

The Doctor nodded. “The Deadfort. Every account of the First Time Lord states that he planned his battles from the Deadfort.”

“Time Lord archeologists have been backwards and forwards to Lanix for centuries and they’ve never found anything.”

“Legend has it that he was a mastermind. It’s entirely possible that those silly old stuffy archeologists weren’t looking for the right clues.”

Anastania smiled knowingly. “You want to go to Lanix, don’t you?”

The Doctor nodded. “I thought that myself, Holly and Lilly could take a trip there.”

Anastania nodded. “Agreed, but what about the Master?”

“Send the Master to Earth with Celestia. She’ll keep an eye on him.”

Anastania looked concerned. “I’d rather you be on Earth, especially if the essence is there as well.”

“Agreed, but it’s a bit boring, isn’t it?” He looked across at her and grinned. “Come on, Madame President, you know it makes sense.”

“Can you trust Celestia?” she asked, raising her eyebrows.

“I’ve known Celestia for centuries. I would trust her with my life.”

Anastania sighed and looked to the ceiling in defeat. “I can see there’s no swaying you. Even if I did say no you’d still go anyway. Very well, take your friends to Lanix and look for clues. Look for information. When you’ve done that you join the Master on Earth. Stakran’s death must be investigated.”

“Thank you, My Lady,” smiled the Doctor. He got up to leave. “I really do think Gallifrey is in safer hands, you know?”

“On your way, Doctor,” laughed Anastania.

The Doctor exited the room to the waiting Celestia and Master.

“Well, did she accept?” asked Celestia.

“She did indeed.”

“Oh, joy,” said the Master. “A trip to Earth. I can’t wait!”

“One foot out of line and you come straight back,” said the Doctor, holding up a finger to the Master.

“I will keep a close eye on him,” said Celestia. “Where’s Lilly?” “She’s with Holly in the medical bay getting ready. I think the two of them have a tale or two to discuss.”


To be continued...

The First Time Lord (Chapter 2)

Chapter 2 (Myths, Legends and the Strands of Truth)



Reikon shook his head as Stark’s body bag was zipped up. He sighed as he held up the two daggers in his gloved hands, peering curiously at the dried, blue substance that had coated the blades. He had seen this poison before, back on Gallifrey before he had disappeared. It didn’t happen very often, but sometimes, if I Time Lord wanted to commit suicide, they would drink the poison. That way the final, panicked choice of whether to regenerate or die had been taken away from them.

“How the hell did this happen?” asked Maxus, shaking his head as two UNIT soldiers carried the body out.

“Two daggers to each heart,” said Reikon. “Poison as well. Kills the regeneration process dead.”

“I don’t mean how he died,” said Maxus, walking around Stark’s desk to face Reikon. “I want to know how the hell the killer got in here in the first place.”

“Security cameras were down,” said Faith, entering the room from the outside, her arms folded. She shook her head. “Stark was always an arrogant guy, but his hearts were in the right place.”

“I wish I’d got to know him better,” said Maxus. “Are there any prints on the daggers?”

“Unlikely,” said Reikon. “I’ll get them examined, but the killer will have been smart enough to not leave any trace.”

“That’s a big worry,” said Faith.

“How so?” said Maxus.

“Well if they’re disguising their prints it means that we could I.D. the killer by the finger prints, which means it’s potentially someone we know.”

“Let’s not jump to conclusions, Sentinel,” said Reikon, pointing one of the daggers at the blonde woman. He winked and then exited the room.

“I guess you’re in charge then,” said Maxus, as Faith reluctantly picked up Stark’s chair and sat behind his desk.

“I’ll get these daggers examined,” said Reikon. “Back soon.”

Faith looked down at the desk. There was a half-drunken glass of whisky and a notepad with a few scribblings in Gallifreyan writing. She drummed her fingers on the wooden desk and then sat back in the chair. “I can’t run this team.”

“From what I’ve seen already,” said Maxus, sitting across the desk opposite her, “you’re already quite capable of doing it.”

Faith closed her eyes and threw her head back. “Bang goes a few weeks back in Australia. I was hoping to spend some time with my daughter.”

