"Disciple…"

Summary: The 13th Doctor finds restoring Gallifrey has consequences involving old friends and associated others…

[Note-Some references are made to events in my dual tales "Philippi" and "Missy Song"]

Disclaimer: No copywright infringement intended.

"You are the Lady Emeritus President of Gallifrey, Doctor." Voice intoning grimly. The Doctor sighed, regarding the face before her in holographic form, that of the same Gallifrean Lady General, and Acting Lady President by appointment, the Twelfth Doctor had encountered.

"And I made you Acting Lord…Excuse me, Lady…I can't stop thinking of you as the General…President of Gallifrey so I wouldn't have to deal with all the nonsense." The Doctor glared at the image standing in her TARDIS. "I think I've earned that, a bit…What, saving all of you? Restoring you to the universe without bringing back the Time War. Was that not enough?"

"There are consequences, Doctor Lady President." The grim woman pronounced. "Even as you managed to restore Gallifrey without massive destruction, consequences remain. There are cracks in Time that must be dealt with."

Upturned eyes… "Oh…Cracks again, is it? Well, there are now six billion plus Gallifreans, meaning at least a hundred million Time Lords and Ladys all equally skilled as I in time manipulation. Can't a few of you lot, just this once, deal with it? It being a consequence, as you so nicely pointed out…Of your restoration to reality." Glare.

"The minor ones we could, we have…But there are five major cracks or riffs that must be repaired. All of them associated, naturally…With you." Cold stare.

"Naturally…" sigh… "Thank you, Universe."

"And so, only you, my Lady President, can deal with them. As you have, as you so…Nicely…Pointed out, before." Frosty smile. "Though we of Gallifrey do stand ready to help. You are not alone now, Doctor." Arch smile now. "And you have had your reward…Waiting for you, in Time."

"Oh, I don't know about that…River and Clara can be a handful. And you might remember I was denied even that 'reward', for now."

"In Time, Doctor Lord President. In Time you shall have your reward…But not if Time is broken, permanently. Surely after all you have done to secure Gallifrey…Dr. Song/Ms Oswald…Your beloved Humaniy…The Future of all universes…"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah…" wave of hand "…Except that I have to go and be Ms. Fix-it...Again." Frown.

"It was not our choosing…" firm stare. "And we regret you must do this. But we trust in you, Doctor…You who saved us all. Who saved the Master from herself."

"I did no such thing." Sigh. "She reverted…Missy met herself and reverted."

"You left too quickly…And that is one of the fault lines. Indeed several involve the Mistress/Master…"

"Does she live? Still?" The Doctor, keen stare, intently. "Did Missy escape?"

"We don't know…But a fault line exists at the point you left her and her counterpart. But that is for a later time. The greatest, most dangerous riff is one reaching long ago, back into your past…Even beyond…The Doctor."

"My past? Back before I left Gallifrey?" The Doctor stared. "But I can't cross my own past…That is a firm law of Time. One even I can't break, except on the fringes at one of my deaths." She paused. "I just got here and you want me to die again, is that it?"

"Far worse, Doctor." Grim stare. "Far worse."

…

Gallifrey, The Academy of the Time Lords…

A vast hall, hundreds of young candidates seated or in some cases where on expeditions or actual missions, in holographic form…

In one row…Amongst dozens of nervously quiet fellow students…

"Here she comes…Madame Pomposity…" whisper.

"Kolschei…" warning tone. "You don't need more demerits."

"Admit you agree…" holding up finger. "Don't lie…"

"Yeah, she's pompous. But, you needn't pronounce it around the whole Hall…"

"Coward." Hiss. "Alright…But you owe me twice now."

"Fine…"

"And that means I can collect, now…You know the rules, initiate." Grin.

"Kolschei…"

"You wanted to be initiated, I spoke for you…"

"Fine…I know the rules…" anxious whisper. "But lets get through the lecture and you can collect later."

"Hmmn…No. I choose to collect now. Or, rather at the end of the lecture, since you deserve to suffer through it."

"Fine, if it'll keep you still during her speech."

"Right then. When it's over, stand up and declare her the most boring creature in all Universes. That is my command as your senior in the Circle. And you owe me, best friend." Smile. "Time to pay up."

"What? She'll throw me into the Schism."

"Well then, you'll have finally seen it and this time not been able to run away…" grin. "Do it, initate…Or I call you coward and welcher. And we are no longer best friends."

Sigh…

"Look…She might be a little mad but she'd never throw a student into the Schism…Take your duty on you and be a member of the Circle…And a Time Lord."

"Probably give me two weeks detention…"

"Probably…More likely two months…" grin. "Consequence of getting initiated early, my friend. Well? Show me what you're made of."

"All right…Fine…"

"Students!" grim cry. "Attention for the Lord High Professor, Maksuda, called the Lioness…"

"With…Goood…Reason…" grin to the anxious comrade now steeling himself.

…..

The Stormcage Prison…Block Z-114, Cell 1001…

5098 ad in Earth time…

"You're allowed full contact with the prisoner but all conversations must be monitored, Doctor." The guard officer leading the Doctor noted, her men at the ready about her, weapons similar to assault guns but nothing so feeble in firepower, out.

"Naturally…I understand. I could be an imposter…Really sophisticated android, new unknown shapeshifter or telepathically mind controlling type seeking intel or alliance, even you know who, in disguise…"

"Yes…" curt reply. "Not to mention, an assassin."

"Really? Assassins? But she's such a lovely person, now…" shrug. "Well, I suppose that's to reason. She did antagonize a lot of people in her day...Days past and yet to come…"

"Quite." Stern reply. "Here we are…Access cell 1001." The officer informed the wall panel monitor. "We'll be in position outside, Doctor. Two men in with you, orders to shoot to kill, even a Time Lord."

"Really? That fancy these gadgets?" The Doctor eyed the weapons of the two guards moving to follow her.

"Yes. That fancy." Nod. "Access granted."

She stepped in, the guards following…A solitary figure at desk rising with smile…

"Hello…"

"Empress Davia...? How are you doin'?" beam…

"Just Davia, Doctor…" wan smile from the lovely blonde woman, image yet of Rose Tyler, now in prison fatigues. "Well enough…Working on some calculations of 11th Dimensional Space-Time Anomalies, a topic I worked on way back when on Scaro, hoping to cobble a paper out of it. So, busy enough, how are you these days?"

"Oh, can't complain…Still kicking round."

"So I see…Nice new form by the way. Female, at last, eh? I know at least one of your Companions who'd enjoy that. Not to mention your own dear wife…When I meet her for lunch today." Smile.

"You and Stormcage River? Hang out?" The Doctor stared. "Oh, my…"

"Exchanging notes, yeah." Grin. "Though not all regards you…" wider grin. "If you can stay…?"

"Another time, or maybe if I can get back today… Right now, I need your help, again."

"I'm here. What's up? Something Davros did, I'm sure." Sigh.

"Not entirely but he was involved…Sorry to dredge up the past."

"I'm responsible, I'll do what's needed. How can I help?"