Doctor Who
Series 27b
The Time War
Episode 1
To War!
We had known that it was coming for years, decades, and yes even centuries. We ignored it, hoping that it would become someone else's problem. Our policy of non-intervention has become trivial it seems, and the prodigal son of Gallifrey returns.
"All those times, all those chances, no more!" The man in the green frock coat yelled at the rising column coming from the middle of a hexatagonal machine. He danced around hitting switches, and messing with a dial here or there."
"Come on, come on, come on!" He roared. He threw off his coat onto one of the new coral like protrusion that now encircled the console, revealing his older gentleman's style clothing. A vest and neck cloth over an older style dress shirt, and a pair of pants.
The console, groaned in time with the rising and falling of the column, and the man watched it rise and fall, his ancient eyes filled with tears and on the brink of anger. He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, and watched the scanner with a critical eye. Finally the column stopped moving and a sound similar to a stone hitting a floor, though muffled, sounded through the machine.
The man patted his machine, with a smile, and whispered, "Thank you." He flicked another switch, and the doors at one side of the circular room opened. Grabbing his coat, the man threw it on, and walked out of the doors, which shut automatically behind him.
"Don't move!" A man in a red suit said pointing a weapon at him.
"Braxiatel, get out of my way." The man said, his anger boiling over."
"D-Doctor, my gods man what happened to you?" The man asked surprised.
The Doctor ignored the question and asked, "Where is Romana? I need to speak to her?"
Braxiatel lowered his weapon and said, "The Lady President is in her chambers."
"Take me to her." The Doctor continued, not leaving any room for debate.
Braxiatel looked like he was about to argue, but one look from the Doctor, and he nodded curtly and said, "Follow me."
"We had to move the presidential rooms recently." Braxiatel said, "We've had some recent…problems."
"Haven't we all?" The Doctor replied. "I'm sure I'll hear all about it, when I talk to Romana."
"Lady Romana." Braxiatel emphasized.
"I haven't got time for this." The Doctor stated.
"We're Time Lords. Time is something we have plenty of." Braxiatel said.
"I'm not so sure about that." The doctor replied, somewhat darkly.
"And what is that supposed to mean?" Braxiatel asked.
"I'm sure you'll find out when I talk to Romana." The Doctor replied.
"What on Gallifrey is going on…?" Braxiatel wondered to himself, as the Doctor increased his stride and over took Braxiatel himself.
"What is that noise?"
"I will find out." The jungle woman said as she drew her dagger and stalked towards the door.
"Leela, I doubt that's necessary." President Romana said.
"Shh, not time for arguments. Of late Caution good." She replied inching forward.
Romana sighed; she had to admit the feral woman was right. Between the coup, free time virus, Pandora, and the breaking down of the act of Master Restitution, things had definitely gone a bit south.
The door flew open with a crash, and Leela leaped at the would be intruder. Pinning him down with her knife pressed against his throat.
"Damn it! What a day! Wait….Leela? Leela! It's good to see you!" The man said. He was dirty; his clothes were practically in ribbons.
"How do you know me? I have never seen you before!" Leela said gravely looking down at the man, that was pinned beneath her.
"That voice…" Romana wondered, "Could it be? Doctor?"
"Um…Yes?" The man answered happily.
Braxiatel appeared in the doorway and looked down at Leela with a mixture of amusement and discomfort, "Leela, it's the Doctor, let him up."
"This is not the Doctor. This is an imposter." Leela stated.
"Oh for heaven's sake, Leela, I've regenerated half a dozen times since I last saw you. That means I've changed my body. It's me." The Doctor stated. "How can I prove it to you?"
"What tribe am I from?" She asked.
"The Sevateem. A degradation of Survey Team. I found you on a planet where an artificial intelligence was pitting your 'tribe' against the science team." The Doctor answered.
"That is…correct." She replied and removed her dagger from her throat. Getting up she offered him her hand, and then pulled him into an embrace.
The Doctor hugged her back, and then looked over her shoulder at Romana. "You've regenerated too, it seems." He said.