“Ruby understands,” said Maxus. “You and Jason are kind of on the road to recovery aren’t you?”

“It’s more like a forest trail covered over with leaves to recovery,” smiled Faith. “But this job…I sometimes wonder where it’s going to take me next.”

“Welcome to working for UNIT:X,” said Maxus.

“I just don’t know how this could have happened. This has to have something to do with that container down in the lab, yeah?”

“Reikon says it apparently contains the essence of the First Time Lord. I don’t claim to know how it works, but we could be dealing with something relating to it.”

The communications panel on the desk beeped. Faith pressed the ‘answer’ button.

“Sentinel, this is Reikon,” came the voice, “I’ve just got back to the lab. I think you should come down here. Something is off with the container.”

“I’m on my way,” said Faith, switching off the panel. She looked at Maxus.

Maxus raised his eyebrows. “Again, I don’t claim to know how it works.”

“Let’s get down there,” said Faith. She took one last look at Stark’s desk. Yeah, he may have definitely been an arrogant sod, but she was going to miss him.



The High Council chamber had changed since the last time the Doctor had been in it.

Holly looked around her in awe at her new surroundings. No sooner had they received the scroll from the Capitol, herself, Lilly, the Doctor, the Master and Celestia had taken a transmat booth to the chambers.

After becoming disorientated for a moment after their arrival – Lilly had grabbed a hold of her arm to hold her steady – they had been greeted by a red and white clothed guard who had escorted the five of them to the chamber.

Inside was a very long and narrow chamber. A white, marble table occupied the majority of the length of the corridor and down each side sat eight high-backed, golden chairs.

The roof disappeared high into some darkened, marble arches and the whole room smelt of lavender.

Lining the walls were huge, oval windows that looked out over the Capitol, glistening silver buildings that were housed under a glass dome. Up above the orange sky was darkening as night began to fall.

Sat in each of the chairs was a different Time Lord, each of them looking on curiously at the visitors. Right at the end of the table was a woman with short, dark hair, ruby-red lips, piercing blue eyes and a thin, narrow neck. Although her skin was pale she looked rather beautiful. Holly seemed to be noticing these things more lately.

“Greetings,” said the woman, her voice echoing around the chamber.

“President Anastania,” said the Doctor, bowing his head ever so slightly. “I’ve heard of you, but we haven’t had the chance to meet as of yet.”

“I could say the same about you, Doctor,” said Anastania. She smiled. “I’ve read all the stories though.” She almost seemed impressed. “And I also know of your penchant for getting yourself into trouble.”

The Doctor couldn’t die that as he smiled cheekily at her.

“It is good to speak again, Madame President,” said the Master.

“Silence, you,” said Anastania, throwing him an angry glance.

Lilly tried to stifle a giggle and looked away.

“I’ll have it known that you are only here because I think your expertise in off-world shenanigans might be a great help to us in dealing with the First Time Lord.”

“So you believe it to be real?” asked the Doctor.

“I know the myths and legends,” said Anastania, “and I know the stories that we were told as children, but somewhere amongst that is a grain of truth. The history records are lost to us, but there is something there.”

“If I may speak up,” said Holly, nervously, her voice suddenly sounding extremely loud in the echoing chamber.

“Of course,” said Anastania. “It’s Miss Holly Dangerfield, isn’t it?”

“That’s correct, My Lady,” said Holly.

Anastania nodded. “Do continue.”

“You may or may not be aware, but I’ve been to an alternate timeline – a dead timeline – where the universe was pretty much screwed up in the future by this First Time Lord. So it’s definitely real.”

Anastania nodded. “I’m aware of the disturbances in time.” Her eyes flashed back to the Doctor. “And you – I’m well aware that your adopted brother has in his possession a casket which potentially contains the essence of the First Time Lord.”

“No, My Lady,” said the Doctor, looking confused, “I have that. It’s contained in a siege mode TARDIS.”

“I hate to be the bearer of bad news,” said Anastania, “but your brother lied to you. The essence is still on Earth.”

