\u201c\u2026Miss Tarae, will you kindly release Amy?\u201d hissed the Doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, please yourself,\u201d sighed Miss Tarae. \u201cHer death will actually complicate things.\u201d She put her TCE away and Amy rushed to the group. Miss Tarae then saw Susan and smiled. \u201cWell, if it isn\u2019t Susan! Come give your great-aunt a big hug!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the Master,\u201d the Doctor explained to Susan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh,\u201d muttered Susan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cState your business and begone, Miss Tarae!\u201d demanded Rassilon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd I was hoping for something more cordial, especially from the Founder of Time Lord Society,\u201d remarked Miss Tarae.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFounder of-? That woman can\u2019t be Rassilon!\u201d laughed Susan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, no, it is,\u201d replied the Doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026WHAT?!\u201d protested Susan. \u201cGrandfather, what is going on here?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a long story,\u201d said Amy. \u201cDoctor, mind if Lurra Rus and I fill her in?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, you do that,\u201d replied the Doctor. As Amy and Lurra Rus led Susan away, introducing themselves in the process, the Doctor and Rassilon turned to Rassilon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t recall sending the Call to YOU, Miss Tarae,\u201d remarked Rassilon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou didn\u2019t, but you DO lack a bit of technology,\u201d replied Miss Tarae. \u201cEngineering dimensions is hardly a one-person effort, even you must admit that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026You found help on that front?\u201d scoffed Rassilon. \u201cI admire your cheek at that blatant lie.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is no lie. I requested the aid of the Thanakians.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Thanakians?!\u201d laughed the Doctor. \u201cI like them well enough, but their most advanced time travel technologies barely reached our most primitive!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey DID outpace us in dimensional engineering, Doctor,\u201d replied Rassilon. \u201cBut why should I believe that? Let\u2019s just say, Miss Tarae, your arrival and willingness to help is a little\u2026convenient.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, come now, Rassilon!\u201d cackled Miss Tarae. \u201cWe\u2019re all Prydonians here! We need to make Gallifrey-!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDon\u2019t!\u201d snapped the Doctor. \u201c\u2026Just don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Well, now you force a confession from me,\u201d grumbled Miss Tarae. \u201cThe truth is that I offered them sanctuary as this world was allegedly still dead.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOn what grounds?!\u201d protested Rassilon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Thanakians are losing a war,\u201d replied Miss Tarae. \u201cA war against the Rutan Host.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Rutans?!\u201d asked the Doctor. \u201cBut they\u2019re still engaged in that interminable war with the Sontarans!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWar has defined their culture much like it has the Sontarans,\u201d remarked Rassilon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Susan had to sit down when she got the story. It was a lot to take in. \u201c\u2026Grandfather\u2026\u201d she muttered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI know it\u2019s a lot,\u201d soothed Amy. \u201cI still haven\u2019t figured her out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026I have to admit, I didn\u2019t expect the Doctor to be some sort of chosen one,\u201d remarked Lurra Rus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGrandfather always poo-poo\u2019s the idea,\u201d said Susan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat hasn\u2019t changed,\u201d replied Amy. Susan breathed a sigh of relief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, so, that\u2019s us all caught up to Gallifrey\u2019s present,\u201d declared Susan, \u201clet\u2019s go see what they\u2019re up to.\u201d The three headed up to the Doctor and her group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI sympathize with the Thanakians\u2019 plight,\u201d said Rassilon, \u201cand you DID invite them, so that DOES satisfy my recent edict, but we\u2019re not in a state to accept refugees!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf I heard what Amy said correctly,\u201d interjected Susan, \u201cthe current state of Gallifrey was a mess YOU, Miss Tarae, had caused!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou heard her correctly, my dear,\u201d replied the Doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDid she tell you about what the Doctor is, Miss Foreman?\u201d asked Miss Tarae.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe has, but finishing what the Daleks started wasn\u2019t the way to go!\u201d hissed Susan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn any event,\u201d said Rassilon, \u201clike I used to be, you\u2019re just a tyrant, Miss Tarae. We need a proper politician, a President of the High Council of Time Lords and while the Doctor HAS shown me what proper morals are, she\u2019s a terrible politician. Her running away from being the Lord President is proof enough.