"Yes." She replied, "A lot has happened since I last saw you during that Zagreaus business."
A quiet fell over them, and then Romana said, "Doc-"
"Listen Romana…there is something we need to discuss." The Doctor interrupted.
"It's not in the business of her subjects interrupting the president." Romana stated.
"I see new body, new personality. I'll keep that in mind Lady President." The Doctor replied.
"Please sit." Romana said, as she waited for the Doctor to take a chair. Leela shut the door, and took her position by it, and Braxiatel stood behind her right shoulder.
"Late Rassilon period right?" The Doctor asked as he sat in one of the slightly plush chairs in front of her.
"What?" Romana asked slightly vexed.
"The furniture." He said.
Romana let out a sigh, and said, "Doctor you said you had something to tell me, something important enough that you'd come back to Gallifrey personally. "
"Yes…" The Doctor said looking uncomfortable. "Romana, something was, no is, happening in the universe. And I don't know where to start but here."
"Romana, they killed my grand-daughter, and my great-grandson. They killed Susan, and her son!" The Doctor yelled.
"Whose 'they' Doctor?" Braxiatel asked.
"The Daleks." The Doctor said darkly. His face at that moment in time could be considered the face of a god of war, and death. It was the perfect mixed of wisdom, anger, and wretchedness in such a way that everyone in the room flinched back involuntarily.
"And that's not all." The Doctor continued, "I've had a look around this universe of ours. I don't know if you've noticed it, but Time Lords are disappearing. And not just disappearing, they're dying. The Daleks have been exterminating us, where ever they could find them."
Everyone was silent for a moment and then Romana continued, "I'm…sorry Doctor. Truly I am, but we're having our own problems. Recently a virus has run amuck the population, forcing regeneration and turning them into zambi. It was released by a group of terrorists called-"
"Free Time. Yes I know." The Doctor interrupted, "The Daleks orchestrated the whole thing."
"How…How do you know this?" Braxiatel asked.
"I've been around a bit, may have even popped onto one of their battle saucers and accessed their records."
"Very sneaky Doctor." Braxiatel stated.
"You should have killed them then." Leela said from behind him.
"I did. That is one saucer that will never see battle again." The Doctor replied serenely.
Leela looked appeased, and nodded curtly.
"Doctor, there is something else I need to tell you. Everyone leave." Romana ordered.
"Yes Madam President." Braxiatel said bowing out. Leela looked like she was ready to fight, when Romana looked up at her, and meeting her eyes forced Leela out.
"That is the first time I have ever seen anyone make Leela back down." The Doctor was saying to himself.
"A lot really has happened Doctor, but where to begin?" Romana asked as she removed her headdress and set it on the desk. "First off, can you sound proof the room real quick. I would hate for this conversation to get out."
The Doctor pulled out his sonic screwdriver and after adjusting some settings, pressed the button. The device emitted a high pitched whine, and the sound of locks sliding shut echoed through the chamber.
"Sorry about that and about snapping earlier, I have to keep up appearances now more than ever." She continued.
"What's happened Romana?" The Doctor asked concerned.
Romana took a breath and then said "Well first there was a coup to overthrow me, then the Free time terrorists, and then I lived in the matrix for awhile, trying to find a solution, besides the ones offered me. And then there was the Imperatrix Pandora."
"Imperatrix Pandora? I thought she was just a legend." The Doctor said.
"We thought the same thing about Zagreaus." Romana pointed out.
"Point taken." The Doctor replied.
"So…" The Doctor began "How did you solve the virus?"
"I would rather not talk about it Doctor. Safe to say it changed everything." Romana said after a moment's thought. That was one memory that she would rather not live again.
"I understand…I have a couple of those myself." The Doctor replied.
They sat in silence for awhile, each focusing on their own thoughts. The Doctor broke it. "Romana what are we to do?
"I…I don't really know." Romana answered
"Well I have a suggestion." The Doctor said in all seriousness.
"And what would that be?" Romana asked frightened by the darkening of the Doctor eyes.
"The Daleks, by all the laws of the shadow Proclamation, and by our own laws have declared war on us. I say let's give them what they want."