“That bloody, stupid fool,” said the Doctor. “He lied to me.”

“In the interest of science, I assume,” said the Master.

“I have already asked you to be quiet,” said Anastania. She looked between the Doctor and the Master and then shook her head. “Despite my reservations I believe you two may be able to work together on this situation.”

“Madame President, I’m not sure -” began the Doctor.

She held up a hand. “Doctor, you have to understand the enormity of the situation.”

“May I speak candidly?” asked the Doctor.

“Of course,” said Anastania. She leant back in her chair and smiled at him. “I’d not expect you to be any different.”

He stepped forward a little. “In all respect we are dealing with myth and legend here. Tales from some old children’s books written long ago. I’m a little surprised that the High Council are so…well, concerned with such things.”

Anastania nodded. “I understand your concerns, Doctor, but in myths and legends there must exist strands of truth.” She looked down the table of Time Lords. Most of them were old, grey and beyond their prime. She, however, was young and only in her first incarnation. She looked back to the Doctor. “I’m sure the High Council will be the first to admit that they are not fully in support of this, and I heed their words, but I am also of a different generation.”

“A new breed of Time Lord,” nodded the Doctor. “The generation to lead our race into a new understanding.”

The old Time Lords looked a little flustered and muttered to each other.

Anastania held her hand up and smiled again. “I wouldn’t go that far, but, yes, I’d like to think that there is some new blood coming into our race.”

“I don’t understand what any of this has to do with the legend of the First Time Lord,” said the Master, shaking his head.

“I think,” said Celestia, “what President Anastania is trying to say is that if a younger member of our race can be so concerned with such an ancient threat then surely it must mean something.”

Anastania nodded her approval at Celestia. “You’re right, Lady Celestia. Have you ever thought of sitting on the High Council?”

Celestia looked flustered.

“And you expect myself and the Master to work together?” asked the Doctor.

“Indeed I do,” said Anastania. “I want the pair of you – all of you in fact – to delve into the myth. To delve into what you learnt as children and pick out the truth from it.”

“And someone needs to go to Earth to deal with Reikon,” said the Doctor.

“That as well,” agreed Anastania, “because as far as I see it the essence of the First Time Lord is right there and who knows what he or she may be planning.”

Holly turned to Lilly who she had noticed had been quiet. Something wasn’t quite right with her. She was looking pale and was swaying ever so slightly on the spot.

“Everything alright, Lilly?” asked Holly. Lilly turned to look at her. She looked confused and scared at the same time. Then, without warning, Lilly clutched at her side and fell forwards.



To be continued...

The First Time Lord (Chapter 1)

Chapter 1 (The First Kill)



He closed his eyes as he listened to the tick-tocking of the grandfather clock in his office. It always soothed him. He wasn’t sure whether it was the constant rhythm or the fact that it was so reliable and predictable, but he did know that quite often he’d drift off listening to it.

There came a knock on his office door.

He opened his eyes and frowned. He checked his watch. It was nearly two in the morning. The rest of the team were gone and, apart from the guards, there shouldn’t have been anyone else here.

“Who’s there?” he asked.

There was no reply.

He went to the locked drawer in his desk and pulled out a revolver. He checked it was loaded and then cleared his throat. “I asked who was there.”

Still no reply.

“I’m armed, you know?” he said, aiming the revolver at the closed door.

There was a click as the doorknob turned. He tensed as the door began to open incredibly slowly.

“No tricks,” he said as the door creaked on its hinges.

The light was out in the corridor outside and he couldn’t see anything. Whoever was there was lurking in the shadows.

“Show yourself!” he said through gritted teeth.

He was about to get to his feet when there came a whooshing sound. It was only a split second, but he was aware of two objects flashing from out of the darkness, a glint of light coming from them.

He felt two impacts in his chest and fell back, taking the chair with him as he came crashing to the floor, the revolver falling from his hand.

He looked at his chest – two large daggers with golden handles were sticking out of him. Each one had punctured his hearts. He gasped for air as he hand went for one of the daggers.

