There are a number of stories I wanted to write, at this point, which would show the general political situation on Gallifrey and how Jenny plays into it.

Braxiatel is a big part of Jenny's education and life on Gallifrey.

As seen in the story where Jenny & Seo discover Gallifrey, there was clearly some issue involving Brax and the Time War. We've seen this in the Bernice Summerfield series by Big Finish (Braxiatel is in communication with a future self, helping to secure a victory for the Time Lords in some future war). And we've seen hints of it in Reunion and in the story with Jenny and Seo finding Gallifrey.

So I wanted to write the story of Braxiatel in the Time War.

I like many things about this story. The basic idea behind the story is that Braxiatel is telling Jenny about him in the Time War. But the story he's telling Jenny isn't the same as what actually happened. So we get to see what actually happened... and then what he tells Jenny. I also like how it's very obviously different from the Doctor's Time War story. I really like the reason that Braxiatel starts fighting in the war.

In the end... it's not just a war story. It's a love story.

The story of the Time Lord who didn't end the Time War.

I actually wrote most of this story before I moved on to my independent fiction. It's a first draft, of course, but I'll post it up here, anyways. With summaries to tie it all together.

Braxiatel During the Time War

Gallifrey, present-day

Jenny looked out at the eight-year-old Time Tots, gathered before the crack in reality. The darkness of night made the residual light from the vortex dance across Jenny's skin, and illuminate her eyes, as she watched the initiation ceremony.

Braxiatel, beside her, did not watch the children.

He watched Jenny.

"No one ever forgets what they saw, when they looked into the untempered schism," Braxiatel told her. "It… changes you."

"Romana says you've been trying to have the ritual banned," Jenny remarked. She glanced over at him. "You won't even let me have a look-see."

Yes.

It was why Jenny was here. Because she had begged to be allowed to take part in any ritual that allowed her to formally be called a "Time Lady", even this one. And Braxiatel had forbidden it.

She had to see the truth.

She had to see what it did.

"You have already seen the power of the vortex," Braxiatel replied, with a dismissive wave of his hand. "And did so when your mind was grown enough to be able to handle it."

Jenny said nothing.

Just turned her eyes back to the children standing before the untempered schism. Watching, as they awaited their turns.

"They all think they know who they are," Braxiatel said, gesturing at the children. "But watch them, as they look into the untempered schism. It changes everyone."

Jenny did watch, as the first child was brought forwards. A young boy whose eyes went wide, as he stared into that crack in reality. His face flickering with the colors of the vortex.

He said nothing, but was dragged away, after only a minute or two. His whole body trembling. His face pale. Unable to speak.

"He's terrified," Jenny breathed.

"But he isn't trying to run," Braxiatel commented, as the child recovered himself. "Impressive."

The next child was brought forwards.

To stare into the untempered schism.

"Was that what Dad did?" Jenny asked. "Take one look and run away?"

Braxiatel had been there. Pulled out of his lessons and the Academy to witness the event. He remembered chasing after… 'little Thete', as he was called, back then… and trying to calm him. Even as the boy was pushing him away, to run faster and farther.

"Didn't you?" Braxiatel asked.

Jenny shook her head. "I wanted to," she admitted. "But I didn't. I stayed. I saved my sister."

A smile spread across Braxiatel's face, as he clasped his hands behind his back. "You are a brave woman, Jenny," he said. "That's good."

The next child actually screamed, when she stared into the untempered schism. Turned on her heel and tried to run.

But was caught and returned to the others.

"They don't all run, though?" Jenny checked. "Romana said she felt inspired, when she looked into the untempered schism. She said it was the moment she knew that there was so much out there she didn't understand, and she needed to learn it all."

Braxiatel chuckled.

He expected no less of the Lady Romana.

"Some are inspired," Braxiatel informed her. "Some are terrified. And some… simply go mad." The smile dropped off his face. "Your father had a very good friend who went mad, staring into that schism."

"The Master," Jenny recalled. "I've heard of him. Never met him."

"I'm aware of that," Braxiatel muttered.