"What you are saying," Romana began, "also goes against everything the Time lords stand for."
"The Time Lords have waged wars before. The Great Vampires, Omega, the Racnoss, this would be no different. The Daleks have possibly become a greater threat than all the ones that have come before. They threaten all that we protect and stand for; if we don't do something then we will be wiped out! Now is the time to step in and stop being dusty old senators." The Doctor exclaimed.
Romana met his eyes and then looked down. He was right and she knew it, and if it was up to her she would allow it but, "Doctor, I can't declare war like this. We need to go talk to the senate, and if they agree, then we'll see."
"Great, nothing like seeing some old friends." The Doctor said sarcastically.
"You may want to change both of the words there Doctor." Romana said slightly amused by the prospect of the doctor face.
"And what's that supposed to mean?" The Doctor said.
"You'll see."
The senate of Gallifrey, a multi-tiered rounded structure with a place for the President and their guards to stand in the center, made out of red stone, and lined in gold with the symbol of Rassilon watching over them, it almost seemed like a prison.
The Doctor and Romana, as well as Braxiatel and Leela stood in the center of this area, looking out up at the time lords and ladies that had gathered there.
"I see what you mean by 'old friends'." The Doctor said, "How are they all so young?"
"In order to remove the time virus, I had to destroy every time lord on Gallifrey and recreate them using data from the biomatrix." Romana replied seeming somewhat sad about it.
"And that included yourself?" The Doctor asked.
"In a way yes, I had K-9 implement the solution." She said in answer.
"K-9! Where is he?"
"He is…around. Right now I have him committed to other duties Doctor." Romana paused, and then clearing her throat said, "Fellow Time lords, and Time Ladies, I have the gravest news to tell you. It appears that our fellow time lords across the cosmos have come under fire. A threat that many of us have heard of, and in some cases came face to face with. This threat is the Daleks."
A cry of outrage rang through the senate. Romana let it last awhile before she raised her hands, and ordered for silence. "The Doctor here has brought forth evidence that the Daleks were behind both the virus that plagued us not to long ago, and the recent disappearances of our fellow brothers and sisters."
"How can we trust this renegade?" One of the senators asked. A cheer of agreement followed this proclamation.
"This 'renegade' has saved not only Gallifrey, but also the universe at large many times. What possible use would this serve the Doctor? And not only that but he has recently lost not only his granddaughter, Susan, but also his great grandson."
"What difference does that make? He's also lost his father, mother, wife, and children. He is a contemporary of the Master, and the Rani. Trusting him would be like trusting Omega all over again." Another time lord piped up
The Doctor stepped forward and asked, "What do I have to do, to prove to you that I am not like the Master or the Rani?"
The Time lords seemed surprised by this and started to mumble amongst themselves.
"What do you hope to gain by this?" Romana asked wondering what could possibly have gotten into her friends head.
"Change your clothes." Piped up one.
"Pledge your loyalty to Gallifrey." Another said.
"Work with a crew on your TARDIS." Yet another said.
"Fine these are all acceptable." The Doctor conceded. Though I'm not very fond of any of them, he thought personally.
"Let us use the new matrix in order to see these exterminations by the Daleks." One of the Senators sitting one the closest tier said.
"That is Senator Seratim." Romana said under her breath. "Seratim, you know there is a reason why I can not allow that."
"And what reason is that?" Seratim shot back. "Are you afraid of what we might see?"
"You know why I can not allow this." Romana replied coolly.
"Romana, you mind filling me in?" The Doctor asked.
"In order to destroy the Imperatrix Pandora, and end the civil war that she was causing, I had to destroy the Matrix. Then after the last fragments of her personality had been removed from myself, and Braxiatel, I had the matrix recreated."
"And the problem is?"
"This new matrix hasn't started recording yet." Romana said somewhat guiltily.
"Ah, well that is a problem." The Doctor said sympathetically, "and they don't know do they?"
"That would be correct Doctor." She replied.
"I thought so." The Doctor mumbled under his breath.
