"How should I know who they are," Amy hissed at her husband, they were both going stir-crazy, since the Doctor had rescued his fellow Time Lords they'd not gone anywhere or when, that had been a week ago.
"If I wanted to stay round a single place this long we could've stayed at home, we still have things to unpack-"
"Excuse me," Rory was suddenly barged to the side as the Doctor crashed through, he was wearing a long white robe and seemed to be no more than a blur, Rory shared a look with Amy before following on.
As the Doctor crashed into the console he could see Damon refitting a gleaming white panel to the hexagonal console, which was in a completely new configuration, rather than coral glass and bric-a-brac the new console was gleaming controls and blinking lights. The Time Rotor was sealed off with a closed cylinder and glowing pink and blue crystals.
"Ah Doctor, I've finish rebuilding most of the systems, obviously we'll have to run a full recalibration once we land in a safe environment," Damon told the Doctor as he brushed his robes down and removed his gloves.
"Damon, summon the others," the Doctor ordered. "Ring the bell."
As Amy arrived she could see how much the Doctor had changed, his hair was highly dishevelled, he'd grown a small goatee and most of all he had a look of utter desperation is his face, something Amy found extremely disquieting.
"Okay," Damon moved to the opposite panel on the console that held a built in computer monitor, after pressing a series of bottoms he flicked a red switch, and immediately after the cloister bell began to toll. The Doctor then walked forward to inspect the console and smiled as his technician.
"Well, I'm certainly looking forward to having a fully functioning TARDIS again," the Doctor reached the panel over which Damon stood. "Have you completed the chameleon conversion yet?"
"No I thought you liked the blue box?" Damon asked as he leant forward on the console already trying to figure out how to complete the conversion on this antiquated model.
"What's the emergency?" Spandrell crashed in, cloak and skullcap absent with his staser raised, he was followed by Hedin, who was similarly dressed, but in his hand was a large leather bound book.
"Doctor, I'm impressed, your library holds the biggest collection of texts and artefacts on the Old Time and Ancient Gallifrey I've seen outside of the Panopticon archive. It's extraordinary." Hedin smiled absolutely, after all his passion was ancient Gallifreyan history and his experience with Omega had made him a shrewd and pragmatic researcher, such that when Rassilon returned he refused to support the motion.
The Doctor returned the smile and turned to Damon and nodded who switched the bell off.
Amy watched as the Doctor took in his Time Lord friends, before turning to Hedin.
"My wife has yet to recover from whatever psychic shock hit her," the Doctor swallowed before continuing. "She has retreated into deep shock; I've been able to establish fleeting telepathic contact… I've tried to make her recall our ch-. I need help to draw her out. Hedin can you find remnants of the Pythia, like the Sisterhood?"
Hedin's brow ceased.
"Maybe, it's possible some group of survivors fled before Karn was destroyed, or some other diaspora, I must consult the book of the Old Time." Hedin turned to leave before standing rigid as an idea struck him. "Damon, if I could find a telepathic imprimatur inside one of the texts could you use this TARDIS' systems to detect a matching signature?"
Damon looked puzzled before grinning.
"Yes I suppose so, this TARDIS does possess temporal monitoring equipment," Damon mussed before nodding. "That is a yes!"
As they dispersed the Doctor turned and seemingly for the first time noticed Amy and Rory.
"Oh hello, sorry I've been a tad busy," the Doctor sighed apologetically before looking to Spandrell, his eyes carrying a hidden message. "I won't be able to take you on any adventures for a while but you've free range of the ship."
Clicking his fingers he left them as Spandrell arrived to guide them to one of the recreation pods, Amy watched worried as the white robed Doctor fled the room presumably to the med bay
Hedin once more entered the massive Library section on ancient Gallifrey, the room itself was a massive hexagonal area not unlike the Panopticon. Going clockwise from the main entrance featuring a statue of Rassilon, he swiftly located a series of texts about the Old Time and the Pythia of Old Gallifrey. He pulled out as many texts as he could and breathed in the heavenly scent of old books and cloisters just like the Capitol, with an armful of as many books as he could he prepared to turn another book caught his eye, it was bound in a reptile skin and as Hedin pulled it free he saw the indentation of the Seal of Rassilon, underneath scrawled in Old High Gallifreyan were the words;
The Book of Prophecy: The Order of Pythia Vaults
Hedin staggered in disbelief; he was the foremost expert on Gallifreyan history and everything he'd ever read suggested that it'd been destroyed during resistance to Rassilon's rule after the Other fled., Hedin looked over his shoulder. He then swiftly took the book and added it to the pile.