And he'd been doing his very best to ensure that state of affairs continued. Particularly considering the Master's rather deranged obsession with the Doctor.

The next child looked into the untempered schism with a sort of wondrous glow in his eyes. Reached out as if to touch it, but was pulled back before any damage could be done.

"And what about you, Brax?" Jenny asked, suddenly. Turned on him, crossing her arms. "What did you see, when you looked?"

Braxiatel went very quiet.

His eyes turning away from her, fixing on the children gathered before them.

"Me?" Braxiatel said, his voice barely above a whisper. As he remembered… gathering here, in the dark of night. The cool wind on his face. The terror in his hearts, as he saw the reactions of the children before him.

And the moment he'd been led up to the untempered schism… and looked into it, himself.

"I… saw… my destiny," Braxiatel said, carefully. "And learned the future of Gallifrey."

Jenny frowned. "You mean the Time War?"

Braxiatel didn't need to answer that. The answer was clear enough, already.

"So you were inspired, too," said Jenny. "Like Romana."

"Inspired," Braxiatel repeated. As if trying to make the word fit… except that it stuck out at all the wrong angles. And wouldn't pop into place. "I wouldn't put it quite like that."

He remembered, as he stared into the untempered schism… the swirls of infinity and eternity, the raw power of time and space… he'd seen something shimmer.

Then consolidate into an image. Projected across time and space. A tall, thin man, with black hair and sharp eyes.

And the child Braxiatel had known… in that moment… that this was himself.

"Ah, Braxiatel," his elder-self had said. "I trust you're doing well? Splendid. Best get down to business, then."

His eight-year-old self hadn't dared to move. Terrified at the implications of what he was seeing.

As the man with the dark hair suddenly turned deadly serious.

"Tragedy will befall the Time Lords," said the elder Braxiatel. "A war, worse than all other wars. But you, Braxiatel, must be the one to end it."

And then the words he'd never forgotten.

"You will save the Time Lords."

"My destiny," Braxiatel said, once more to Jenny. "My future."

For that was the moment Braxiatel had learned… that he would constantly and persistently defy the first law of time.

Over and over again.

That was his true destiny.

Jenny only confronted him about this a week later.

After she'd had a chance to do a little more research. So she could walk into the debate forearmed with knowledge.

A true warrior. As always.

"Everyone here says you were one of the last Time Lords to enter the War," Jenny told him. "Except…"

"…except the Lady Romana," Braxiatel acknowledged. He folded his hands on the desk, before him. Putting aside his papers and official documents. "I take it you've spoken to her, about this?"

Jenny sat down, before him, with a sigh. "She didn't want to talk about the War," she said. "No one ever does."

No.

No one ever did.

Not after what they'd all seen.

"But she said that you defended Gallifrey from the very beginning," Jenny went on. "And… after what you told me you saw in the untempered schism…"

"You wish to know how I became involved in the War," Braxiatel guessed.

A reasonable enough desire.

What else would Braxiatel expect, from someone with a mind as persistent and inquisitive as Jenny's?

Braxiatel got up from his chair, and began pacing the room. Trying to think of where to begin.

"I told you that, when I was eight, I saw my destiny," Braxiatel said. He paused in his walk. His eyes staring out the window, at the red grass of his home world. "When I looked into the untempered schism… I heard a voice. It told me that there would be a war. And that I would end it. I would save the Time Lords."

Jenny had to stifle a startled laugh. "But… you didn't!" she said. "Dad did!"

Braxiatel said nothing.

"How could you have looked into time," Jenny asked, "and seen something that didn't…?"

"I set up the Braxiatel Collection," Braxiatel cut in, sharply, "to preserve something of cultures that had been lost to the universe. And with the Time War raging in the background, there were… rather more cultures to preserve than ever before."

"You're changing the subject," Jenny accused.

He glanced back at her. "I assure you, I am not," Braxiatel said. He continued his pacing. "A certain archaeologist under my employ was particularly… adept at unearthing ancient artifacts while surviving great dangers. That is why I sent her to the planet Evadaius."