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...
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