Unto the Universe
Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Sacred Flame: The Sisterhood
By Lumendea
Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who or any spinoff material, and I gain no income from this story, just the satisfaction of playing with the characters.
….
Rose wasn't sure if she should be paying attention to the strange woman that had the Doctor so on edge, their surroundings, or to the Doctor himself. His earlier explanation that these women were Gallifreyans offered her a lot of clues as to his unease, but what had happened the last time he was here. Based on the story Sarah Jane had told her over dinner one night at the Chestertons house, the incident with Morbius hadn't ended badly.
"Are you okay," Rose whispered to the Doctor.
"Fine." It was the sort of fine that never meant he was fine.
They entered a long rocky tunnel and walked down a carved staircase. There was even a handrail on both sides, carved into the wall and smoothed down over hands through the years. Small elegant sconces made of gold-colored metal were set into the cavern wall every few feet and burned with low flames. Along the walls were elegantly carved images that were painted in vibrant colors. Rose looked at them as they walked past, wishing there was time to pause and take in the stories.
Rose was beginning to wonder about the technology level of the Sisterhood when they reached the bottom of the staircase and walked into a large room. The walls were paneled in red with long drapes hiding the stone, all accented with woven or painted flames of gold. Against one wall was a large, elegant two-tiered white stone brazier with a strong fire blazing. The Doctor huffed softly as he glanced at it.
"Please, Doctor," their guide said. "None of that." She turned to them and smiled at the Doctor, a glint of mischief in her eyes. "I see you have companions once again. Please do introduce us."
"This meddlesome woman is Ohlia," the Doctor said. "High Priestess of the Sisterhood of Karn for… how long have you been in charge now?"
"Five centuries," Ohlia replied calmly. "Welcome to Karn," she said politely with a nod to Jack and Rose.
"I'm Captain Jack Harkness," Jack said with a grin to Ohilia. As the rest of the Sisterhood filed in and took places around the room, he smiled at all of them in turn. "It's lovely to be here."
Ohlia chuckled and looked back at the Doctor. "Not quite like your usual male companions, Doctor."
"He grows on you," the Doctor replied.
"So sweet, Doc," Jack said. Despite his light tone, Rose could see he was well aware of the tension in the air, and his sharp eyes were scanning the room.
"And who are you?" Ohlia asked. She took a few steps towards Rose. "While I might not be a Time Lady, I can see how Time dances around you."
"Leave her be," the Doctor growled.
"I assure you, Doctor, we mean no harm to you or your companions," Ohlia said, but her eyes never left Rose.
"My name is Rose Tyler," Rose answered. The tension in the air eased a little as Ohlia smiled and nodded.
"A pleasure to meet you, Rose Tyler." Ohlia stepped back and gestured her towards a red chair with golden cushions near the fire. "Please make yourself comfortable." She turned looked to the Doctor. "As for this distress signal you detected, Doctor, did it offer any specifics?"
"No," the Doctor said. He was still holding Rose's hand, and despite the offer to sit down, she stayed with him. "When did you drop out of your bubble?"
"Only a few days ago," Ohlia replied. "There has been no contact thus far with any ships. I find myself hoping that perhaps the stories of the Elixir of Life have been lost, and we'll be left in peace."
"Possible," the Doctor replied. "Time Lords and Gallifrey are legends to most at this point. But something will happen to trigger a distress signal."
"Or we send it out simply because you arrived saying that there was one," Ohlia countered. The Doctor narrowed his eyes at her, and she chuckled. "You have not changed. But, there may yet be a threat." She turned to one of the young women. "Take the others and form a circle, Marica, and check the skies."
One of the sisters, a tall woman with striking cheekbones and dark skin decorated with gold, bowed to Ohlia. Then she turned and bowed to Rose before turning away and gesturing for the others to follow her. The Doctor stepped closer to Rose, clearly no longer content to hold her hand.
"What is going on?" the Doctor asked.
"Do you really not know?" Ohlia asked. She seemed unsure for a moment before the smile returned. "Someone who channels the Time Vortex survives it and does not give in to corruption is worthy of great respect, Doctor. You know as well as I do that if a Time Lord attempted such a feat, they would likely lose themselves to that power."