Spandrell had just got rid of the two humans when he reached the massive double doors to the Doctor's room, a giant Seal of Rassilon was imprinted on the doors. To the side was an entry coder, likely set to the Presidential codes. But Spandrell was not without resources, bringing out his TARDIS key, he opened the coded and begun to splice the key in. While in the Capitol he was not known for general technical skills, most Gallifreyans ignored the fact that he spent a great deal of time with Coordinator Engin and in fact had a great deal of knowledge of technology, but in the Capitol it was best to play down skills so that people would underestimate you.
After a little manipulation Spandrell caused the cipher indet lock to open, casting a glance over his shoulder he edged the door open and slipped in before closing it behind him.
On the other side he found himself in a massive hexagonal room, the lights were low, three of the walls on his left by the doors were lined with book cases, the wall opposite the door was covered by a massive portrait of the Doctor's cousins at the House of Lungbarrow, Spandrell recognised a couple, like Glospin, Quences and Innocet. On the one of the remaining sides were thirteen mannequins with clothing on and portraits above, the first wore red Prydonian robes with full regalia, the second had checked trousers a bowtie and long jacket, the third had a ruffled shirt, velvet smoking jacket and a cape, the forth wore leather boots, crimson trousers and trench coat with a massive crimson scarf, the fifth had an Edwardian cricket uniform and matching cream frock coat, the sixth wore a frankly offensive multi-coloured outfit and coat. By this point Spandrell had realised these were the clothes worn by his past selves. In front of the final wall was a mannequin wearing some of the Presidential robes, everything was there; Sash, Rod, and Coronet and was that the Great Key…
Spandrell stepped forward to look past the robes, briefly looking up he saw that the screen was set as an infinity chamber displaying the night sky as seen from Mount Lung in Southern Gallifrey. As he reached the wall he saw a massive number of portraits, grouped into eleven areas of unequal size, presumably his companions Spandrell surveyed a few of them; a teenage girl with short hair, and older woman with wide eyes and long dark hair, another wearing a velvet suit with chestnut curls of hair, Spandrell knew her from the Doctor's visit to Gallifrey during the Omega crisis, a young human female with a mischievous look and a bomber jacket covered with badges who Spandrell knew the Doctor enrolled into the Prydonian Academy on Gallifrey. Spandrell tore his gaze and looked up; at pride of place on the very top of the wall over the Seal of Rassilon was another painting of a beautiful lady with short black hair and a straight golden gown. Her shoulders were bare; she wore a necklace with a blue gem pendant and held a scroll in her hand. Spandrell squinted at the scroll seeing the Old High Gallifreyan.
'Death is But a Door,'
Spandrell whispered under his breath and stepped back as the wall in front of him peeled away to reveal a passageway, Spandrell checked his handcom, patched into the TARDIS security systems and checked that no one was coming before he entered.
Amy was bored, both she and Rory had watched all of the entertainment from relative Earth but couldn't access anything else. They both sat on the ground and started when the door opened. Damon walked in and seemed surprised to see them both sitting there.
"Why aren't using the systems?" Damon looked between them, confused.
"Because Spandrell locked them, all except contemporary Earth stuff," Amy said pointedly glaring at him.
Damon swallowed before beckoning them out.
"Well, we're probably going to be in one place for a while and the Doctor has empowered me to take you home." Damon offered looking between the two humans.
It was as if Spandrell was walking amongst the stars, inside the dimensional corridor it was impossible to judge perspective, the room could be the size of a bedchamber or the entire Capitol.
A field of candles was set against a black background. The room was warmed by them, filled by their fragrance, that of a rose, or to Gallifreyan noses a Sarlain flower. Stepping forward Spandrell could see a small glass bowl and a necklace amongst flower blossoms, Spandrell'd seen it before.
Closing his eyes he could feel the peaceful waves, this was a Zero Room.
Amy and Rory held their bags as Damon landed the TARDIS, the ride was smoother than any of the Doctor's flights, although Damon credited that to the instrumentation now that all of the automates had been removed.
"Here we are, based on the coordinates just twenty four hours after you left," Damon made an adjustment causing the doors to open. "We will come back, if that's what you want."
He promised as they left the TARDIS.
Kovarian cursed as they watched the Doctor's companions depart, all her plans were derailed as the two humans left the Time-Capsule. She felt a presence behind her and saw the Black clad figure, and the void underneath.
They will return; the Vengeance of the Eternals is not easily avoided…
With that the black figure disappeared, as ever Kovarian had doubts over her mission's success.
Madam Charlotte Beaut sat in her home, she was in Earth in the early 1800's, a terrible place not befitting of a descendant of the Cult of Pythia, the ancient rulers of the Gallifreyan Empire.