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026While true, you didn\u2019t need to go THAT hard!\u201d grumbled the Doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo who are you retrieving, if not electing any of us?\u201d asked Miss Tarae.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI presume you\u2019re familiar with Lord President Romanadvoratrelundar?\u201d quizzed Rassilon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat weak-willed imbecile?!\u201d snarled Miss Tarae. \u201cShe\u2019s the one that sent me to Skaro to stand trial in the first place! She\u2019s the one who signed my death warrant!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA death warrant YOU circumvented,\u201d reminded the Doctor. \u201cBut I do have to agree, Romana is one of the High Council\u2019s better Presidents. She\u2019ll be able to look at this objectively.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWill you need my help, Grandfather?\u201d asked Susan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI could use your mathematics skills to check our work, if you don\u2019t mind,\u201d replied the Doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, what about me?!\u201d asked Miss Tarae.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYOU,\u201d declared the Doctor as she shoved Miss Tarae out of the room, \u201ccan wait outside!\u201d She then shut the door. \u201cAmy, could you stand guard?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWill do!\u201d chuckled Amy as she summoned her hammer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026How is she-?\u201d Susan asked Rassilon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot even your grandfather has figured it out,\u201d replied Rassilon. \u201cAnd she\u2019s known Miss Rose longer than I have.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf Miss Rose can teach Grandfather how to maintain long-term relationships!\u201d muttered Susan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOI!\u201d protested the Doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll right, let\u2019s not get bogged down by who\u2019s terrible with what kind of relationship,\u201d said Rassilon. \u201cLet\u2019s just focus on getting Romana and all that knowledge with her out of that pocket dimension. Let me just make sure I recall how to access it correctly.\u201d She keyed in some figures. \u201c\u2026Aha! That\u2019s it! Doctor, prepare the flux feedback generators. Make sure they stabilize at 4.7.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGive me the hard job of stabilizing flux, huh?\u201d chuckled the Doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGrandfather, that\u2019s supposed to be division,\u201d corrected Susan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh! So it is!\u201d said the Doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMiss Rus, how fares the loop engine?\u201d asked Rassilon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cClimbing to 8.0,\u201d replied Lurra Rus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTell me when it reaches 14.0,\u201d directed Rassilon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cStill climbing,\u201d reported Lurra Rus. \u201c9.0. 10.0. 11.0. \u202611.7?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a normal variance,\u201d assured Rassilon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c12.4,\u201d continued Lurra Rus. \u201c\u202613.7. \u2026Maintaining 13.7. \u202614.0! NOW!\u201d Rassilon then switched on the Time Scoop and everyone awaited the results. The triangular shape appeared again, then dissipated into a woman with African features. Outside the Time Scoop, piles of books appeared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRetrieval complete!\u201d cheered Rassilon. \u201cMadame President, are you all right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRomana? A new bit of cosmetics?\u201d asked the Doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026May I ask which of you is the Lord President Eternal?\u201d asked the woman, Romana. Rassilon winced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cErm, that would be me, Lord President Romana,\u201d she admitted. \u201cOr, at least, that WAS my ti-!\u201d Romana then punched Rassilon square in the nose. Rassilon fell to the floor, clutching her face and crying out in pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCouldn\u2019t you have waited until later?!\u201d protested the Doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTrust me, she has another one coming,\u201d replied Romana. \u201c\u2026You sound familiar.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRomana, it\u2019s me! You know, Princess Astra? You regenerated into her? France? E-Space?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDoctor?!\u201d yelped Romana as a smile crossed her face. \u201cOh, thank goodness!\u201d She then hugged the Doctor. \u201cStill got that quaint Type 40 working?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cKind of says something about that class of TARDIS,\u201d interjected Susan, \u201cwhen it managed to survive all sorts of things, even the loss of Gallifrey.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Oh, that\u2019s right! You\u2019re the Doctor\u2019s granddaughter!\u201d recalled Romana. \u201cShe talked about you when I traveled with her, or rather HIM.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019d love to reminisce,\u201d said the Doctor, \u201cbut we DO have a matter of some delicacy. Amy, you can let her in now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRight!