Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who reviewed yesterdays' chapter - MayFairy, Romana-II, The Mouse's Rose, Bad Dog No Biscuit, tree1138, Astra68 and Omniac. It's really great to get some feedback on this one, since it's so far outside my comfort zone. I know this is a quick update, but my keyboard is playing up and I'm bored!
CHAPTER TWO
Garbed sumptuously in rich purple formal robes, Cardinal Borusa sailed grandly along one of the upper galleries of the Panopticon, giving condescending greetings to the Time Lords he thought merited his attention, coldly ignoring those he did not. As his personal assistant, Tejana followed reluctantly in his wake, holding a data tablet and stylus in her hands, ready in case the great Cardinal suddenly wished to record any important thoughts. She had never actually been inside the Panopticon before and she had to admit it was impressive. It was an enormous hexagonal chamber with walls carved from massive slabs of dark green malachite, each of the six sides representing one of the original founders of Time Lord society. At each corner of the room there was a huge, black statue of each founder:- Rassilon, Omega, Pandak, The Other, Apeiron and Eutenoyar. Presently, the massive chamber was filled with a vibrant swirl of colour and movement, with each chapter of the Academy represented by an array of Time Lords in their multi-hued robes and high formal collars – as well as the scarlet and orange of the Prydonian chapter, there was also the green of the Arcalians, the heliotrope of the Patrexes, the silver-grey of the Dromeians, the light-blue of the Ceruleans and the primrose yellow of the Scendles. Tejana herself was dressed in Prydonian robes, her long blonde hair swept up into a complicated arrangement, confined by an intricate tiara made of silver filigree, which dug into her head and made it ache. She was not required to wear the formal Prydonian high collar and skull cap until after she graduated from the Academy, a temporary reprieve for which she was very grateful.
As Borusa's entourage approached the stairs leading down to floor of the great chamber, a weedy little man dressed in robes of brown and cream obsequiously approached the Cardinal.
"Cardinal Borusa, if you can spare a moment, Sir?"
Tejana nearly disgraced herself by giggling. This was none other than the very same 'Runcible the Fatuous' she and Damon had been joking about earlier that day.
Borusa looked haughtily down his long nose at the reporter. "Yes?"
"Public Register Video," Runcible said, bowing respectfully. "If I could ask you a few questions?"
"Good gracious!" Borusa exclaimed. "Runcible, is it not?"
"Yes, Sir."
"One of my old pupils at Prydon Academy."
Runcible visibly preened himself at this recognition from the great man. "And may I congratulate you, Sir, on your elevation to Cardinal?"
"Thank you, Runcible," Borusa replied curtly, already beginning to move on. "Good day."
"No, no, wait, Sir!" Runcible gabbled, seeing his opportunity for an interview swiftly disappearing. "Please, if I could ask you a few questions?"
Borusa looked back at him coldly. "Runcible, you had ample opportunity to ask me questions during your mis-spent years at the Academy. You failed to avail yourself of the opportunity then and it is too late now. Good day."
With that, he swept onwards, leaving Runcible behind him with his mouth hanging open in shock. Amused, Tejana gave the little reporter a grin and a quick wink as she passed. If Borusa continued to snub people like this, perhaps her evening would not be so quite so boring after all.
Pulling himself together, Runcible turned back to the camera and said smoothly, "I'm afraid that Cardinal Borusa cannot, at this present moment in the time band, commit himself. However, it is certainly no secret that a very senior member of the Prydonian Chapter, and the present number two on the Time Lord Council, Chancellor Goth, is the widely fancied candidate."
Just then, following behind Borusa, Tejana felt a strange connection within the psychic link, something out of place and yet intensely familiar to her, something she knew did not belong on Gallifrey. She drew in a sharp breath, her hand flying to her head, where the silver tiara pressed uncomfortably into her temples. It felt like...but, no, it couldn't be, it was impossible. The Doctor was light years away across the Universe somewhere, doing his own thing as always. There wasn't the slightest possibility that he was here, somewhere in the crowded Panopticon. There, the weird feeling was gone now. Whatever it was, it had slipped away again. It must have been her imagination, a confused psychic reaction brought on by the close proximity of all these Time Lord minds. Frowning in concentration, she raised her mental shields to maximum, purposely isolating her consciousness from the psychic link altogether.
"Lady Tejana, are you all right?" a solicitous voice asked in her ear.
Tejana's mouth went dry in instant revulsion, her entire body rigid with disgust. She recognised that smooth, lascivious voice easily enough. She heard it over and over again in her nightmares, those dark, depraved dreams that constantly haunted her, gradually eating her alive from the inside out.