"Seratim, I promise to you that once we have things under control I will let you view the matrix, but until then I can not let you do such as thing." Romana said addressing Seratim.
"Alright now that the Doctor has agreed to your stipulations, I would like to raise a vote. The vote is for Gallifrey to go to war with the Daleks of Skaro. We will Dismiss for thirty Earth minutes, and then reconvene. This meeting is adjourned."
"Come Doctor; let us start your stipulations." Romana said, as she turned heel and walked towards the door at the end of walkway.
"Are you ready yet Doctor?" Leela asked as she sat on the stairs in the TARDIS' wardrobe.
"Almost. I'm not sure about this haircut though…" The Doctor called back as he rummaged through the clothes. "Ah I think this will work."
Stepping out from behind a clothes rack, the Doctor said, "How do I look?"
"Where is your hair? And you're clothes….the coat is blue. With a white shirt and black pants. What kind of coat is that?" She asked.
"It's called a double breasted captain's coat." The Doctor said, completely full of himself. "I figure it would go with the fact that I'm supposed to have a crew now."
"Well I don't like it." Leela said.
"And what's wrong with it?" The Doctor said taking offense.
"It is too bulky, and you have nowhere to carry your weapons." Leela said, as she circled him, making mental notes of where he would be in danger of getting hit.
"Too bulky? Have you seen what I normal wear? This thing is lighter, and thinner yet stronger. And as to no place to carry anything I have this!" The Doctor said happily holding up a shoulder bag.
"That thing!" Leela exclaimed. "What possible use could that have?"
"Why to carry things of course! And because this is made using the same technology as the TARDIS." The Doctor said adopting a lecturing voice.
"The same technology?" Leela asked confused.
"It's larger on the inside, than the outside." The Doctor said slightly annoyed.
"Why didn't you say that?" Leela asked.
"I did. Now come on the Lady President must be ready to kill us." The doctor said, running a hand through his now much shorter hair.
Walking back through the wardrobe, down the hallway, and out the console room, Leela stopped and looked around the console room.
"What is it?" The Doctor asked.
"It has changed so much." Leela said a hint of sadness in her voice. "I remember it being so different, so many memories."
"I know. Susan, before she died, said that it looked 'gothic'. It's changed slightly since then, but I think it still has that feel. Now it just seems…fitting." The Doctor said quietly and sadly. He looked back at the console and said, "But she is still the same old girl." With affection he walked out the doors, and was soon joined by Leela.
"What are you wearing?" The Lady President Romana asked caught between laughing and disgust. Braxiatel was having no such problems. He was near collapsing on the floor from laughing so hard.
"Seriously what is wrong with what I'm wearing?" The Doctor asked looking down at himself.
"I suppose nothing. It definitely suits you." Romana said still trying not to laugh. "Come on lets go let the Senate get a look at you."
"Are you sure you want to? Braxiatel asked finally managing to stifle his laughter.
"It might make them more malleable." Romana said, as she turned and pushed open the double doors. As she did the noise level inside the senate suddenly dropped down, and Romana and company slowly advanced down the walkway to the center platform. Behind them the doors slowly closed, and as they reached the central platform, a slow buzz of conversation began again. Some of them even went as far as to start laughing.
Romana let it carry on again before raising her hand, and the staff of Rassilon. The crowd fell silent and she said, "The Doctor has fulfilled the first of your requests. Hear is the result."
"That's not exactly what we thought he was going to change into. We were expecting something more…Gallifrean." One of the senators piped up.
"This is what you get." The Doctor said, "I changed my clothes, and even cut my hair."
Romana interrupted saying, "I will now have the Doctor pledge his allegiance to Gallifrey, this senate, and to the President."
This also raised an outcry, but Romana continued saying, "That is the pledge, and that is what he will swear."
Turning to the Doctor, Romana said, "Take a knee Doctor."
"Take a knee? I didn't even take a knee when I took-" The Doctor said incredulous.
"Just do it." Romana snapped at him.
The Doctor did as she said rolling his eyes. Looking up at Romana, the Doctor put his left arm on his knee, and then lowered his head.
