A/N: This is a story slightly of my own creation with Doctor Who entangled within. I have been aching actually to write a slightly original story, my own creative writing talents, and put in The Doctor (10th) somewhere in between. I hope you enjoy the story. I am not sure if anyone will read it or even like it, but I just like to write. And just to warn you, the Doctor isn't in this first chapter.
I do not own Doctor Who, although I have to say I do own the character of Ta'sheeka and all the elements she has.
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Chapter 1: The Trial
The older curly haired woman with blue eyes and slightly pointed ears looked firm and defiant towards the council. They were twelve children sitting upon well shaped and formed chairs; no doubt the chairs had been grown and formed especially for the leaders of the Mala'shra To human eyes, it might have seemed strange to have a council of children look upon this older woman with disdain.
Mala'shra were different than most species, they began life as an old weathered person and then gradually there bodies aged, in a very unique ageing process to the age of a young child form. But Mala'shra lived at least to a thousand years of age before death came upon them. Most other races found them a strange and odd race and never bothered with them and that suited the Mala'shra just fine, they preferred a quiet life, at least those in the upper and higher castes preferred the quiet life. However, the lowest caste members of the Mala'shra left home often and quite frequently, only because they were not liked and frowned upon by the other castes and sects of their people. Being a low born Mala'shra did not offer many opportunities on their home planet.
The older curly haired woman was from such a caste and she was guilty. Guilty, not only of being born of a low caste but guilty of causing a rift in Mala'shra culture, she had spoken out against the system that her people had established throughout their society. It had first been considered an annoyance, but then when others of like minded Mala'shra had voiced out against it, the leaders of the Mala'shra were scared, for they relied upon the caste system to support them. They slowly began to imprison and even kill the leaders of this new movement. And what had slowly began as outspoken criticism had quickly turned to a rebellion among the lower castes. A rebellion that had been quickly squashed and this woman was now brought before the elders for punishment. She looked at them defiantly not afraid of what they might do to her. If she was sentenced to death, she knew that the great goddess Mala, from which all Mala'shra believe, had formed them, and would grant her pardon. She truly believed that the goddess had called her and led her to lead her people to a new age. A new age, without the castes, where all would be upheld in like manner, a free society. One she dreamed since she had come forth from the plant like husk that bore her, as a new offspring.
"Ta'sheeka Nirata, you stand before us condemned of crimes against the government of Mala'shra. You have spoken up against the elders, the leaders of our race. You then condoned open rebellion and have caused the deaths of countless people. What have you to say concerning your crimes?"
Ta'sheeka looked at the young boy who voiced her crimes, his name was Ra'shashan, and he was the eldest of the elders, he was at least 875 years of age and considered by many to be wise. Although Ta'sheeka, considered him intolerant of others, she ached to reach for one of the weapons that the guard held that protected the fragile leaders of her people. The guards were about her same age maybe a bit older but they were trained to protect the elders. The elders were old and could no longer defend themselves so they had others protect them. But her hands were bound with a Ka'sha, a living animal that had been bred and raised to restrain criminals or unruly citizens. She could not kill the elders, although her heart ached to do so.
But she had one weapon left, her sprit. Although she was tired, for she had been tortured the night before by the guard. They had wanted her to tell the names of her resistance. But Ta'sheeka had refused. Even though, her body carried numerous bruises, cuts, and injuries, Ta'sheeka had kept her sprit alive. She had waited a long time to speak her mind to these infantile, yet old leaders of her people and she spoke.
"Leaders of the Mala'shra, I am not sorry for my crimes. I carry them gladly, I carry them proudly. You have done all you could to break my sprit. You poured lies into my heart; you told me that my revolution was dead. You poured agony into my soul with the names of my beloved compatriots who you murdered. Then you beat me and tormented me with physical pains hoping to get me to break. But I am still here and my heart still beats with the desire to see your destruction. You keep a segment of my people in slavery, with menial tasks and positions. They can never become scientists; they can never form our bio-technology which serves us on our home. They can never be soldiers and fight and defend our home, they can not be healers, and heal the wounds of our people. They can not even produce food. We can only serve these castes and be left in a low state. Our only hope is to leave home, but why should we? We shouldn't be forced to look towards the stars of other planets for a new life, when we could live our lives here. I have spoken against our society for a long time and when violence came, regrettably I took up violence to protect the people you sought to kill. I fought for a new way and a new view. For that I am not ashamed. I am only ashamed that I didn't kill you when I had a chance."
The leaders of the Mala'shra were quiet for a moment, Ta'sheeka knew they were conversing amongst themselves, for Mala'shra were also telepathic and they spoke to each other much like the plant and animal life that existed on her planet. Her words were treasonous, treason was punishable with death. Although, if they killed her, it might bring new outrages to the planet, she would become a martyr, a voice that died for the beliefs she spoke. Death would have been easier for this leader of the low castes, but for some reason when the young child like voices of the leaders spoke the death that Ta'sheeka had thought would come, it did not. Ra'shashan, spoke out her sentence.
"Ta'sheeka it is has been talked and decided among us, to exile you. We will not let you become a death and a martyr. But that is what you wanted, is it not wayward one? But we will not allow it. Death is not an agreeable punishment, at least this time. No, from this exile you can not return, for if you do, you will be swiftly and soundly put to death."
Ta'sheeka laughed, "What no death, what kind of outrage is this? I am to be condemned without being condemned. Then it is true, the leaders of our planet are weak and are cowards. Kill me now, kill me where I stand."
This brought a lot of noise from the elders and a girl spoke, whose name was known as At'annla "We will not give death to a person who wants death. It is dishonorable. If you choose to kill yourself in your exile, then that is your doing not ours."
Ta'sheeka's eyes went wide, "Suicide! You would have me kill myself, rather than do the task that you can not. I would rather come back and have you kill me, than kill myself in such a disgraceful manner."
At'annla looked at Ta'sheeka, "What makes you think that you will be given a chance to come back and let yourself be killed? Anyone who decides to bring you back would be killed with you. And we don't intend to give you a ship so you can come back. You will be given to our planetary guard and be exiled to a planet. What planet, you may wonder? A long time ago, our ancestors explored the planets past our star system of Kin'ra, the Star Spear, and explored over 10,000 light years away from our home of Mala'shi. The elders and I have discussed this in depth and have decided to exile you to the planet, Ta'arra. Although I have heard that the natives there call the planet, Earth."
Ta'sheeka snorted, "I just as soon have you kill me."
Ra'shashan smiled lightly, "Perhaps the natives will give you your wish, they are suspicious beings, or so the stories have said. They kill strangers and fear them. Perhaps they will kill you."
He looked at the guard, "Take her away…."
Ta'sheeka glared at them, "I vow with the last breath of my body that I will return. I do not know how, but if the goddess wills it, I will return and I will kill you." Ta'sheeka struggled against the guards that roughly extracted her from the room.
