10

"H'lo, Great Minister. I'm the Doctor."

They had apparently connected to the Scouting Admiralty. And worked their way up through four levels of governmental twaddle. Explained slowly and carefully just how much danger was involved for the Miran people. Emphasized the danger to them, personally. A bit of mental ability did wonders for that. And with the Walker's help it was no trouble at all. How strong she was these days. It was wonderful.

Now they faced a Miran whose black uniform made its green scales seem to glow.

It looked at the Triumvirate, assembled around three Time Lords. Two and a human, actually, but apparently the Mirans couldn't tell the difference. And three sounded a lot more impressive.

"Time Lords. I had thought that your kind-"

"Yes, yes. But there's a few of us left about. So we can skip the theatrics. Though I do love theatrics. Got to go and see Shakespeare again. Anyway, you have about five million offspring on this planet illegally. This is a class-5 planet, y'know. Completely against the Shadow Proclamation. Your Lord Admiral Rass has played a number of clever tricks to make it look all right. Cheating, really."

"And it will bring the full power of the Shadow Proclamation down on your planet if they find that you sanctioned the act." The Walker added.

The Minister blinked, long and slow.

"Is there proof of this fraudulence?"

"Yep." The Doctor snapped his teeth together. "Loads of it. Whole hard-drives of it. Coming your way as we speak. This is the Triumvirate of Fanti-Havi, and they tabulated the vote for their planet as to whether they wanted to make an alliance with you lot, and that's on its way to you too."

Another long, slow blink.

"A moment."

The screen went blank. Tension ran around the room like chain lightning. But not fear. The Doctor listened to the thoughts roiling around the room. Anger. Warieness, yes. Pride. The special fierce joy of a fight. And no more fear.

He glanced over at Rose. She was tense. But she shot him a smile. He grinned in return.

"Enjoy being a Time Lord?"

"As long as I don't have to talk. Two words an' they'll see right through me."

He shot her a sideways grin.

"Oh, I don't know. You're smart, and these fellows are particularly thick. Whoops…."

The screen had returned to life. The Great Minister stared at them, though his eyes flicked about quite a lot.

"It seems an error has occurred. But there are difficulties."

"Oh?"
"By law, a planet is responsible for offspring once they touched soil. We have no facilities for their return."

The Walker stepped forward.

"By law, they should not be on Fanti-Havi, Minister. We can aid you in finding a suitable, uninhabited planet to house these children. But you must remove them."

The Minister looked off-screen a moment.

"We need time."

"Take two days. No more."

"It will take us far more than two days to find a suitable world."

"Then stay in orbit while you wait. But get the offspring off this planet."

"Think about it, Great Minister." The Doctor said in his most convincing tone.

"A perfectly uninhabited planet. No need to shell out a load of technology for payment. Just drop by in eight years and pick up the adults."

"Who will care for the infants? We cannot lose infants to death. We need a sentient group to care for them"

The Doctor couldn't resist a roll of the eyes. From what he'd seen, they were fairly good at taking care of themselves.

There was a low mutter around the room. He smiled slightly. The Fanti-Havians were a good lot. The thought of dropping this nightmare on some other poor sap made them uncomfortable. So what planet would take some very large lizards as pets?

He ran through a list of planets in his head, glancing at the Walker as he did so. Her eyes were down, fingers slowly running through her hair.

Then her mind gave off a burst of triumph. She looked up-grinned at him-and then faced the screen.

"Great Minister, have you heard of the Classabindi Nursery Fleet?"
The lizard-like head turned, eyes blank.

"No."

"They're a group of caretakers. For a fee, they create customized care for the offspring of other species. You usually help to mechanize an entire planet that you…allay yourself with?"
"That is our payment."
"Then you have well over the price they will ask. The fleet is easily contacted; based in the Classabindi system, the fifth arm of the Aavara Galaxy. "

The Doctor shot her a delighted grin. The Nursery Coalition! Perfect! Absolutely brilliant! They'd jump at such a large contract.

Again that long, slow blink. But the Great Minister's emotions came across clearly. He wanted to acquire this new breeding ground.

"Will you allow us to contact them?"
The Walker nodded.

"Two days. But after that, Minister, we take steps."

The Doctor nodded. A smile quirked his lips.

"Better get cracking!"

It took quite a bit less than two days. Less than a day, in fact. Eight hours later, the Mirans sent a message; their offspring would be collected in two hours. And the Miran ships would leave the moment the little monsters were picked up.

A cheer so loud it rocked the TARDIS burst forth, the moment the screen flicked off. And the delagates, joyful, began to rush out. They had to tell their world.

Around the city, the continent, the world, the message went out. House to house, mouth to mouth.

A little Sar, so young that gills still covered much of his body, ran into Sarkari's house. Sarkari grabbed the boy, lifting him away from the lizard that was still deadly despite its lethargy. Thak barely blinked, all his concentration on the animal.

The child, the youngest of his friend Suka, had his mouth open, gasping. His gills flapped.

"Take a breath, Bet." Sarkari said, patting the boy, "Use your lungs. Just the lungs, remember."

The boy gulped.

"Mam-mam-mamma sent me…sent me-to tell you…"

The mates traded a look. What now?"

"Tell us what, Bet?"

"That….that…that-"

"Take another breath, Bet." Barsali took the child, seating him beside her. Slowly, his gills relaxed.

"Mamma sent me to…tell you…that the Walker won! She…made the lizards…pr-promise to…take their babies…take them away."
Sarkari's ears perked so far forward that they hurt.

"Take them away? When? How soon?"

"By…by moonrise."

Waiting truly took the spring out of their tails. Barsali made food and drink for everyone, feeding Thak to keep his strength up. Sarkari played with Bet and several other children outside. And everyone watched the sky. The light faded...faded…and the moon rose. Ah, that beautiful Moon Lady, with her orange fur banded in cream. Setting little Lat down, he rushed inside.

The lizard was still there. His ears drooped. Barsali looked at him, a whine building in her throat. And-but wait. That wasn't Barsali. That was…

A blue-white beam enveloped the lizard. Its sinuous body lifted, rose…and disappeared. The light faded. Darkness.

For a moment, time stood still. Silence.

Then Barsali jumped into his arms with a happy yip. They both embraced Thak, yodeling out their joy and relief. He added his own deep purr, lowering his neck between them.

Safe. They were safe.

They were free!