He could hear footsteps around him. Whoever had attacked him was in the room. He felt a heavy boot pressing down on his left arm. He tried to call out in agony, but the pain in his chest was too much. He wanted to regenerate, but he couldn’t. The daggers were coated in something. Some kind of glistening blue liquid.

“One down,” came the voice from the shadowy figure.

He realised with horror that he recognised the voice. He tried to remove the daggers but it was too late. He felt the last of his life-force ebbing away.

And then Roger Stark was dead.





Holly almost gasped in shock when she knocked on Lilly’s bedroom door and walked in. The blonde woman was wearing a white dress with a black belt. Her hair was tied back into braids and she looked like she was almost glowing. Holly felt her heart begin to beat faster.

“What do you think?” asked Lilly.

Holly almost forgot how to speak before finally managing a, “nice.”

“Only nice?” said Lilly, looking playfully hurt.

“You look…well, you look beautiful.” Holly smiled shyly.

“Oh, Dangerfield, what am I gonna do with you?” She exhaled and then rolled her neck. “I’m glad to get out of that suit.”

“And you’re feeling better now?” asked Holly, who suddenly felt out of sorts in her scruffy top and jeans.

“Never mind me, how about you? That whole business with the alternate timeline.”

“It was pretty messed up,” said Holly, “but I knew where I needed to be.”

“You destroyed an entire timeline to save me, Dangerfield,” said Lilly.

Holly nodded. She looked a little unsure of how to respond.

Lilly smiled. “Nobody’s ever done that for me.”

“You’re all I could think about,” said Holly.

“Not that little American redhead?” asked Lilly.

Holly looked away from her. She felt a little hurt.

“I’m sorry,” said Lilly. “I know I can be a little insensitive sometimes.”

Holly looked up at her and smiled. “Well that’s why I love you.”

Lilly froze, her eyes locked on Holly’s. “You certainly have a way with words, Dangerfield.”

Holly opened her mouth to speak and then the door swung open, the Doctor bursting in. “We’ve arrived.”

“Joy,” said Lilly.

“Arrived?” said Holly, grateful for the Doctor’s interruption. “Arrived where?”

“Jacarthia,” said the Doctor.

“What?!” exclaimed Holly and Lilly in unison.

“I’ve just spent Rassilon-knows how long trying to track you and Holly down and now you’re taking me back?” Lilly stood with her hands on her hips.

“Oh, I’m not taking you back, Lilly,” said the Doctor, his eyes suddenly looking a little shadowed. “I’m here to pay your father a visit.”



The Master turned; cup and saucer in hand and almost dropped his tea. Right in front of him was the Doctor. He was so close that their noses were almost touching and the Master had to take a half step backwards, the small of his back hitting the chair he’d just got up from.

“Doctor,” he said, almost afraid. “I didn’t hear you arrive.”

“That’s half of our problem, isn’t it, Master?” said the Doctor. “You always seem to drop in unannounced. I thought I’d do the same.”

“Would you like some tea?” asked the Master, indicating the white teapot sat on the large oak table.

“No thank you,” said the Doctor curtly.

“A biscuit perhaps?”

“I don’t want tea or biscuits,” said the Doctor, suddenly growing a little taller than his old friend.

“Then what…”

“I’ve come to have a little chat with you,” said the Doctor. He continued to stare right at him. He hadn’t even blinked. “I’m here to talk about what you did to Lilly – your own daughter.”

“Oh, Illithia, but that was just- ”

“Her name is Lilly,” he interrupted.

“That was all a mistake, I assure you,” said the Master, managing to back a little more away from the Doctor and work his way to the edge of the table. “Just a silly mistake.” He laughed nervously.

“A mistake that resulted in an entire timeline being created and then destroyed. A timeline where you murdered my friend.”

The Master frowned and then put his cup down on the table, suddenly finding his voice. “I did what I had to do for my daughter.”

“For yourself,” said the Doctor.

“For my daughter,” repeated the Master.

“For yourself,” came Lilly’s voice from the archway at the end of the hall.

