So before I have even got reviews I am hopping onto the next chapter but after that will be work and all the fun of analyzing my work for as many flaws as I can. I still catch a few after I post but please feel free to mention any opinions or suggestions.
I did not choose a Romana version from the list because I am making my own it seems. This story is purely mine and it is not just a Romana/Doctor love fest I promise.
Now, on with the story...
I do not own Doctor Who, but lately I feel that regeneration would be a good thing for me...damn body...
Station 415
Romana has returned to N-Space and found nothing like she expected. Unable to find Gallifrey or contact the High Council, she heads for the nearest local hub with in the detection range of her TARDIS with K9.
"I am telling you girl, even with all the legends about him, the Doctor is dead!" the blue skinned man had reached the end of his patience with this blonde human. It was the talk of everywhere that the infamous Timelord had met his demise, and unlike the half dozen claims before there seemed a lot of concrete info. His job was to verify and sell information or whatever the client wanted, not pander to ungrateful human females.
Her pony tail held back the lengthy hair from her pale face and not too bad features. If only she were a deeper shade of blue she would be pretty good looking in his opinion. Her lithe body forgave the face but this incessant questioning of a topic long since confirmed had made him regret chatting her up in the bar of this accursed station.
Seeing she no longer seemed aware of him in her dark eyes he curled his lip and left her at the raised table in the corner of the bar. Had he looked closer or waited a few seconds more he would have seen the tears.
Father, no...that was as far as mind got before her body convulsed with a sob threatening a torrent. Knowing this was not the place for a breakdown she left a credit chip and stumbled out of the now horrid place. The myriad mix of species blurred in front of her as she went to her single quarters and let loose the grief inside.
All that work, all the adventures, and suddenly all she wanted was to find her father and have him tell her it will never end. This was not the first time she had heard stories of her father, some made her laugh, some made her wonder if he was actually a monster, but all agreed that if the Doctor came to your world, you would need him badly before he left. Now he was gone!
All of Time and Space Jenny...you could come with me...his wild dark hair and toothy grin with that long brown coat of his over the blue pinstripe suit blazed in her mind. Even though she wanted to tell people who she was, like her father she chose to become a nameless traveler, a woman warrior who did not kill but always helped. It was not an easy life but it had been worth it.
She had been so excited when rumors began to spread that he might be near her, but every time the stories were older than they seemed or he was long gone before she even heard it. It had just been a random thought at first, then later a crusade that became an obsession. She wanted to see her father again, to see Donna and this TARDIS he had told her about.
Now none of it will ever happen. Father, I am so sorry I did not find you...the imagination filled in the rest, far more detailed than she would expect. Jenny dashed it quickly as she clung to the memories of her father, even the one when she first emerged from the machine and saw him staring in shock at her. A smile crept on her face as she later realized it was the most honest expression of awe she had seen until he looked at the terraform sphere.
I am alone now... Tears flowed heavily as sobs wracked her body. Knowing no other Timelords existed anymore, Jenny wished her father would accidentally find her before he reached his last day, but all the stories spoke of his death in the past, at Lake Silencio on Earth. How it got so far and so detailed was not hard, the death of the Doctor would be hard to pass by, and the silence after it.
An empty hall off the main living area held a cleaning crew as they did their best to maintain the facility from all the refuse of travelers and the less savory of residents. A junior air filter specialist was running through the checklist as a movement just to his right pulled him around. No one was there and he was about to move on in his gray coveralls until he noticed a new piece of equipment.
It was a new processor of rare atmosphere he could swear was not on his list. Furiously flipping through his paperwork and swearing no one told him anything in this job, he completely missed that his mind no longer knew what he was mad about exactly.
"Materialization complete mistress and all systems within tolerance," K9 began to trundle forward to the exit until Romana stepped in front of him. Her eyes begged him to understand was she brushed a strand of brown hair behind her ear.
"K9, I need you and the TARDIS to quietly interface with this station interface and get me all the factual information you can for me. I will take care of the less accessible option to you, people," patting her dog on his metallic head to reassure him this was important, she watched him turn around and once more interface with the console.