"Councillor Rohan," she said woodenly, taking a defensive step backwards, away from his loathsome presence. "I'm fine, thank you."
Outwardly, she managed to maintain her composure. But inwardly, she was screaming in horror, her entire being shrinking away from this sick travesty of a man.
"Are you sure?" he asked, moving closer again and putting his hand on her arm. "You look rather pale. Would you like to sit down?"
Tejana looked down at his pudgy hand, her skin crawling where he touched, a wave of nausea overwhelming her as she remembered those vile fingers touching and defiling her, ravaging her most private places without compassion or mercy. Rohan smiled, guessing her thoughts, his eyes sliding knowingly up and down her slender body. He felt quite safe – he knew she was too proud to ever tell anybody of the shameful abuse he had inflicted on her during the so-called "re-education" sessions the High Council had ordered for her after the Doctor's exile to Earth. And he was right. Except for Damon, she never had told anybody. Since then, praying for forgetfulness, she had done her utmost to avoid Rohan wherever she could. Unfortunately, it appeared her luck had finally run out.
"It's been quite a while since we've seen each other, Tejana," he said softly. "Perhaps it's time we caught up. I'm sure I could arrange something if I put my mind to it."
Tejana shuddered, feeling as if the jaws of a trap were closing in around her, knowing perfectly well she was helpless to stop him if he chose to victimise her again. He was a highly-respected member of the High Council. She was the disgraced daughter of a convicted criminal. Who would believe her? Who would even care? Oh gods, she prayed in desperation, please don't let it start all over again!
Even worse, if Rohan came after her again, she wasn't sure she would be able to prevent hot-headed, protective Damon from trying to kill him this time. She had no intention of allowing her friend to throw away his promising career and possibly his life on her behalf. Her own life was enough of a mess without destroying his too.
"Tejana! Where are you?" came Borusa's impatient voice as he majestically retraced his steps towards her. "If you are going to be my personal assistant, you need to learn to keep up. There can be no dilly-dallying." The Cardinal gave Rohan a disparaging glance. "And I'll thank you not to detain my staff while they are in the midst of official duties, Councillor."
"Yes, Cardinal. My apologies, Sir," Rohan replied, giving Borusa a polite bow. "Please excuse me."
With a last leer at Tejana, he disappeared into the crowd. Borusa watched him go, a slight frown between his brows.
"Is everything all right, child?" he asked, giving her a keen look.
Sometimes Tejana couldn't help wondering how much those sharp eyes saw and understood, things that were never reflected in Borusa's imperturbable politician's face. She nodded and gave him a small curtsey, indescribably grateful to be free of Rohan's oppressive presence, at least for now. "Yes, Cardinal. Forgive me for neglecting my duties."
"As long as it doesn't happen again," he replied crisply. "Now, I wish to have a private discussion with Cardinal Arkendo before the President arrives. Please ensure we are not disturbed."
"Yes, Sir," she said.
Borusa walked over to another Time Lord also dressed in the deep, rich purple of a Cardinal and drew him aside for a whispered conversation. More political intrigue, Tejana thought cynically. Borusa had always been kind to her in his own lofty, superior way, unlike many of the other older Time Lords, who had treated her with disdainful contempt after the Doctor's exile to Earth . She suspected it was because Borusa had harboured a soft spot for her father back in his Academy days. She wished she could bring herself to confide in him about Rohan, but somehow – without knowing why - she just couldn't trust him enough.
As instructed, she hovered just out of earshot of the two Cardinals, courteously forestalling anyone who looked like they might be about to interrupt their conversation. It was not an easy task, for Borusa was a very influential member of the High Council and there were any number of people determined to bend his ear in an attempt to curry favour. Before long, a tall man sidled up to her, moving carefully and almost furtively. Tejana groaned inwardly. She was getting sick of intercepting people. They always got so grumpy, as if it was her fault Borusa wouldn't speak to them. This particular man was dressed in traditional Prydonian robes, complete with the orange high collar and skull cap decorated with the figure-of-eight symbol of Rassilon. She had never seen him before. Oddly, his robes seemed slightly too short for him and his cap appeared to be jammed down haphazardly over a wild mop of curly brown hair.
He gave her a wide, toothy grin. "Hello there. Nice day for it, isn't it?"
Tejana was just about to give him the usual spiel about contacting Borusa's office to make an appointment when she glanced up and happened to meet his twinkling blue eyes. All at once, the world stood still, everything retreating to a distance, both her hearts nearly stopping with the shock of instant recognition.
"Doctor!"