"Doctor repeat after me; I, the Doctor do hereby swear to follow all orders given by this counsel, and the President.
"I, the Doctor do hereby swear to follow all orders given by this counsel, and the President." The Doctor repeated in the dead silence. This was something his teachers and classmates had never thought to see. The Doctor taking a knee.
"To protect Gallifrey and all of its inhabitants." Romana continued.
"To protect Gallifrey and all of its inhabitants."
"Rise Doctor, a protector of Gallifrey and now a captain of your type 40 TARDIS." Romana said, somehow proud of herself.
The Doctor rose and looked around at the assembled senators. Most of them were speechless, but a few of them were mumbling to their neighbors. The Doctor felt like he had just lost a part of his soul.
"The Doctor has completed two out of the three requirements this counsel has set before him. But before we complete the third of these tasks, let us have the vote." Romana said, her voice echoing around the chamber.
"Those who are in favor of us going to war with the Daleks of Skaro, please rise." Romana said her eyes playing around and meeting any Time lord or Ladies eyes that would meet hers. Some held, while others looked down.
One or two Time Lords rose but most stayed seated. Romana sighed sadly. "Those that are opposed."
The rest of the assembly rose. The Doctor looked around incredulous and said, "They are exterminating Time Lords!"
"They are renegades, and therefore no longer associated with Gallifrey." A Time Lady said pointedly.
"It also goes against our policy of non-intervention." Another Time Lord said.
"Well then," The Doctor said, "I'm going to stop the Daleks, and there is no way you can stop me."
"On the contrary Doctor," Romana said, "That oath will keep you on Gallifrey unless otherwise told."
"What do you-" The Doctor began before he fell to one knee. "Romana what have you done to me?"
"You have sworn yourself to Gallifrey and to this ruling body. You have done it to yourself."
"Madame President?" Leela said.
"What is it?" Romana asked.
"What is that noise?" Leela asked.
"What noise?" Romana asked, confused by what Leela was asking.
"That noise." She said her voice rising, as the chamber was rocked and dust fell from the ceiling onto the assembled counsel members.
"Braxiatel, what was that?" Romana asked annoyed, and crouched trying to keep her balance.
"Hold on." He said, pushing on a device in his ear he said, "What in the name of Rassilon was that? Yes the rocking you idiot! Oh…oh I see." Braxiatel said the color draining from his face.
"What is it?" Romana asked as the room was rocked yet again.
Lowering his hand Braxiatel said, "It appears that the Daleks have brought the fight to us."
Romana's color drained as well, and the Doctor's face contorted into a mask of pure rage.
"How many Dalek saucers?" The Doctor asked.
"One second. How many contacts do we have?" Braxiatel asked. "Right thank you."
"How many?" The Doctor asked again.
"fifteen." Braxiatel said slowly.
"Fifteen Dalek battle saucers…" The Doctor said slowly. "Do you see now what we're up against? This is the Dalek Fleet, they will not be happy until they wipe every single one of us from the fabric of history. So what say you now?"
"Those in favor of suspending the policy of non-intervention in order to protect Gallifrey, please stand." Romana said in a rush. "Please…."
This time it was almost unanimous, as the Time Lords and Time Ladies stood in one great rush.
"In that case it is my pleasure and my strife to say that the Time Lords are going to war!" Romana said in a roar.
The assembled senators took up the chant of, "For Gallifrey." And the Doctor had to wonder what he had just unleashed against the universe.
"Doctor, your crew is already waiting for you at your TARDIS. Please don't kill any of them." Romana was saying as they made their way towards his TARDIS.
"What you're not joining me?" The Doctor said slightly hurt.
"As much as I would love to go carousing around the universe with you, I am the Lady President of Gallifrey and it's Colonies. I can't just leave when ever I want."
"That didn't stop me." The Doctor pointed out.
"I know." Romana said, "We're hear, and there's your crew."
"They're all so…young." The Doctor said.
"Fresh out of the Academy. We figured you'd prefer them that way." Romana replied as the six youngsters saw them coming and quickly formed a line, saluting.