The Master and the Doctor turned to face the girl. She was standing there holding hands with Holly. Lilly looked stern and cold and Holly looked weary of this dangerous man as he stood there head to toe in a black, high-collared suit and trousers.

“Illithia, my daughter,” smiled the Master.

“I am not your daughter,” said Lilly, her voice echoing around the stone dining hall. “It takes more than biological data to be a father.”

“She’s right, Koschei,” said Celestia as she walked into the hall from the opposite side from Lilly. “Lilly stayed with us to give you a chance and you ruined that chance.”

“She ran away.”

“Because you hadn’t changed,” said Celestia, walking around the table and standing opposite him. “You never do change. You want to change, but you can’t do it. It’s why our relationship never worked.”

“You more or less kept me a prisoner here,” said Lilly, walking into the hall with Holly following behind her.

“You belong to Gallifrey,” said the Master.

“This isn’t Gallifrey,” said Lilly. “This is your domain, not mine.”

“I have rebuilt this city,” said the Master.

“True,” said Lilly, “but the people are no better off. Yeah, they farm and they grow their own food, but they’re still poor whilst you live up here in this palace.”

“She gave you a chance,” said the Doctor, “and you failed.”

“And there will be no more chances,” said Lilly. “And that’s what you couldn’t accept. You couldn’t accept that I wanted something else.” She squeezed Holly’s hand tighter.

“You are a Gallifreyan. Your place is here. You can become a Time Lady.”

“I don’t want to become a Time Lady,” said Lilly. “Why would I want to change my face and become somebody else?”

Celestia smiled at her daughter.

“It’s not all bad,” said the Doctor. “I’ve done it a number of times.”

“Cease your prattling,” snapped the Master.

“And there he is,” said Celestia. “The old Koschei. The man who wanted to be a king.”

The Master looked between his daughter, the Doctor and Celestia. “I don’t know what more I can do.”

“Nothing,” said Lilly. “There is nothing more you can do. You had your chance, like I said.”

He looked down at the ground and shook his head.

“What do you want to do?” asked Holly.

Lilly smiled at the dark-haired woman. “I want to come back to the TARDIS with you.”

Holly smiled.

“What about you, Celestia?” asked the Master. “Do you think -”

“I shall also be joining my daughter,” she said, looking down her nose at him. “After what you did to my husband….you’re just a monster! Congratulations on rebuilding your family. I hope you’re happy in your lonely palace.”

The group was interrupted by a number of hurried footsteps heading across the polished marble stone. A young man with dark, cropped hair and a round face approached them. He was wearing a white and red tunic with a dark red cloak flowing behind.

“Craig,” said Lilly, smiling at her former school friend turned android.

“Good to see you again,” said Craig, smiling at her and then looking nervously at the Master.

“He won’t hurt you,” said Celestia. “You helped Lilly through your own kindness.”

Lilly looked guilty. It was Craig that had procured the experimental time suit and she did feel a little bad for leaving him behind when she escaped.

“I should have had you melted down,” growled the Master.

“Of course you should,” said Celestia sarcastically. “Now, what is it, Craig?”

“A message from the Capitol.” He went inside his tunic and pulled out a scroll. It was sealed with a wax imprint of the High Council’s seal. “It’s been written by President Anastania herself.” He opened it up and read it out. “To Koschei and Celestia of Jacarthia. As you have cut off all communication with the outside world we must contact you the old fashioned way. A situation has arisen on Earth.”

The Doctor looked worriedly at Holly and Lilly.

Craig continued to read the scroll. “Strange readings have been detected from the 21st century time zone. We believe it to involve an ancient enemy of the Time Lords.”

Holly felt her blood run cold. Was this the First Time Lord that Mortimus had spoken about?

“The situation on Earth is about to become very desperate if we do not step in. Already one of our own has fallen. I’m afraid to tell you that the former mayor of Jacarthia, Stakran – who you now know as Roger Stark – has been killed.”

“No,” said the Doctor. “Poor Roger.”

“I implore you to come to the capitol immediately. This situation has to be contained and there is little time left to stop it from escalating. The First Time Lord is rising.”


To be continued...