Grabbing her dark calf length coat, Romana entered Station 415.
Only long patience kept Romana from snapping at the leering Draconian. His reptilian skin was definitely not her type, never mind that she knew for a fact the scars on his face marked him exiled from his own space.
She was not as familiar with this era as others with her earlier travels, but in relation to Earth she was not that far in the future from her last visit. Perhaps mid to late 21st century, but not much beyond that. The mix of species spoke of far more peace than the Timelady had known, yet the rumors made her hearts break.
"I tell you, the Doctor really died...Someplace called Eath, or Arth...I hear even that one guy, Captain Jack was confirming it and he would know..." Romana tightly held her drink as still as she could as the stories rolled around her. It was the talk of the station apparently and she could piece a lot of it together. Captain Jack, whoever he was, must have been traveling with the Doctor but people seemed to disagree on that.
The Doctor's method was to breeze into a room and assume command or at least be very disarming with his smile and antics until he could piece things together. For reasons Romana could not put a name to, the fact that the Doctor was so famous and well known bothered her. It was inevitable given his enemies and choices, but even so there was something missing from the rumors about his death.
It saddened her she would not get to see him but no one lives forever. The only thing that struck her as odd is no one seemed to know who had killed him. If that person ever became know to her they would learn why a Timelord was feared to enrage. More, how could the High Council have allowed this to happen as well, where were they?
Only hearing more repeats of information Romana made her way across the bar to a different spot, not quite ready to go in case anything else could be gleaned and waiting for K9 to signal her though her sonic probe.
Jenny was not sure where she was. Her room had seemed stifling after the hours spent grieving. She had not known how much her father meant to her until the chance was gone to reach him. Her pony tail was undone and her blotched face was hidden behind the curtain of her scraggly blonde lochs. She did not want them to see and her own instinct warned against obvious weakness.
Just wishing to move she let her legs do the walking and was most surprised when they suddenly stopped. She was in one of the many narrow corridors in the residential area. The scratched plates and slight garbage strewn in corners seemed no different than any other. The vents pushed the breathable air into the hall for everyone and nothing seemed out of place.
Even the two rare atmosphere processors...wait why are there two? Jenny suddenly was aware what was wrong in this hall. Where every hall that needed different pressures and atmospheres only ever had one processor sorting the material and needs of the unique species in that particular hall. There was no need for two.
She looked closely at the two silver tubes encircled by a red circle at the top and pipes leading into the wall on the top and seeming to sit on the floor of the hall. Jenny could not say why but the one on her right seemed far more real than the one on the left. It was scratched and worn in random places showing obvious use and repair over years.
The left one had those as well but they seemed...wrong. Her instincts told her the left one was trying to blend in, to just be ignored but the how of that thought she could not pin down. Trusting her own instincts she reached out to the left cylinder and felt not the cool metal she expected but a warm feeling and a humming that resonated within her. Suddenly she felt a pressure in her mind.
Fear and instinct tried to make her pull back but the call would not be denied. She did not know how to stop this sensation and in her fear she thought of the only person that could help her. Father...Doctor please help me!
K9 instantly disconnected from the console when the TARDIS relayed the information to him. The TARDIS was far more illogical than he, yet they could communicate. The strange female outside had connected to the telepathic circuits and had panicked. Something in the TARDIS had attempted to calm the stranger then the ship itself had received a shock. Without delay he pulsed a signal to his mistress.
The high pitched whir was not expected by Romana. It was not a ready signal, it was a return immediately or possible emergency. Dropping her credit chit on the table she flowed through the crowd back to her ship. The corridors blurred for her as she slowed at the hallway she had landed in.
"Please, let me go, I just want to go," a young girls voice reached her. Someone possibly in trouble by the TARDIS would definitely have prompted an alert. K9 was often soft hearted like his mistress. Romana however stopped still as the dog himself answered.
"Negative, it is imperative the mistress meets you. Please wait, she is almost here." K9 sounded happier than she could remember ever hearing. Even when she had seemed to die and then he had found her later was not nearly as happy. Curious Romana slowly walked around the corner to see a young blonde human seemingly held between the corner and the TARDIS by K9. His tail was wagging slightly as his ear antennae swiveled rapidly.