"And how do you know that?" the Doctor asked. "You were still in your bubble."
"The Sacred Flame showed us," Ohlia answered. She gestured Rose towards the chair once again. When she didn't move, Ohlia chuckled and walked to the raised chair on the far side of the room. "If you don't mind, I would like to sit. These bones are older than I like to admit." She eased herself into the chair, not showing signs of fatigue.
It was a subtle throne. Raised off the base level of the floor only a few inches. Ohlia propped one elbow up and leaned on it, studying them for a tense and quiet moment. Her gaze softened as she looked at the Doctor.
"It is good to see you well."
"Did that ember of yours show you what happened?" the Doctor asked, voice tight.
"It did." Ohlia frowned. "I am so sorry the burden of that horrible choice fell on you. I know my words won't mean much, but it was the right choice. The rest of the universe lives on because of it."
His grip on Rose's hand tightened. It was almost painful now, but Rose didn't make a sound. She was watching Ohlia carefully. The familiarity between the Doctor and her was apparent, and she wondered what history was between them.
"Are we just going to wait in here?" Jack asked lightly. "Is there a defense system we can check?"
"None, young man," Ohlia answered. She turned her attention to Jack, and the Doctor relaxed the smallest faction. "Here on Karn, we have elevated our mental gifts. The sisters are combining her power to scan the solar system for potential threats. Should they find a ship approaching Karn, it will be destroyed."
Rose's eyes widened at the bluntness of the statement, and she wasn't sure what to think. Elixir of Life certainly sounded important. But destroying any ship that came too close seemed more than a bit extreme.
"You don't use technology?" Jack asked.
"I wouldn't say that," Ohlia replied. "In the lower levels, there are many technological objects that allow us to live on this world comfortably." She smirked at the Doctor. "Even if you've never bothered to investigate."
"How you lot manage this dead world is your business," the Doctor snorted.
"What is this Elixir of Life?" Rose asked. "If it's alright for me to ask?"
"The Elixir is a special potion produced by the combination of the Sacred Flames and the body of Karn itself. It is very much what it sounds like," Ohlia explained, almost kindly. "Most of the sisters are Gallifreyan by birth and thus have longer life spans than humans, but the Elixir extends it much further and heals wounds. Even the Time Lords used it from time to time."
"Only on rare occasions," the Doctor added quickly. "Disease or if something went wrong with a regeneration."
"Makes sense that you'd have attacks," Jack said. He seemed just as uncomfortable as the Doctor. "Just with your mind, huh?"
"Indeed," Ohlia confirmed. She seemed to be enjoying their unease, and Rose was trying very hard not to be amused by it.
"Thought you did your circles here," the Doctor remarked, nodding to the stone dais.
"We did in the past, but it has been many centuries, Doctor," Ohlia replied. "Even Karn changes from time to time."
"What has you so amused, Ohlia?" the Doctor demanded.
"Can I not be grateful to see you alive and well? Can I not be relieved that the Time War is over?" Ohlia countered. "Doctor, we felt the timelines of the war just as much as the Time Lords. And we… we saw how it might have ended."
Whatever the Doctor might have said in response was forgotten as Marica, and two of the sisters entered the room. They hurried to Ohlia, worried expressions on their faces.
"There is something," Marica announced. Her brows were furrowed, and she glanced at the Doctor. "Two humanoid forms beyond the Doctor's TARDIS and some kind of building temporal storm. Forces of power that none of us have ever felt before. We have seen no vessel, but the time traces suggest Vortex Manipulators."
"Could be Time Agents," Jack offered. He glanced at the Doctor. "The Agency thinks Gallifrey and the Time Lords are just a myth, but if they picked up a planet suddenly reappearing, that could attract their attention. I have no idea what they might have learned since I left."
"Ohlia," Marica said. "We sensed two hearts in the approaching beings."
"Two?" the Doctor repeated. "And you think they're humanoid?"
"You would be wise not to question our senses on Karn," Ohlia replied before looking to Marcia. "All of the sisters are accounted for, I presume?"