"What are their names?" The Doctor asked.
"I haven't the slightest idea." Romana said amused.
"Thanks." The Doctor said sarcastically.
Stopping in front of his new crew, the Doctor looked them over and wasn't to pleased by what he saw. They were all to clean cut. All of them, even the girl, looked like the normal kiss-ass Time Lords and Ladies.
"This is the Doctor. He will be your commander, and this is his TARDIS. You will obey all his commands, no matter how silly or trivial they may seem. Chances are they'll safe you somehow. That is all, and do not forget. This is HIS TARDIS. That is very important."
"Thanks Romana." The Doctor whispered to her.
"No problem, good luck." Romana replied as she turned around and headed the way she had come.
The Doctor looked at his new crew and swallowed. He didn't do this, he chose his companions not the other way around. "Right we don't have time for words, lets go."
Stepping forward, the line didn't separate, and instead one of them said, "And why should we listen to a renegade like you."
The Doctor looked at the one who had spoken. She was a head shorter than he was, with dark red hair, and blue eyes. She was dressed as a time lord pilot and in the red of the prydonians. "What is your name?" he asked.
"Susan." She said stubbornly.
The Doctor felt his stomach drop, but that was replaced with anger awfully fast. "Well Susan," He began, he fully intended to find out her real name later. "I am one of the few people on this planet, no in this galaxy that can fight the Daleks, and you have been nominated to be a part of my crew. I did not choose you, remember that. Now lets go, unless you want to be destroyed by those one man tanks, listen to me."
Susan looked pale, and finally nodded.
"Are there any other complaints?" The Doctor said, wheeling away and looking up and down the line. The rest of his crew shook their heads slightly.
"Right now let's go." The Doctor said, and stuck his key into the TARDIS' lock. Turning it, he pushed the door open and said, "everyone in."
He walked in and was soon followed by his new 'crew.'
"What model of TARDIS is this?" A tall boy, almost a man asked. His eyes and hair were both yellow, and was also dressed in prydonian colors.
"A Type 40." The Doctor said ready for the ridicule.
"A Classic huh?" The boy said, "My name is Clydas."
"Charmed." The Doctor said. "Everyone to their stations."
"Umm…Doctor do we have any weapons?" Another boy asked. This one of Darker skin, with dark eyes, and dark hair.
"Define weapons." The Doctor said.
"You know objects that we can use to attack and defend ourselves." The darker boy answered.
"Then no." The Doctor said, "I don't approve of weapons, though I have no doubt I'll have to use them. But we don't have time to arm ourselves now."
Looking at his crew arrange around the console, the Doctor asked, "Not to be insensitive but you're all mixed breed Gallifreyeans right?"
One of the pilots, Susan, replied, "Some of us, some of us aren't even from Gallifrey."
The Doctor smiled to himself. So the Time Lords were finally letting other races into the Academy. That was brilliant, if a bit late.
"Right, our Target: The Central Command Saucer." The Doctor said. "Dematerialize in…three…two…one…mark!"
"Is…Is that Gallifrey?" A brown haired girl asked as she looked up at the viewer. The TARDIS had materialized just outside the upper atmosphere of Gallifrey and had a perfect view of the battle TARDIS' and the Dalek battle saucers. It also had a view of Gallifrey. And the Damage that the Daleks had done so far.
Huge craters rounded Gallifrey; the outer settlements had all but been obliterated. And the Citadel was lined with craters. The Dalek Saucers and Battle TARDIS' were exchanging blows, and both sides were taking losses. Here a saucer would explode, there a TARDIS ceased to exist, causing the Doctor's own TARDIS to shudder.
"Easy girl it's alright." The Doctor said soothingly.
"Susan take us in closer, I need to be on the command Saucer." He said louder.
"We can't sir. There's some kind of kinetic barrier around the command ship."
"Which one of you is our cybernetic warfare operator?" The Doctor asked.
"Me sir." The darker kid said.
"Great what was your name again?"
"Davidea, sir."
"Lovely name Davidea, I think I once knew a Davidea…anyways I want you to hack into that Dalek kinetic barrier and shut it off."
