Chapter 14:
"Contact. At last."
The plan had worked, The Lord President had a link to Earth strong enough to pull them out of the timelock. Now all he needed was the agreement of others to resurrect home planet. Without a word, he rose from his seat and walked out the room followed by his advisers.
Staff in hand he went to address his fellow Timelords on the fate of their condemned home.
"Now the High Council must vote. Whether to die here. Today. Or to return to the waking world and complete the Ultimate Sanction. For this is the hour that either Gallifrey falls..." His voice trailed off softly before erupting "Or Gallifrey rises!
A moment of quiet whispering filled the room as the Timelords decided together before they all chorused, " Gallifrey rises!"
The Lord President looked on gleefully as he felt the future being paved in his footsteps towards a far brighter and better path. He joined his fellow Timelords as they called out again, "GALLIFREY RISES!"
He had their blessing, bar two pious heavily-outnumbered individuals. He would use them as an example to the rest, this plan will go ahead without any hindrance. These two would stand with him when the time came. The Woman in particular would ward against followers of The Doctor considering her significance to him.
The Lord President walked away to ensure to link was firmly establish. Saving the Timelords alone would not be enough, he needed the entire planet- he needed Gallifrey!
They were ready now. Protocols and formalities counted and settled, The Lord President was ready to enact the next step to join the waking world, to reunite the orphaned Timelords with their home planet on their final day of their existence.
The Lord President was dressed in his finest ceremonial robes, standing before him two fellow Timelords dressed in a similar fashion but unmoving and with their heads bowed as though in shame, as their hands covered their faces such was the ritual. Behind them in a line, two other Timelords, advisors of the President, stood as the Chancellor joined them to make a row of three, all of who were wearing their ceremonial collars.
"The vote is taken. Only two stand against and will stand as monument to their shame, like the Weeping Angels of old." The Lord President walked to stand in front of them as to complete the their triangle formation, "Now the vanguard stands prepared. As the children of Gallifrey return to the universe. To Earth!"
A powerful white light rose from the darkness behind them, growing in brightness as the signal became stronger with every beat of the drums. The Timelords stood together tall and proud as they readied for the end, the end of the time.
The Master watched as the light white flooded the room, he turned round to The Doctor who was still reeling on the floor. Neither of them could believe what was about to happen, their family and friends, everyone they'd ever known on that planet would be returning. The Master was ecstatic, unable to control his joy, twitching with excitement at the prospect of their return.
The Doctor could see the insanity rising in The Master; it was time to face his destiny to face the prophecy. He couldn't hold it off any longer, if he wanted to change his fate, to rewrite history then he'd have to do something now. He couldn't let The Master see this through.
One of The Master's clones strode towards him as the light dimmed away, picking The Doctor up off the floor and throwing him closer towards The Master. He fell towards the floor again, hands springing into action with just moments to spare. He pulled himself up again managing only to get to his knees before he saw The Gate transform into six shadowy figures standing in the light which dimmed away behind.
The Master's mumbling had grown louder as he called out to them, "Closer! And closer!"
The Doctor knew the drums must have become overwhelming as the Timelords approached, he tried to slow his breaths and calm his mind, searching for a way to help his foe do the same. It had been so long that the lines between them had blurred, their friendship torn and withered by greed and power, by time- the years and lives passing them by.
The Master smiled down at The Doctor darkly, "They're coming back, Doctor. You should be careful, not long left and I'll have all the Timelords I need." Then he sneered, " Won't need you for much longer." He put his finger to his lips indicating for The Doctor to keep quiet, knowing he was smart enough to know The Master had a plan. He turned back around awaiting their arrival.
"Master," The Doctor called out to him, his voice sore and rough, "Don't trust them. They've changed. They're..." The Doctor knew pleas wouldn't work so he tried warning him instead, the Timelords had changed- whatever plan or leverage The Master had against them would be diminished in seconds if he held any hope in them letting him lead their race.