\u201d replied Amy. She opened the door. \u201cYour presence is required!\u201d she said to Miss Tarae in mock-politeness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow kind,\u201d muttered Miss Tarae.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll right, let me just warn you, Romana,\u201d said the Doctor. \u201cMiss Tarae right there is actually the Master.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMadame President,\u201d greeted Miss Tarae.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Charmed,\u201d replied Romana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNow, let\u2019s all have a nice telepathic conference on our predicament, hm?\u201d suggested the Doctor as she helped Rassilon up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll right,\u201d said Romana. \u201cContact.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cContact,\u201d replied Rassilon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cContact,\u201d said Susan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cContact,\u201d said the Doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cContact,\u201d finished Miss Tarae. The five Time Lords shut their eyes and concentrated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA telepathic-?\u201d asked Lurra Rus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a quick way for Time Lords to fill one another in on what\u2019s going on,\u201d explained Amy. It took a while, considering the amount of Time Lords and details, but, eventually, the telepathic conference ended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs I said,\u201d remarked Rassilon, \u201cI sympathize with the Thanakians\u2019 plight, but we\u2019re not in a position to accept refugees.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOrdinarily, I\u2019d agree with you,\u201d replied Romana, \u201cbut consider the reputation we\u2019d build if we accepted allies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRomana, wait a minute,\u201d protested the Doctor, \u201cMiss Tarae here is the one that brought them here and most likely has an ulterior motive for that!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou wound me, Doctor,\u201d said Miss Tarae.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ve known you since the Academy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMight I make a suggestion?\u201d offered Susan. \u201cLet\u2019s hear out what the Thanakian Ambassador has to say.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSusan\u2019s quite right,\u201d agreed Romana. \u201cThanakian ships always have at least one ambassador on board.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, their diplomatic skills ARE the finest in the galaxy,\u201d recalled the Doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhich galaxy?\u201d asked Lurra Rus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMutter\u2019s Spiral,\u201d replied Rassilon. \u201cWhat the humans call the Milky Way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Okay, when this is over, I gotta learn how many names that galaxy has from all the species that live in it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn any event, unless Miss Tarae fatally shrunk her-,\u201d said the Doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHang on, my TCE is NOT as overused as your Sonic Screwdriver!\u201d protested Miss Tarae.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is,\u201d replied Rassilon and Romana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSonic Screwdriver?\u201d asked Susan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd the Thanakian Ambassador insisted on staying on the flagship,\u201d continued Miss Tarae.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRassilon, do we have communications?\u201d asked Romana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe do. That\u2019s how I got the Call through to the Doctor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen I\u2019m calling the Thanakians,\u201d declared Romana.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201c\u2026Miss Tarae, will you kindly release Amy?\u201d hissed the Doctor. \u201cOh, please yourself,\u201d sighed Miss Tarae. \u201cHer death will actually complicate things.\u201d She put her TCE away and Amy rushed to the group. Miss Tarae then saw Susan and smiled. \u201cWell, if it isn\u2019t Susan! Come give your great-aunt a big hug!\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s the Master,\u201d […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6809,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[959,1067],"tags":[35,963,962,997,1068,1069,63],"class_list":["post-7515","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-doctor-who-crossings","category-the-specials","tag-doctor-who","tag-fan-companion","tag-fan-doctor","tag-rassilon","tag-romana","tag-susan-foreman","tag-the-master"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7515","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7515"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7515\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7516,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7515\/revisions\/7516"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6809"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7515"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7515"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7515"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}