Arriving back at the TARDIS Curristan sighed wearily. The battle had taken much out of him, coupled with the fact that he was now becoming sick of the continuous conflict that he was taking part in. He knew that he needed to get away for some time. If he didn't he would be regenerating earlier than he would naturally due to the stress he was always under. He had estimated he was now around just past the mid point of his first incarnation, though he could really not be sure. He was also feeling a bit unsettled by the Doctor's current regeneration. His warlike persona was way apart from his previous incarnation who seemed to shun conflict.
'War changes us all, usually for the worse' he thought. 'I hope I don't become something I fear to be when all this is over. I want to keep my essence intact. I promise to not succumb to the madness all around me as this Time War accelerates out of control.'
He was stirred from his internal musing by the chime of the console. It was a summons to Gallifrey. Usually he would obey it without question but now he seemed like he was hesitant to do so.
He had been disturbed lately by how the Time Lords were behaving and what they were turning into. The lack of regard for casualties and a win despite any cost was frightening him, with friends he knew now dead or no longer what they had been before. Everything and everyone seemed to be changing. He didn't like it and he hoped that soon things would come to a head and the war could end. Although he had no idea what that would mean. Even he was unsure of how he would be once the war was over.
Shaking his head to dispel the troubling thoughts, he turned his attention to fixing a new destination. Deciding on whim, he set the controls to Earth, 2018AD. He knew that disobeying was a first for him, but he decided to pretend that he had not yet received the summons and would delay for as long as possible.
19th May 2018
Cheltenham, United Kingdom
The materialisation of the TARDIS echoed down the street, breaking the sudden silence. Luckily due to the Chameleon Circuit taking the form of a clothes recycling box. Stepping out Curristan looked quickly around and saw a sign which said 'Clarence Street'.
'Looks like I arrived in the middle of the town centre..luckily the circuit worked so no-one had seen the TARDIS arriving. Didn't really want to cause a scene.'
Walking slowly down the street he looked in interest at the amount of shops around. This was his first trip to Earth and he could see why The Doctor was fond of the planet. He glanced at a clock and found that the time was close to ten am, meaning that the street was full of activity.
Then out of nowhere he realised he could see something laying beside a nearby skip. Walking quickly over to investigate he suddenly found it to be several ten pound notes which had somehow been lost the night before.
'Well at least I can get some supplies, I feel like I wont get any other chances once I have to actually answer that damn summons. Still it is a Saturday so I wonder if a drunk person dropped these last night. Oh well finders keepers...'
After visiting some shops to get what I needed, way more though what he needed. Therefore carrying several bags he returned to the TARDIS.
Dropping them down in exhaustion, he cursed himself for going overboard with shopping. He knew however that he had no choice now but to return to Gallifrey. The short rest had been very much welcome, but now it was time to return to the fray...