"Sir that is Dalek technology. It couldn't be anymore different from Gallifrean technology."
"Davidea, I trust that you were put on my crew for some reason. Now prove to me that reason." The Doctor said, walking around the console. His fingers itched to touch the controls again.
"Yes sir." Davidea said swelling with pride. His fingers became a blur over the control.
"Sir! Daleks incoming." Susan yelled.
"Steady I doubt they can do any damage on their own." The Doctor said. Right as the TARDIS shook violently.
"Well they shouldn't be able to do that." The Doctor said, "Avoid those energy bolts if you can help it."
"Doesn't this thing have dimensional stabilizers?" Another member asked.
"Those stopped working decades ago." The Doctor called back.
"Great." One of them mumbled.
"Just dodge, and deal with it the best you can!" The Doctor roared, "Davidea how's it coming?"
"I'm not sure." Davidea said, sweat on his brow.
The Doctor marveled at how well these kids were taking it, and made a mental note to thank who ever had given them to him. "Just keep at it."
Explosions rang around them, and the seconds seemed to take forever to go by.
"I got it!" Davidea rang out happily.
"Great Davidea." The Doctor yelled back, "Dematerialize now before they find a way to block us out."
"Yes sir." The crew rang out in unison, and the TARDIS dematerialized yet again.
The TARDIS materialized in a corridor in the Dalek Command Saucer.
The Doctor looked up at the scanner, and said, "Status?"
"We're on the saucer approximately 3.2 seconds after dematerialization. No life signs yet." Susan said.
"Good that won't last long though. The Daleks have perfected time travel technology, and that includes time travel detection equipment. Susan and you what's your name?" The Doctor said motioning towards the only other female on board.
"Lucy." She replied.
"Spelled with a 'y' or with an 'ie'?" The Doctor asked.
"With a 'y'." She replied.
"Oh…' The doctor said sadly, "I knew a Lucy with an 'ie' once. Wonderful companion. Anyways you're coming with me. The rest of you are to keep the TARDIS in a one second loop ahead, keep out of site. I'll contact you when we need to be picked up."
They all nodded affirmative, and the Doctor reached between two of his new companions and hit the door switch. "Let's go." He said.
Stepping out into the corridor, the doctor waited until his two companions joined him before locking the door, and saluting it. The TARDIS then started to groan, and faded from view.
"I'll never get used to that." The Doctor mumbled under his breath. "Right our objective is to destroy or at least disable this saucer. There is probably somewhere around one hundred million Daleks aboard this ship. As well as probably some genetic weapons, special weapons Daleks, and probably a Dalek controller or emperor. We are going to try and avoid all of the above. Any question?"
The two ladies shook their heads, and the Doctor said, "Good, now if I remember anything about these types of saucers the control center is in the literal center though it's split into the top and bottom areas. The top is for actual control, while the bottom is for the engines. That is where we're going."
With that he turned down the hallway, and moved stealthy down it.
"THE TIME CAP-SULE HAS BEEN DE-TECT-ED. ALL DA-LEK UN-ITS MO-BI-LIZE! THE DOC-TOR HAS PO-TEN-TIAL-LY LANDED. HE MUST BE EX-TER-MIN-ATED!" A Dalek voice echoed over an intercom system.
"Looks like we're running out of time." The Doctor said. The Time lord and his companions continued down the corridor, and followed a ramp down a couple of levels.
"Hold it." The Doctor whispered, "Hide!"
The group moved behind a pillar, and as they did, a group of Daleks rolled by. The low buzzing, the only sound they made. When the Doctor could no longer hear the sound, he motioned for them to continue.
"DOC-TOR!" A deep Dalek voice sounded. "WEL-COME TO MY SAU-CER!"
The Doctor stopped where he was, his hearts pounding against his chest. Well there was no helping it now. The Doctor motioned for his companions to stay hidden, and stepped out onto the deck, on that level.
"And who might you be?" The Doctor asked.
