DOCTOR WHO: UNITY

Book I: The Last

Chapter 1

The Office of the Lord President

The Capitol

Gallifrey

The President was restless. Very restless.

As he sat at the table with the the other members of the Inner Council, his knees were taking it in turns to jig up and down, up and down. Right now, it was the lefts turn, and right was very eager for its crack.

The problem was, mused the President, he wasn't all that good at sitting still for very long. So meetings, like this one, were very much not his cup of tea.

Thinking of tea, he reached forward for the china cup in front of him. With the cup halfway to his mouth, he rememberd he'd drank his cup dry.

He looked around at his collegues, all of them listening intently to Vice-President Ushas' report of the situation in the Traken system. Now there was a bad state of affairs that needed dealing with. But, first…

"Who's got the teapot?" Interrupted the President.

Ushas turned to face him, her red hair whipping round fast enough to cause a neck injury. "Sorry, Lord President?"

"The teapot." Said the President. "Who had it last. I'm all tea'd out."

Ushas motioned her head towards another figure at the table. A dark haired, thin faced man, with a rather severe goatee.

"Lord Koschei had it last? She replied. A hint of the schoolyard in her voice.

Lord Koshei, head of the Temporial Stability Authority, looked a bit sheepish.

"I have an empty teapot." He stood up. "But I can get some more..."

The President raised his hand. "No. Don't. Ignore me. I'm just feeling a bit twitchy." He turned his attention to Ushas. "Please continue."

Ushas took a deep breath, and leant forward to review her notes, muttering somehting about loosing her place under her breath.

Then with a loud "Ah.. there." She continued her report on the Traken Civil War.

The President closed his eyes as he took in the report. How had this allowed to happen? They were Time Lords, for Omegas sake, they should be able to do something?

How could a meeting run out of tea? It beggared belief.

He gave his full attention to the report. This neeeded dealing with soon. Now, even. He vowed if Ushas wanted to go and 'help', he would let her.

Just as his right leg was beginning it's turn to twitch, a hand rested gently upon it. The President opened an eye and saw his wife, Alicia, smiling at him.

"Sit still!" She said quietly. "You'll have the table over!"

The President returned her smile, and much to his right legs annoyance, he stopped it bouncing up and down.

The meeting carried on. As predicted, a request to assist in the Traken situation was made. And as he intended, the President gave it his full support.

"I want you to go there yourself." Added the President, talking to Ushas. "Meet with the rebel leaders.. find out whats going on. Then come back."

Ushas looked at the Presiddent. Her face showing an unnatural look of concern. "You do know I have an Academy student working with me? And that they'll have to.."

The President interrupted. "I trust you to ensure their safety at all times."

Ushas nodded, not missing the undercurrent of threat in the Presidents comment. "I assure you, Lord President, that their safety will be my first priority."

"Good!" Snapped Alicia. "Make sure it is."

The President looked between his wife and VP. "Okay, ladies. Let's keep it civil."

His wife looked abashed. "But, with respect, I haven't said anything!"

The President laughed. "Not yet. Anyway." He said, looking towards Ushas. "I think that's everything, isn't it?"

"Yes, Lord President." Replied Ushas. "I think we've covered everything."

The President stood, his mood returning the lighter, almost flippant mood he was known for. "Goodo. I call this meeting to an end, and ask you all to go away make someone elses lifes miserable."

A chorus of "Yes, Lord Pressident" was mixed with the scraping of chairs, and low level banter as the rest of the Inner Council went about their duties. Only Alicia, and Ushas were left.

"Right then." The President said, rubbing his hands togetther with barely supressed glee. "Shall we get this party started?"

"You're enjoying this too much." Observed Alicia.

"And?" Asked the President, as he removed the glasses this incarnation needed to wear after his last incarnation was attacked by a temporal weapon, and proceeded to clean them on his robes of office.

"And… You need to take this more seriously!" His wife said.

All the good cheer drained from the Presidents face. "There has never been a moment since this all began where I didn't take it seriously." He said, his voice quiet.

Realising her mistake, Alicia placed her hand on his arm. "I know, and I'm sorry." She placed a kiss on his right cheek. "I wasn't thinking."

Having finished cleaning his glasses, the President placed them back on his face, a smile once again spreading. "I know." He turned away, walking towards the back of the meeting room. "I'm keen to get it over with."

He reached the door to his inner office and turned. "You know what you have to do?"

Ushas nodded as she spoke for both of them. "Yes. Wait for the signal, even though we have no idea what this signal is?"

Alicia laughed "He's going to say 'You will know when you see it', aren't you?|"

The President opened the door. "No need. He said as he stepped through. "You just said it for me."

With that, the President closed the door.

The President began to pull off his robes as he walked across his office to his desk. Underneath, he was wearing a suit of Earth design. Matching jacket and trousers of a rough, brown material worn with a white shirt, and dark tie.

The kind of suit seen on the streets of Britian in 1944. A suit that says 'I may not have a lot of money, but I can still look smart.'

He'd thought about adding a few tears and 'repairs' to it, to make it look more authentic, but he'd decided against it. If it came to it, he had enough false papers to get more clothes if he needed it. And he knew he would.

He opened the top drawer of his desk, taking from it a battered leather wallet, a ration book, an ID Card in the name of 'John Smith', and a few other items that would make his life easier.

Lastly, he took out his trusted Screwdriver.

Not the ornate red and gold one his daughter, Sarina, had given him the day he became President. But the sleeek back and silver one he'd carried during the Nekkistani War, the very war where he was blinded by one of their accursed Time Viruses.

He touched a button on it's surface. It emmitted a familiar hum, as well as a bright, purple light at the silver end of the device.

He closed the drawer, and then examined himself in the long, dress mirror he'd brought from his TARDIS.

His hair was a wispy brown, with the slightest hint of blonde here and there. His face was one that was made to smile, and to make others smile too. His bulid was solid and stocky; a powerful build that was capable of such gentleness too.

He smiled at his reflection, straightened his tie, and called out to his office.

"Transmat to Presidential TARDIS Cradle. Colonel Tydus, I expect to see you there."

A womans voice replied. "Of course, Lord President. The Colonel will meet you there. Transmat in progress."

With that. The President had very much left the building.