"K9 what are you doing with..." the sentence died as the young girl looked at her. The eyes that looked at her were not human. Romana's own instincts kicked in and she swiftly closed the distance to what seemed to be a far too young Timelord on her own and not on Gallifrey.
"Who are you? Why are you not in the Academy or at the very least in the Penoptican?" Basic questions of any Gallifreyan, yet the young girl did not seem to understand. The fear and confusion did not seem the right response yet Romana felt a connection to this child. "Who are you girl?" Her gentler voice seemed to calm her but K9 is the one who answered.
"Analysis indicates she is progeny of Doctor master, mistress," pride rang in his mechanical voice as shock mirrored on both women. Now that she had the information it was obvious, yet something was wrong. This Timelord did not feel right, as if something was off. Romana backed up and indicated for the young woman to enter the TARDIS. This was not a conversation for others to hear.
Jenny was awed and warmed by the amazing craft. It somehow fit inside the replica cylinder from the hall. She felt a gentle prod in her mind and this time felt the connection to the ship around her. She basked in the welcome and felt the pain in her heart become less and the fear retreat. Breathing deeply calmed her and she assumed rest stature with her arms behind her and erect back. This was obviously someone important.
The strange woman seemed to be measuring her to within an inch of her life. The machinery at the center of the room was some kind of controls and at first the labels seemed meaningless circles and swirls, then understanding flooded her. She could read them!
"So you are from Gallifrey, only a Timelord could translate our language, no one else can." Jenny felt a kink in her neck from whirling to face the woman. Her metal pet right behind her seemed to be wagging its tail even faster than in the hall. When it had emerged from a door in the cylinder she had been too stunned to run before it cornered her.
"Timelord, you are a Timelord too?" Jenny could not hide her excitement at finding another of her father's people alive. He had said he was the last yet here was one before her! Oh father if only you could see her! Tears began to form, but summoning her soldier training she stopped them quickly. Jenny finally noticed that her words seemed to disturb the stranger. Throwing some caution to the wind she extended her hand.
"I am sorry, being very rude. I am Jenny, and I am the daughter of the Doctor," the shock on the brunettes face was not what was expected, but then she smiled wide and began laughing hard.
"I am sorry, just did not expect..." laughter over took her as she had to grasp the rail and hold herself up. Jenny did not see what was so funny but the woman quickly controlled herself and calmed down but was still smiling wide.
"I am very pleased to meet you Jenny, I am a very old friend of your father. My name is Romanadvoratrelundar, although the Doctor always called me Romana for short," grasping her strong hand Jenny felt surreal herself. Why would anyone name their child THAT?
Romana seemed on the verge of giggling but quickly controlled it again and indicated a portion of the rail to the left of the console. Two seats folded down and were quite comfortable as Jenny faced this Romana.
"I would be terribly surprised if you knew who I was Jenny, know the Doctor he probably rarely talked of me, if at all, and no doubt to explain why I stayed behind..." Romana stopped as she saw the confusion on Jenny's face. She tried to word this carefully since her father had seemed so sure there were no other Timelords.
"I did not get to know my father long before he moved on. I was told he thought I was dead but somehow I came back. I wish he could see you myself, he would be ever so happy to not be alone anymore..." Jenny trailed off as Romana paled at her words.
What does she mean the Doctor would not be alone anymore? Romana felt a chill enter her hearts as pieces began to fall in place but she did not want to face it. It was flat out impossible. Suddenly Romana noticed K9 quietly backing up out of site and she stopped him with a glare. Crooking her finger she pointed to her feet and waited.
Her trusted companion drooped his tail and head and slowly came forward. Obviously he had information on this and did not wish to share it. The young girl seemed to be confused at the exchange but quietly waited before speaking, obviously her mother's influence.
"Mistress. TARDIS access has revealed lack of contact with Gallifrey because it is no longer there," the slow and gentle tone did not soften the blow to Romana. She felt her whole body go numb. Knowing there would be more she waited.