The Doctor looked around at his surroundings, this room that had seen so many events unfold. Power changing hands in seconds, the machinery it contained, the potential... He realised what The Master was planning, the power he could achieve. But he didn't know where he was heading, the Lord President had his own plan and one that was years in the making. One that he tried to ignore the last time he had met The Master, as Harold Saxon.
The drums.
The receding light grew blinding but as soon as it had strengthened it retreated back, revealing the first of his their race to return to them. The figures were solid, The Lord President smiling at the sight before him, his enemy barely able to stand while The Master towered over him as though presenting him as his prisoner and yet there was no time to bring The Doctor to justice. Still The Doctor bruised and bleeding propped up on only his hands and knees, shattered, was enough consolation considering the 'grand scheme of things'.
"My Lord Doctor. My Lord Master." He addressed them formally despite his lack of care for them, it was the only kindness he would offer them, "We are gathered for The End."
"...listen to me. You can't...", The Master sighed as he heard The Doctor beg yet again and turned to address him but found him looking past him towards the other Timelords. There was a look of sadness on The Doctor's face as he recognised the other Timelords there, his voice stuttering as turned his attention to The Lord President.
"It is a fitting paradox, that our salvation comes at the hand of our most infamous child." The Lord President interrupted him not wanting his planned to be revealed so quickly, as The Master looked towards him wondering want it was he was hiding. Perhaps The Doctor was right, they weren't to be trusted.
"Ohhh, he's not saving you! Don't you realised what he's doing?!" The Doctor chuckled though his words were serious as strength returning to his voice, he looked up at the two of them. The only one who knew both their plans and yet did not have one himself. A quick shock from The Master stopped him from continuing.
"Hey, no, ey, that's mine!" He grabbed and shook The Doctor by his collar as tried to get his full attention, "Hush! Don't spoil it! Let me..." He turned back to The Lord President as he began to explain, "Look around you! I've transplanted myself into every human being..."
He indicated to all his clones that had lined up together at the sides of the room, three guards, two technicians with one in the booth and the Naismith family represented the billions of others he had just outside. The Master continued with his speech, "But who wants a mongrel little species like them?!" He scoffed, laughing slightly as he glanced back at The Doctor, " 'cause now I can transplant myself into every single Timelord! Oh yes, Mr President sir, standing there all noble and resplendent and decrepit, think how much better you're gonna look...AS ME!"
The Master waited earnestly for a response, a reaction just something from The Lord President, but he simply raised his glove covered hand. The metal gauntlet tinged with a bright blue shine as The Lord President turned it at a barely noticeable angle.
Within seconds all of The Master's clones head's began to shudder and shake violently from side to side gaining in speed.
"No don't, no no no No NO!..." The Master's voice grew louder and more desperate as much their heads turned. He watched as his work fell apart and his plans were unravelled, all in the blink of an eye.
Dizzy and exhausted the humans had their faces and minds returned to them, they staggered still weary from the change. Screams could be heard, as the human outside ran not knowing what had just happened to them. The guards removed their helmets gasping for air as they turned towards each other, lost. They were terrified as they saw the Timelords standing before them, though both species looked the same every human could feel the power and age resonate from the more evolved group.
"On your knees, mankind." The Lord President ordered, and without hesitation they all joined The Doctor on their knees as their fates were yet again mould by a greater power. The Master also beginning to fear The Lord President, began to improvise.
"...no, but that's good. That's fine, cos, you said salvation." The Master was grasping at straws for a reason for them to keep him, to need him, "I still saved you, don't forget that!"
The room jolted as though an they were at the epicentre of an earthquake, humans and Timelords alike stumbled as the ground shook beneath them again. The Lord President and his people held their footing as they expected the sudden lurch. Another tremor caused the glass to shatter and the doors broke open by the sheer force of it. The white light behind The Lord President intensified again as he raised his arms bringing forth the new age.
The Lord President called out joyously,
"The approach begins!"