Her musing was interrupted by the noise of a TARDIS, Charlotte sneered and raised an ornate dagger as a blue box materialised. Charlotte raised the dagger, from the open doors emerged an elderly Time Lord with a staser raised and a younger Time Lord with floppy parted hair, his whole demeanour showed arrogance.
"My Lady of the Sisterhood," the Time Lord leant forward and bowed, Charlotte then saw the sheer desperation in his eyes. "As President-elect of the Time Lords I request your help."
Charlotte lowered the dagger and smiled insincerely.
"And what pray tell Time Lord, what do your request my help with?" Charlotte asked sizing the Time Lord up.
"An acquaintance of mine is in telepathic retreat from psychic shock," the Doctor replied evenly, his eyes belied his desperation.
"Very well, give me a moment to consult the loa," Charlotte left the room to head for her basement.
The Doctor watched the cultist leave, he could feel the very foundations of the House echoing with the power of the Old Time, a dark and terrible power, a magic that should be destroyed.
"We should leave," Spandrell grated out, he could feel it too.
"No we wait…"
A few hours later she re-entered, a vicious smile on her lips.
"I'll help you, for a price…"
"What is the price?" the Doctor asked.
"Show me Karn's last moments," Charlotte asked smiling like a predator.
"Very well, you will save her first so I can be sure of your good faith," the Doctor requested smugly before clicking his fingers as an anti-grav stretcher arrived with the Lady's figure on, Charlotte seethed before stepping forward and chanting.
The Doctor gritted his teeth as the Quantum mnemonics rang forth, he watched with baited breath as the Lady awoke. Her eyes opened and she eased herself up.
Within seconds the Doctor was at her side, she looked into his eyes and shared a moment of instant recognition before looking at Charlotte. The Doctor took her hand as they entered the TARDIS.
"Damon," with a single word Damon came out of the TARDIS and gave Charlotte a plain crystal Matrix datacube before retreating to the TARDIS.
Martha stood beside her husband in Jack's temporary base, Sarah with them as they discussed old times, laughing at anecdotes about the Doctor, in the midst of their laughter the TARDIS materialised. Jack stepped forth first as the doors opened and the new Doctor bounded out taking Jack into a big bear hug.
"Jack, Martha, Mickey, Sarah!" the Doctor hugged them all in turn before turning from his dumbfounded former companions to look at the TARDIS.. "Good work Damon spot on."
It was then the Sarah noticed that rather than the bowtie and tweed jacket he was wearing an orange robe and skullcap.
"Now, I know this is a bit strange but, I would like you all to act as witnesses for a ceremony," the Doctor asked surveying his former travelling companions.
"What type of ceremony?" Martha asked, unconsciously twirling her wedding ring.
"My inauguration," the Doctor smiled as he turned to the TARDIS. "Is that a yes or a no?"
With that the Doctor entered his ship; Jack shared a look with the others before following.
The console room had completely changed, the ceiling was clear with a star view, clearly not from Earth, beneath this was a model of a binary solar system, the infamous figure of eight symbol of the Time Lords, the Seal of Rassilon, was placed all over on every planetoid. The room was built as a hexagonal prism; at each corner were white trees with glowing Silver Leaves that reflected the light as both a whole flare and a refracted the light to show the mix of the spectrum. AT the centre was a hexagonal panel with lines dividing the hexagon into six similar triangles; one was coloured scarlet, the triangle on the left was green, the one to the right of the first was heliotrope, and the other three were silver-grey, pink and blue; a colour for each of the Chapters of Time Lord society. At the centre was a gleaming white console covered in switches, high-tech crystal touchscreens and holographically projected 3D displays of Gallifreyan writing and Time Line projections.
But the Doctor's attention was drawn by the figure standing at the hexagonal archway to the rest of the TARDIS.
"Alistair," the Doctor called as he brought his once more young looking best friend forward, he'd picked the regenerated Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart from after Benny's wedding leaving the two friends once more looking to be close in age. "Now as you can see this is the Brigadier, but not an earlier version, he was regenerated by the Timewyrm at Benny's wedding, so you don't have to watch what you say."
Swiftly realising exactly what he was saying the Doctor broke his gaze as he saw Sarah glaring at him.
"Hello Sarah," the others suddenly turned as the older John Benton stepped forward to pull Sarah into a hug and to introduce himself to the others.
Breaking away from them the Doctor reached Damon at the console.
"Please find the last," the Doctor turned to Damon, his eyes pleading, he'd already picked up so many; Mel, Tegan, Turlough, Ian, Barbara and so many others… But the last one, this was different.
Damon nodded as he opened the TARDIS' biodata archive and selected the relevant stand to bring the TARDIS to her location.
"If you like Doctor I could talk to…" Damon started only for the Doctor to cut him off.