"Further analysis indicates strange temporal event near Earth orbit matching specifications of Gallifrey but I have no explanation. Suggest Doctor master be contacted immediately," both women flinched at the last. Romana knew if she had heard the stories this young girl certainly had. Her blotched face and barely held back tears spoke volumes to the Timelady.
"K9, the Doctor, well he cannot be reached anymore," she expected the truth to sadden the little dog, after all he was the personal creation of the Doctor after the MI went with Leela to stay on Gallifrey. She did not expect the sudden snap up of his head and furious communication with the TARDIS.
"Explain mistress. Doctor master currently active in Earth solar system relative time +2 years," the certainty in his voice almost brought hope to Romana, it certainly did for his daughter, but being a well taught student of the Academy and the Doctor himself she knew the answer.
"K9 that can only be past versions of him. We cannot go to him with what we know or we could destroy everything he fought to protect," a fixed point in space and time several of the rumors had said. That is the only way she could see him not escaping and it made sense because altering a fixed point would unravel Time itself.
More whirring and conferring between the two machines went on and the crestfallen look on the girls face made Romana think to find out what point the Doctor had had her and maybe find a version that could at least see her. Dangerous but as the last Timelady, no second to last, she had a duty to this girl.
"Mistress, TARDIS systems confirm Doctor master currently alive, confirmation includes calculation beyond recorded date of death on Earth. No explanation in my databanks but Doctor master is very resourceful," wagging smartly and flickering happily the metal dog seemed to bask in the shock of the two Timelords.
How could he live passed a fixed point death date? Romana felt her hearts seem to rise in hope. If anyone could survive the impossible it was that infernal Timelord. Giant squids and Black Guardians could not stop, why should death?
"K9, locate a relative point to us we can reach and safely land. Remember his TARDIS is...vintage. Knowing him he has barely fixed it if at all. Jenny time for your first flying lesson!" Romana leapt to her feet as a smirk would not leave her face. Jenny's eyes sparkled with hope and watched as Romana explained the various controls of the TARDIS as K9 happily computed a likely set of coordinates.
Romana glanced at the telepathic circuits but did not want the Doctor to react badly. He had the answers she needed and apparently he would be very happy to not only see her, but Jenny as well.
The two Timeladies spoke in excited tones of what they hoped would be a happy reunion.
"Confirm your report" the staccato voice had no pity in it, but it was also synthesized so it was impossible to identify.
"I heard her clearly. A blonde woman, possibly human was confronted by another female, brunette with the images I took. The brunette demanded something about an Academy and a Penoptican and that metal robot said the blonde was the progeny of the Doctor." The sweating man was covered in dirt and dark beard growth of at least four days. His lanky hair only leant him more of an air of homelessness. His ragged clothes and yellowed teeth only added more to it. Which of course was the point.
"Confirmation received. Your work is sufficient. You may enjoy three hours of freedom from Control." the voice cut off and so did the endless instructions in his head. Three hours! The man had never had so much time to himself and would put it to good use. His masters had found him useful and had never let him for get who was in charge. Sometimes he wondered who they were but such thoughts brought pain and he long ago had learned they were very good at pain.
Far away in time and space the other end of the report sat in darkness. The first reports had been clear and obvious and nothing contradicted the intelligence gathered thus far. Now two potential problems had been revealed as far worse. Confirmation had been demanded and it had been received. The analysis could not be denied. The Doctor was gone but the Timelords were not. One was a former companion designated Romana, and the unknown blonde female was his daughter.
"What are the orders?" the voice was still staccato and still synthesized. It always would be. The lights became brighter and revealed the Supreme Dalek in its white armor with its eye stalk down in thought. The other Dalek awaited its command.
"Any family of the Doctor is the enemy and the female Timelord is our enemy. Exterminate them both...exterminate...EXTERMINATE!" If there was any fear in the Supreme Dalek voice it was ignored. Of all the foes the Doctor had faced these were the most fearsome, and they still feared him. Even the new paradigm had seen him rise again once captured or cornered. They also would not believe the Doctor dead until they saw him dead themselves.
Ok I kind of made this one bigger, and yea I am using Daleks...who else would be more sure the Doctor would survive than them?