Chapter 4

The Doctor was cornered. There was no way the Dalek's next shot could possibly miss. But something burned deep within him. The old warrior could feel it rise up within him. His whole being began to burn. Light streamed forth from his eyes and mouth and incinerated the Dalek on the spot.

"Vortex energy!" Gasped the Doctor as he caught himself from falling over. "That'll cost me a few centuries on this old body. But at least that should be the end of it. "

The Doctor coughed, and a few wisps of Vortex energy came forth. "Or, perhaps not. I must have enough left in me to… of course! That's it!"

The Doctor, beaming with joy, rummaged through a desk until he found a small metal disk. Placing it on the desk, he tapped it, and a hologram of a young woman in red Time Lord armor appeared.

"Gallifrey High Command," she said.

"Listen carefully, " said the Doctor. "The Untempered Schism is damaged. The Daleks have ruptured it, and with the control ring compromised, they intend to use it to bypass the Transduction Barrier and Sky Trenches, and invade Gallifrey. Their scout is the pile of smoking slag behind me, by the way. But that won't hold off their expeditionary force. We need to repair the Schism now!"

"Sir," said the soldier, "the High Command had already determined that the repair of the Untempered Schism is beyond the scope…"

"Well, they're wrong! I need a team of technicians with supplies that can repair the control ring down here now."

"Repair of the ring isn't the issue, sir. The energy needed to reestablish…"

"You tell that boneheaded General to get me some top technicians down here. I'll take care of the rest."

"Sir, I can not guarantee..," the soldier trailed off as her glance veered to her side. "Correction, sir. By order of the High Council, a Bowship is being sent as we speak."

"Well, apparently someone has some sense still, " said the Doctor abruptly switching off the communicator.

No sooner had he stepped out of the sacristy, the broad, swept wing shape of a Bowship flew overhead, circled back around, and landed. A ramp lowered, and armored soldiers piled out.

"No, no, no!" Cried the Doctor. "I asked for technicians not soldiers. I need scientists!"

"We could only spare one, " said a lovely, blonde woman in the red robes of a Time Lord. The lines of centuries could be seen about her eyes, but she still possessed the same regal beauty that she had when she chose that face so long ago.

"Romana!" Cried the Doctor.