"No, I destroyed her life; I need to talk to her,"
"What's the Doctor up to?" Sarah asked the Brigadier, it was strange seeing him so young once more, yet in his eyes he seemed so much younger in thought than he ever was originally.
"I can't say," the Brig's eyes shined a little mischievously, he clearly was heavily involved in the Time Lord's schemes.
"What can you say then?" Jack asked, still uneasy around the legendary Brigadier due to his time with Torchwood.
"What I can say is that the TARDIS is now set onto a Gallifreyan time rotation. That is day and night is divided into nine hours, signified by a bell tolling. Due to relative time of year each hour is about 96 minutes."
"What do you mean about?" Martha asked pushing forward to walk beside the Brigadier; she wanted to learn as much as she could about who the Doctor was.
"On Gallifrey day and night are divided into nine hours each which alternate in length with the length of a day and night so there are exactly nine hours of light and dark," Alistair said looking down at the floor.
"You've been there, been to Gallifrey?" Sarah asked a little hurt, after all that was the excuse the Doctor'd used to dump her in Aberdeen.
"Well once, at the start of the war…" Alistair whispered, he still remembered with perfect clarity the start of the conflict which scared the Doctor so, the Nightmare Child's birth, the rise of Death's Champion and the last desperate deal the Doctor made with his dark reflection; the Valeyard. "The Doctor repealed the ban on non-Gallifreyans during his first term as President of Gallifrey"
The Brigadier calmly said to asuage Sarah's annoyance, drawing a barrage of 'What's.
The TARDIS landed in the future of the human race in the early 36th century on a medical research ship, with a great sense of foreboding the Doctor left the TARDIS and entered the main lab, to find someone looking directly at him.
"Hello Nyssa," the Doctor said looking at how much his old companion had changed, he youthful face had given way to mature lines, he chestnut curls were flickered with greys.
"Hello Doctor, I see you've regenerated again, how's Tegan?" Nyssa sat on a lab stool with a white laboratory coat over her velvet Traken outfit.
"She's fine, actually she's inside, so's Turlough," the Doctor added. "The Master's dead."
Nyssa looked at him.
"I never wanted revenge Doctor," she reminded him.
"I know,"
"Why are you here?" Nyssa asked as she got up to look her old teacher in the eye.
"I'm conducting a ceremony for the temporal powers, to show them that the Laws still mean something, that rationality still holds sway," the Doctor responded. "I've invited most of my former companions to join me, and I'd like you to join as well."
"Alright Doctor, just this once," Nyssa shed her coat and entered the TARDIS.
The Doctor smiled slightly in her wake before turning to join her.
It had been three months since the Damon had returned Amy and Rory to home when an envelope with the Seal of Rassilon materialised in their living room. The envelope was Prydonian red.
Inside was an invitation handwritten by the Doctor with the request to join him on the TARDIS for an induction, they were told to wear their best clothes.
So now they both stood, Amy was in a knee length TARDIS blue dress and Rory was in a tuxedo as the TARDIS materialised before them, the doors opened and Damon looked out, he was wearing a strange ceremonial almost military uniform with a polished breast plate.
"Come in," Damon beckoned the Ponds into the TARDIS, where they stopped and stared around the new console room.
"You've redecorated," Rory breathed, it looked incredible to his eyes.
"I don't like it," Amy said, she missed the fairy tale like manner of her imaginary friend and his magic box.
"Damon, My husband wants to know if…" Rory, Damon and Amy turned to see the source of the voice as the woman walked into the chamber, Rory's mouth had dropped. She was wearing a strapless white dress made of a very thin material that was almost transparent showing her midriff quite clearly, probally due to whatever Gallifryan clothing the areas just above and below her stomach were obscured, there was a split along the middle allowing one of her legs to show through, not that she seemed to realise. She was tall, very tall at about 1.9 meters, her legs seemed to stretch on forever, her hips were well defined and she was slender with breasts that were on the larger side for her frame, her shoulders were bare and lightly freckled, long blonde hair cascaded down both sides of her face from a parting on the right side of her head and her blue eyes sparkled with amusement at Rory's reaction, Damon seemed to be oblivious.
Amy moved her hand to close her husband's mouth before glaring up at the gorgeous Time Lady, although Amy was loath to admit it, she found herself feeling jealous of the Lady's appearance. Amy tried to focus on her eyes.
"Very well, I'll go and prepare, the TARDIS is set to guide them to the Panopticon," she then looked to the humans. "My husband will introduce us later."
With one last looked she turned and left, Amy hit Rory as he watched her leave, Damon seemed to jump from his work on the console when a bell began to toll.
"First Bell…" Damon breathed pulling on a bulbous red helmet. "Follow the flashing lights to the Panopticon chamber and wait there."
Amy and Rory ran off as the TARDIS entered the vortex.