This chapter was written by my partner in (Whovian) crime Drabel.
As they took their seats the professor who was wearing the green robes of an Arcalian looked at them
As they took their seats the professor who was wearing the green robes of an Arcalian looked at them.
"For those of you who have only just arrived," he boomed, his voice carrying to the corners of the high domed room.
"I am Professor Mosdrashytonytanmorenoldacheengoldilden but for the sake of speed you man refer to me as Drash. Now get out your books and turn to page 7."
They all rushed to do so as he added.
"And remember to take notes."
Drash quickly walked to the other end of the room.
"Now" he said, looking at his class who all appeared to be ready, "Who can tell me about the dark times?"
Drabel put his hand up.
"Yes?"
"Well," Drabel said quickly "the Dark times were during the weakening of the Pythia before the current age of Gallifrey."
"Yes and no."
Drash said.
"That was one of the Dark times, of Gallifrey, but there were others."
He walked to the other end of the room and climbed up to a podium where he surveyed the room.
"The first Dark times were right after the formation of the universe."
His voice quietened as he looked around the room.
"Gallifrey was but a young world then, the suns newly formed and our people a young people. The empire's of the universe only small. Who can tell me what type of people lived then?"
"Racnoss."
"Carrionites."
"Jagroth."
"Very good." Drash smiled "Just to round out the pack there were also the Great Vampires, the Lonely Assassins, the Nestene and the Vashta Nerada."
Several people shuddered at the name of the dreaded creature.
"But they've been around since the first shadow so…"
It was left hanging in the air.
"Now can any one tell me what happened to the Carrionites?"
Magenta spoke up.
"They were banished after the war with the Hervoken, weren't they?"
Drash smiled encouragingly and nodded.
"And who were they banished by?"
"The Eternals."
"And they were banished to?"
Magenta slowly wiped a hand across her forehead before continuing.
"The deep darkness."
Drash's smile broke into a grin.
"Very good. Now the next creatures of this period to vanish were the Racnoss, now what happened to them?"
"They were destroyed." Came the sneering reply from the back of the room.
Magenta turned her head, ears pricking up, to see the face of Grek three rows behind her.
He had clearly just come in. She turned her attention back to the lecture.
"And they were destroyed by? At the back?"
"By us of course." a pompous smirk flitted across Grek's face
From beside her Drabel spoke up an annoyed tone to his voice.
"While I hate to correct my colleague," he said calmly "the destruction of the Racnoss and by proxy the destruction of Huon particles was the doing of the fledging empires which you professor alluded to earlier."
He paused before continuing,
"While it is true that the fledgling empires were led by Gallifrey. This does not mean that it is only our world that can take the credit. For an activity, that was not completed by us."
Magenta turned again and noticed that Grek now looked like he had been stepped on by a Gargantosaur. His face was screwed up and he was glaring at Drabel viciously.
Drash looked around the room.
"Maybe this would be a good time for us to take a short break,"
He paused and looked at the dial behind him.
"I want everyone back here in ten."
As soon as these words left the professor's mouth Drabel stood up and bolted from the room. Placing her bag on a chair so that they could find their way back to their seats Magenta followed after him.
It was time like this that Magenta was glad for her unusually heritage. While it meant the people looked down on her for not being fully Gallifreyan her cat side afforded her a greater range of senses than most. While not as strong as those of a full cat they did allow to quickly pick up Drabel's scent.
She found him on a bench looking out through the dome of the citadel outwards the mountains.
"You and Grek have a history don't you"
Drabel looked at her, a small smile playing across his otherwise stormy features.
"You don't mess about do you?"
"No point engaging in small talk. That's what I always say."
Drabel smiled again. This time it was tinged with sadness.
"Your right," he conceded "Grek and I were friends at one point. He was possibly the best friend I ever had."
He fell silent.
"But" Magenta prompted.
"We had a falling out," Drabel continued,
"He started preaching all that 'Gallifrey is the most powerful race in the universe and we can't interfere because we are a higher species'. I on the other hand being the typical Prydonian that I am, am a lot more open to what the universe has to offer. I suppose I'm a bit of a rebel."
"Most Prydronians are." Magenta inderjected suddenly.
He rubbed a hand across his face.
"One day we had a massive argument back there in the courtyard about each other's beliefs and what we want to do with our futures."
"I think I've heard about it."
"I'm not surprised; I think it's become some sort of Academy legend. It was back when we were young, about 38 I think. But let's say it all got a bit heated."
He leaned in conspiratorially.
"That bit about the fight becoming so vicious we nearly lost a regeneration is true."
He laughed bitterly.
"Anyway we've been avoiding each other since. I hoped that he might have changed with time"
Magenta looked at him sadly. "Doesn't look like he has, really."
Drabel shook his head
"Apparently so, anyway that's my big dark secret, feel free to runaway at any point."
"Hello, have you noticed the fur?" Magenta pointed to the patches of it on her face and laughed.
"I'm not what you would call normal. If you don't mind I think I'll stick around, see what happens. Better than spending time with that creep. Thanks for earlier, can't remember if I mentioned anything now."
"It was nothing, and if that's what you really want."
"Yup, now come on we'd better get back to class."
When they had resumed their seats Drash continued with the lecture moving on to the Dark Times of Gallifreyan history.
"The Gallifreyan Empire was at that time was run by?"
Drash left the question hanging in the air.
"The Pythia."
"Correct, the Pythia now days know as the Sister of Karn were a group of woman with the ability to see into the future. They ruled Gallifrey during the time of the empire when
Gallifrey had colonies stretching out across the galaxy. At this time telepathy used to be used instead of spoken speech and early research into time travel was begun. After-"
"Excuse me." Drabel interrupted "Isn't it true that this so called 'empire' was built on the back of slavery?"
There were gasps from around the room, some of them real but others exaggerated.
Drash looked flustered
"Yes that is true," he said quickly "but there were protests and it was stopped."
Everyone continued muttering until Drash let out a loud cough in an effort to regain order.
"Eventually the age of the Pythia came to its inevitable end and they fled to Karn eventually becoming the Sisterhood of today. What happened next?"
"War broke out across the Galaxy." Magenta said, "And the colonies demanded their freedom."
Drabel broke in at this point.
"Gallifrey also suffered the effects of another ice age."
Drash grinned.
"Correct both of you, now as the last question of today's topic can anyone tell me what happed after the ice age?"
Grek spoke up.
"Rassilon, the Other, Omega, and the other three founders sowed the seeds of our glorious planet and all of its successes."
Drash let out an embarrassed little cough.
"Correct, anyone want to give us specifics?"
Magenta spoke up.
"The great houses were set up and research into black holes and time travel were set up. This caused the thousand year Eternal War against the Yssgaroth. After that the Hand's of Omega were used to create a stable black hole. From this the Time Lord's were able to draw the power needed for time travel."
"Quite correct." said Drash "Now I believe that is all we have time for today. Class dismissed."
Quickly packing up their books Magenta and Drabel proceeded to walk back towards their rooms.
Drabel looked up at Magenta sheepishly.
"Look I've got another class in a few minutes but I was wondering if you might want to meet up later. Chat, go over class work that sort of thing."
Magenta smiled.
"Certainly. I have a class now too so how about we meet at that bench once there over and we'll go on from there."
Drabel face broke into a grin.
"It's a deal."
As they walked towards their classed they both had the same thought running though their heads.
This could be the start of a beautiful friendship.