"Yes, High Priestess," Marica replied with a nod. "The two-hearted life forms are not us."
Jack immediately raised his hand, bringing his vortex manipulator up, and began to run a scan. He frowned, and Rose watched him swallow. Then he shifted and brought the vortex manipulator over so the Doctor could see it.
"I can't pick up much. Whatever that storm is, it is causing a lot of interference. Temporal interference."
"It seems, Doctor, that your arrival was timely indeed," Ohlia said. "For two beings to appear with a time storm on their heels does not bode well."
"The TARDIS is out there," Rose said. "Can the storm hurt her?"
"We can tend to your ship," Ohlia said. "But, Doctor, I ask you to stay to evaluate this threat." She hesitated for a moment. "And we will send out a call for help to ensure that the event that brought you here is closed."
"Doctor, I might be able to get a better scan on the surface," Jack offered.
The Doctor eyed Ohlia and then glanced at Rose. "We'll check the surface. Bring the TARDIS here and keep her safe."
"Oh, come on-" Rose huffed.
"If that's a time storm, Rose, it's best you stay away," the Doctor insisted. His blue eyes pleaded with her to listen. "Jack at least as his Vortex Manipulator if something goes wrong. And I'm a Time Lord."
"Alright," Rose agreed.
The Doctor gave Ohlia one more sharp look before he and Jack headed for the stairs. Rose turned back to Ohlia as the other sisters entered the room. Without a single word to each other, they circled around the burning brazier and raised their hands. Ohlia stood from her chair and joined Rose to the side.
"Guide the chant, Marica," Ohlia commanded. She glanced at Rose and smiled. "I think that you will enjoy this."
"Is that the Sacred Flame?" Rose asked, nodding towards it. "I heard it was smaller than that, locked away."
"Much has changed on Karn," Ohlia replied. "The Sacred Flame has grown stronger and stronger."
Rose wasn't sure what to think. Sarah Jane had described the flame as tucked away in the wall, but this… this was bright and in the center of the room. Could be a decoy; that would make sense to her. Or it was another pocket of flame from the same natural gases and thus seen as an extension. She didn't ask.
The sisters swayed as they chanted, calling the name of their sacred flame over and over again. The air thickened, and Rose felt pressure on her telepathic shields as if she was in a plane changing altitudes. But no attack came. Her heart beat faster and faster as the chanting washed over her. Rose's eyes stared into the flickering flames, watching them twist and turn in the air with the bodies of the sisters moving around it.
Then Rose's jaw dropped a little when the TARDIS appeared in a whirl of shimmering smoke in the center of the room. Dashing forward, she set her hand against the wood and marveled at the slight warm hum she could feel.
"That was amazing," Rose cheered. "I keep telling him he needs a remote control."
Ohlia chuckled. "The power of the mind when focused with the power of the Sacred Flame is capable of a great deal. The Time Lords were our only true equals in the power of the mind, though they relied on the Matrix and the Eye of Harmony for their power." Ohlia moved to join Rose by the TARDIS, offering a gentle smile to the sisters as they rose and moved away from the flame. "Even the Doctor doesn't understand the depth of what we can achieve."
"So, you've known the Doctor a long time?" Rose asked.
"Yes," Ohlia answered. Her smile was wistful. "We were children in the same training group on Gallifrey."
Rose barely contained the soft gasp. "You're from Gallifrey?" He had said they were Gallifreyan, but she'd assumed they were a long-lost colony or something.
"Yes," Ohlia replied. "The Sisterhood is Karn is a splinter group of Gallifreyans. Our predecessors left during the Rise of Rassilon." Ohlia's eyes were watching Rose for her response, but Rose wasn't sure what she was expecting. "Over the years, young women from Gallifrey have come to join our cause and replenish our numbers. While we have the Sacred Flame and Elixir of Life, all life ends one day, and sisters pass."
"I'm sorry," Rose said gently. Ohlia nodded solemnly. "Why did you leave Gallifrey?"
