On the tenth day of Christmas, the TARDIS gave to me: ten stupid Time Lords (nine sonic sunglasses, eight confession dials, seven cyber graveyards, six Davros Daleks, FIVE MISSY SCHEMES, four Coal Hill Schools, three hybrids, two Osgoods, and Clara travelling with Me).
In the council chamber, up in the Citadel at the very heart of Gallifrey, sat fifteen Time Lords and Ladies. They were seated in a royal and superior fashion, surrounding a brass, rectangular-ish shaped table adorned with Gallifreyan engravings. Despite there being no official obligation to do so, every High Council member around the table wore their own elaborate headdress, in addition to their fancy crimson-red ceremonial robes. Lord President Rassilon naturally took centre stage, standing tall and proud at the head of the table, overlooking his people in preparation for the start of their meeting which he had arranged. His intense and vaguely judgemental gaze sweeping over each and every Time Lord/Lady in the room, Rassilon induced silence amongst them shortly before he instigated their discussion.
"On this day I have gathered you for a final meeting concerning the fate of the Time Lord known as the Doctor." He began, his authoritative voice echoing around the council chamber. "As we speak of him in these moments, he is undergoing his extensive journey of purification in his confession dial. We chose this path for him in the hope that he shall reveal the nature and identity of the Hybrid, prophesised to conquer this planet and stand in its ruins. As of yet, he shows no indication that he will do so. Alas, we must wait, for his purgatory is a process that cannot be rushed."
A young Time Lady, seated at the opposite end of the table to Rassilon, gingerly raised her hand.
"Yes?" Rassilon prompted.
"Lord President, why can't the process be rushed? Surely there must be another way to discover who the Hybrid is, instead of placing the Doctor through such torture? He has already been in his confession dial for nearly four and a half billion years…" The Time Lady pointed out, her tone timid yet her resolve durable.
"The Doctor will remain in his confession dial for as long as necessary!" Rassilon thundered, his rage firing up instantly. The Time Lady shrunk back in her seat, along with most of the others. Rassilon continued his anger-fuelled barrage, with no regard for his fellow people. "Do you understand who that man is? He is a runaway, a traitor, a coward! During times of war and despair, he abandoned us, turned against us when we needed him most. That's all he is – someone who will never defend his people, who will only ever bring destruction and suffering upon Gallifrey. The Doctor is a poor excuse of a man, and every terrible moment inside that confession dial is exactly what he deserves."
A deafening silence descended on the table as the Time Lords/Ladies glanced at each other, feeling incredibly uncomfortable in the aftermath of Rassilon voicing his true attitudes about the Doctor. It wasn't like his opinion was unknown amongst the people, in fact it was a common view that was quite popular in some circles on Gallifrey. However, Rassilon's tone and the narrow-minded nature of his perspective was something that didn't quite sit right with a few of them. On the other hand, the Lord President's words struck an agreeable chord with the majority of the councilmembers, and they began to verbally show their support.
"I agree." One Time Lord, sat to the right of Rassilon, piped up. "Like you said, the Doctor has brought much pain to our people, and I believe it is only right to punish him for his actions."
Just over half the table nodded in approval. The Time Lord sat on the other side of the one who had just spoken added his view. "Absolutely. Once he has escaped his confession dial, however, he will be back on Gallifrey, and I doubt he'll just sit back and say nothing about his ordeal. What will we do then?"
Rassilon acted confused. "What makes you think the Doctor will escape? I intend to keep him trapped there until he confesses about the Hybrid, and then I will be there to deal with it."
"But what if he does escape?" A Time Lady pursued the subject. "We must prepare for any situation, it is only proper that we keep one step ahead by having precautions."
Puffing out his chest as if he were proud of his next plan, Rassilon answered, taking pleasure in doing so. "If the Doctor does somehow evade confessing and avoid my intent for the purpose of the confession dial, then he shall be imprisoned, and put on trial for his execution."
A shocked murmur of mixed reactions ran around the table in response to Rassilon's controversial potential future plan. The five Time Lords/Ladies that had previously disagreed with his current course of action decided it was time to speak up.
"Excuse me Lord President, but are you sure that is wise?"
"I am certain it is not – the Doctor is a figure who provokes such debate in Gallifrey, and killing him will only result in dividing our people even more."
"I agree completely."
"Hasn't he been through enough torture?"
"This is not a good idea-"
"ENOUGH!" Rassilon bellowed, causing the council chamber to fall silent once again. "First of all, I am not killing the Doctor outright. A trial shall be held to decide upon whether he should live or die, so his fate shall fall to the hands of the democracy. Secondly, this is purely hypothetical – we don't know that the Doctor will escape the confession dial, so there is a great chance none of this will happen anyway. And finally, when the time comes, I shall be the one to decide what happens to the Doctor. Not you, not anyone else, just me."
Before anyone could reply, the Cloister Bells in the Citadel began to ring loud and clear, drowning out any other sound, thought, or potential opinion the High Council had to offer. Terror began to bloom in most of the Time Lords'/Ladies' eyes as the realisation of what the warning alarms meant dawned upon them.
Rassilon saw the General was approaching with a grave expression, probably concerning the imminent danger they faced if the Doctor had returned.
In an attempt at reassuring the Lord President, the Time Lord who had spoken before, the one on his right, leaned in. "If it's any consolation, Lord President, I am in full support of any decision you choose to make."
"As am I." The Time Lord nearest to him added.
"And I."
"And I."
"I, too."
"And I."
"I'm in agreement."
"And I."
"And I."
The remaining five who had previously voiced their disapproval glanced awkwardly around the room, feeling under peer pressure to agree, despite it being against their internal moral code. Fortunately, Rassilon had stopped listening, and went to speak with the General.
That was it. Rassilon, and ten stupid Time Lords. Thankfully, it wasn't enough to prevent the Doctor from single-handedly taking control of Gallifrey and exiling Rassilon.