The 'Dalek' if could be called that, was different from any other Dalek the Doctor had seen before. It was shaped like a normal Dalek but larger, with some kind of clear metal, exposing the Kaled mutation inside. The rest of the metal was painted in black and gold.
"I AM THE DA-LEK COM-MAN-DER! I SHALL BE THE OR-CHES-TRATOR OF THE DES-TRUC-TION OF GAL-LI-FREY!"
"I'm not so sure about that." The Doctor said, "You don't seem to be doing to well."
"THE TIME LORDS HAVE LOST AN E-QUAL NUM-BER OF TIME CAP-SULES!" The Dalek commander said. "AND KNOW WE HA-VE YOU-RE COM-PAN-IONS DOC-TOR!"
The Doctor turned to see Susan, and Lucy being escorted out from their hiding place by two Daleks and placed on either side of the Doctor.
"Sorry 'Doc'. they found us." Susan said.
"It's alright, but please don't call me 'Doc'." The Doctor said.
"DOC-TOR IT SEEMS YOUR COM-PAN-IONS KE-EP GET-TING YOUN-GER. NOW THEY SHALL DIE WITH YOU!" The commander said, his light stalks flashing as he spoke.
"Not this time I think." The Doctor stated. A group of Daleks around the outer edge started chanting, "THERE IS NO ES-CAPE!" and "EXTERMINATE!"
"MY TROOPS ARE CORRECT DOCTOR. THERE IS NO HOPE FOR YOU!" The Dalek commander stated again.
"But you have forgotten something, 'Dalek commander'." The Doctor said.
"AND WHAT IS THAT?" The Dalek commander asked.
"My ship." The Doctor said. "You've forgotten about my ship."
"AND WHAT DOES YOUR SHIP HAVE TO DO WITH THIS?" The Dalek asked getting even more impatient.
"Have your troops found my TARDIS?" The Doctor asked
The Dalek Commander was silent for a bit before answering, "NO."
"And don't you wonder why?" The Doctor asked, a smile playing across his face.
"WHERE IS YOUR SHIP TIME LORD?" The Commander asked
"Right about now I'd say in your engine room." The Doctor said smirking.
"YOU LIE! THE ENGINE ROOM IS PROTECTED WITH A SIX DIMENSIONAL KINETIC BARRIER." The Dalek Commander yelled.
"If that's the case then why can't we hear your engine anymore." The Doctor said.
"DA-LEKS PA-TROL THE QUAN-TUM EN-GINE ROOM, RE-PORT BA-CK TO ME, AND EXTERMINATE ANY RESISTENCE! EXTERMINATE, EXTEREMINATE, EXTERMINATE!" The Dalek Commander commanded.
"Now Davidea!" The Doctor yelled, and a muffled explosion rang out through the ship. A familiar groaning echoed behind the doctor, and the TARDIS materialized.
"DES-TROY THE TIME CAP-SULE! DES-TROY IT!" The Dalek Commander ordered, as the Doctor opened the door, and dodged inside. Another explosion rang through the Dalek ship, and Susan jump through the door. Lucy turned to jump in and was hit by a Dalek energy bolt. Her body was lit in green, with an X-ray of her bones clearly viewable. Her body crumbled to dust, and as energy bolts rang through the TARDIS and around it, the Doctor ran to the console a pulled on the lever, the door swung shut, and the Doctor ordered, "Dematerialize head for Gallifrey."
The other members of the crew were in shock looking at the door, or down at their panels. The Doctor had to give his order again before it was followed, and the central column started to rise and fall, followed by the groan of dematerialization.
"I'm sorry for your friend. But now this war is person for you, and you'll fight that much harder, be willing to that much further. Remember this feeling, and remember it well so you never, ever have to feel it again." The Doctor said as he rested a hand on his console. "What is our ETA for Gallifrey?"
"ETA five minutes TARDIS time, approximately 3 seconds three dimensional space-time." Davidea said quietly.
"Thank you Davidea." The Doctor said, "When we get back to Gallifrey, I'll make it up to you….somehow."
The Doctor turned down the hallway towards the interior of the TARDIS, and whispered, "That was for you…Susan, David. But I am far from done."