"Has he told you of the Great Schism?" Ohlia asked. Rose nodded, and Ohlia smiled. "Well, as with all Gallifreyan children, I was taken as a child to be bested in my ability to become a Time Lord. What I saw was myself as a member of the Sisterhood. I ran, just like the Doctor, away from the Schism, but after meditating on it, I came to find that I was warming up to the idea." Ohlia chuckled softly and looked towards the low burning flame. "It was a call, but not one I rushed to answered." Ohlia sighed. "Nonetheless, I was still deemed capable of becoming a Time Lord and taken to the Academy. I studied there for many years, but the longer I was on Gallifrey, the more I couldn't ignore that there was something wrong with Gallifrey. A sense of unease, a sense of wrong, plagued me at all times. Then the High Priestess reached out to me, across the space between us, and spoke to me. She offered me the chance to come to Karn, to come home, and I accepted. I left a message for my family and was transported to Karn through the power of the Sacred Flame."
"Were you and the Doctor friends in school?" Rose asked. There was a lot to unpack in Ohlia's story, and she wasn't sure where to start, so she focused on the Doctor.
"No, I wasn't part of the Deca," Ohlia laughed. She shook her head. "No, he and his lot were a bit too wild even for me. We spoke in passing from time to time, but he was already rebelling quite openly. And playing the fool in school."
Rose felt herself smile and looked towards the burning flame. "So, you've been here since?"
"Yes, Karn suits me far better than Gallifrey ever did. They taught me so much, and I even became the High Priestess, now leading others." Ohlia sighed. "Many came to us when the Time War began, but after the Doctor's last visit, we decided that our obligation to the Sacred Flame and to each other meant it was time for Karn to vanish. We hid the planet and thus avoided the fate that befell the Time Lords and our fellow Gallifreyans."
"Not to be rude," Rose said carefully, "But what is the Sacred Flame? The Doctor seems very dismissive, but if it the source of those sorts of power, then it must be very special."
"Yes," Ohlia chuckled. "The Doctor is dismissive of it. For all that he's seen of the universe, he still carries some of the Time Lord prejudice against us." She sighed. "And of course, helping clear the pipe system with a firecracker didn't help any." At Rose's look, Ohlia chuckled and shook her head. "That's a story for another day. Put simply, the Sacred Flame is a spark of the power of life that was brought to Karn and made a part of it to grant us power and the Elixir of Life. It possesses great power beyond being a heat source for the creation of the Elixir and serves us as a tool for seeing timelines." Ohlia gestured to the flickering flame. "Gallifrey had the Great Schism, while we have the flame. It is superior in my view as it does not drive us mad."
"Is it natural to the planet?" Rose asked. "In its original form, at least?"
"Yes and no," Ohlia replied. "Karn is not a natural planet. It was crafted long ago to contain the Sacred Flame, which in turn helps us protect the planet."
Rose frowned. She wasn't what about what Ohlia said bothered her. It had sounded like they were there to protect the Sacred Flame, but what was the true purpose of the Sacred Flame? Why create the Sacred Flame at all? Or was it just the flashy thing people wanted that a decoy for something else?
"You could look into the Sacred Flame if you wish," Ohlia offered.
"What?" Rose tilted her head and eyed the woman. "Seriously?"
"Yes," Ohlia replied. Her eyes were almost eager, and Rose tried not to feel alarmed at that. "You've looked into schisms in time before. Even before you absorbed the Time Vortex, I doubt the Sacred Flame will be a challenge after that."
"How do you know about that?" Rose asked before wondering if she should have denied it.
"The Sacred Flame showed me," Ohlia answered. "Those images are why we lowered the defenses and allowed Karn to rejoin the universe."
"Oh," Rose leaned back and gave the woman a doubtful look. "Is this a recruitment speech? 'Cause if it is, you're wasting your breath. I'm not leaving the TARDIS."
Ohlia laughed, a wide and true smile appearing on her face. She shook her head. "No, no, I don't think you are. Nothing of the sort. I'm just curious what it might show you if anything."
Rose studied the woman, trying to get a fix on what was going on. Ohlia and the other sisters were watching her with great interest. Rose wasn't loving the TARDIS's suggested wardrobe of red and gold anymore. She was saved from needing to say anything by a roll of booming thunder so strong that it shook the room.