It seemed like they were all chanting while marching for battle, that from their lungs came a song to carry them further and further. They would all be dead by dawn, however strong and entranced they were, because the President would never allow them to live. He knew very little about the outside world but one thing was for sure : there wasn't a single planet in this universe where treason was regarded as something worth honouring someone.
The battle was raging. He could see it in a distance, see the flames and the blood, hear the cries of those who would lose their lives for an ideal that would never be reached. He had no choice but to run away, run as far as he could and never stop, for soon the guards would be coming after him to bring him down.
It was not a time for regrets. He didn't regret a single second that he spent fighting and running, he didn't regret the hiding, the lying, the mistaking. Raising his chin, his hands on his jacket's lapel, he looked down on the land he used to love and despise at the same time – this land poisoned by corruption, by contempt and coldness. There was a dream, a dream that they could change it, make it a better place. All gone, now. The President's army would decimate the rebels and leave them no choice but to surrender. Maybe someone else would be elected but they wouldn't be any better. It was a battle already lost a long time ago.
But this was Gallifrey, his childhood, his home.
Gallifrey burning in the flames of a war – not the first, probably not the last. Gallifrey falling a little deeper every time, every time that some young man with high ambitions would want to change the world and fail. The worst was yet to come and he knew it, deep inside his soul, he knew that there were darker times ahead, and yet he couldn't even picture his hearts beating louder, his eyes being filled with more tears.
He had to go. The signet ring had done its job and opened the ship, Arkytior was already inside, safe and sound. Soon, the President's army would trace his location and he would be killed, imprisoned – or worse. But he couldn't take off, not quite yet, not when there was still the slightest chance... The slightest chance that his friend, his best friend, the one person he would always forgive, always trust, the one person he would never, ever lie to, that the fool who led this rebellion to this terrible climax would show up.
He could remember their last conversation, when they were sitting close to the fire in the barn where he had chosen to hide. Just the two of them, for the first time in a very long time, shoulder against shoulder, hands almost touching, whispering about the future. How they would reach the repair workshop, how they would find their way to a TT capsule, how they would then take off to discover the universe – together. Oh, how his hearts had beaten when the other agreed. Hearing Koschei say yes, say that he would come along, it was a childhood dream come true. To see the stars with him, to go and wild adventures before coming back to the ship and discuss about silly philosophical questions, to fight about the vainest thing, to forgive the other, to go again...
The sound of footsteps approaching made him almost jump out of hope and excitement but instead of his friend's delicate silhouette, it was the much taller and more impressive one of the last person he wanted to meet here. Glaring at him above his half-moon spectacles, hands crossed behind his back, the President's Lord Burner approached, as silent as ever. He had meant for his footsteps to be heard, no doubt of that, for this creature could be as discrete as a shadow if the situation required it. An act of mercy, maybe, to give him enough time to flee – or maybe a game to see if he would be so daft as to think he had a chance.
It was over, he knew it. The Lord Burner would erase him from history and all memory of him would cease to exist. It was the worst thing that could ever happen and he knew it to be quite painful, though that was not what made him shiver in horror at the idea – but rather the perspective of being forgotten by everyone, including the one he would never forget, even lost in oblivion.
« He is not coming, » said the Burner, calmly, without showing any sign of anger or violence.
And it was all. Not another word spoken, no expression on his face, no movement. He is not coming. Did he come all the way just to deliver this message ? But why ? His mission was obviously to erase him from history and he had never known this man to fail. They said that he had no feelings whatsoever, that he didn't even have the ability to smile, and though the rumours were untrue, he was still the most ruthless creature on the planet.
In an inexplicable gesture, he showed the capsule with his arm, still glaring at the fugitive.
« Go, now. No one is joining you. He is leading the last battle and will probably lose his life in doing so. He was never going to come – you know it to be true. I already warned you a long time ago to choose your friends more carefully and you didn't listen, as usual. You did whatever pleased you and look where it got you. Go. »
The army was coming near and he could hear them, feel them approaching. The Lord Burner didn't even flinch and his moves were so fast that they almost looked surreal when he took a long blade out of his cane. The fugitive stepped back, worried that this sword might be destined to him, but his opponent simply frowned and nodded towards the ship before turning back to go and meet the army.
Koschei's rebellion would fail against the President's forces, no matter how numerous they were – but they were not him. All alone in front of armed men, he could buy the fugitive more than enough time to run. It would cost him his job, his position, maybe his life, and still he was standing there, blade in hand.
He was the greatest liar of all times and yet, this time, the fugitive didn't think his words to be untrue. Koschei wouldn't come. He never had the intention to. Part of him wanted to believe that his friend did so to protect him, to make sure that he would run away and never look back.
He stepped inside the ship, glancing one last time at the Burner standing tall, ready to welcome the army with his frozen voice. He was surprised to meet the other's eyes and ever more to see a faint smile appearing on his lips.
« Thank you, brother, » he whispered before closing the door.