Chapter 10
The Doctor arrived at the meeting place. The clearing was empty and no one was around the area, as he expected.
"Is anyone there?", he asked, expecting the telepathic answer of the Judges.
"We are here".
"Hello, we have not been formally introduced: I'm the Doctor".
"Hello, Doctor. Above all, we want to know where you are from".
"I'm from Gallifrey".
"Time Lord!"
"Yes I am".
"Time Lords have never interfered in the affairs of the Judges".
"Well, I'm the black sheep of the flock".
"What do you want from us? Why this meeting?"
"You have judged and sentenced humans without giving them the option to defend themselves. I want to speak in their defence before you execute the final sentence".
"Their actions have spoken for them: They are doing suffer this planet and everything living on it. Hundreds of species are disappearing because of them. The Earth will be better without them".
"Not all humans are devoted to destroying", said the Doctor. "I have friends here who are dedicated to protecting others saving their lives".
"A minority".
"In the world there are more than five thousand million people. Believe me when I say that those who do good things outnumber those devoted to evil".
"They destroy even those who are different in their own species".
"This is a sad chapter in the history of mankind, yes, but they can also help those less fortunate. Listen, for the acts of a few people you are going to kill innocent people that all they want in life is to live peacefully and happily, nothing more".
"Their evil deeds are leaving a deep mark in this world. They will be responsible for the destruction of this planet if nothing is done about it".
"They can also save the planet, but they must live!"
"The Earth will recover sooner if they disappear".
In UNIT headquarters Sarah was getting increasingly nervous.
"Should not he have returned already?"
"Come on, Sarah", Harry said. "They have just begun to talk. Remember that the Doctor's foot was hurt, so he will have taken a little more than necessary to get the appointment".
"Yes, you're right, but this makes me nervous".
Sarah put her hands in the pockets of her jacket. Her left hand touched something she could not identify.
"What do I have in my pocket?", she asked.
"Is the One Ring?", Harry joked.
Sarah ignored the joke of her friend and took her hand out the pocket. It was the TARDIS key.
"This is not good. Why has he left the key to me?"
"Perhaps as a promise: I'll be back to look for it".
"Or maybe it's a gift because he will not return".
"Don't you think you're being too pessimistic, Sarah?", he asked.
"I share the concern of Miss Smith", said the Brigadier going out of his office. He was holding the sonic screwdriver in his hand.
Without saying anything, Sarah went out running towards the clearing, closely followed by Harry.
"Do you have anything else to say before we execute the sentence, Doctor? If not, we suggest you leave this planet to not see your beloved people disappear".
"Yes, I have. The Supreme Sacrifice: to give your own life for another person".
"Are you suggesting that we take your life in exchange for the human race?"
"Yes. They have been good to me. They welcomed me when my own people exiled me. That is why I know they are good. That is why I speak on their behalf and I want to offer my life for them".
The Judges said nothing. The Doctor concluded that they were talking among themselves.
"Okay, Time Lord. We will forgive the human race in exchange for your sacrifice".