Warning: Too many Doctors in one room may cause insanity, frustration, and an explosion the size of Belgium.
CHAPTER 6
The Panopticon was already filled with Time Lords in their ceremonial robes. Leela led the group of companions to watch from the second level. The special guests looked around in wonder at the green walls and convex ceiling. There was a staircase leading into the room, providing access to both levels. Several doors with triangular lintels provided separate entrances from all sides. There was a round stage with a shorter rectangular section sticking out of one side to provide a step down to the floor. There was a quick hush and the room suddenly fell silent. A door that had hidden itself into the green wall opened from the top, providing a stairway to the round stage. A woman in a white robe and headdress emerged.
The Minister walked down until she reached the stage, and there she stood, erect and proper. Next the Doctor and Romana, both dressed in scarlet and orange, emerged from the same door. They walked in separate directions around the Minister and stopped in front of her as a barrier between her and the crowd. They knelt before the Minister in unison.
"We gather to witness the joining of two Time Lords into an eternal bond," the Minister announced to the crowd. "May they follow in the ways of Rassilon and protect the course of Time."
All the while, the Minister had been holding a goblet close to her chest. This goblet was golden with the a patterning of the Seal of Rassilon along the rim."Now drink from the Cup of Rassilon to symbolize the sweet taste and lasting residue of your satisfying union."
She extended her hand so that the couple before her could reach. The Doctor, still kneeling, took the goblet with both hands and sipped from it. He then handed it to Romana, who also took it with both hands and drank. The Minister took the goblet back from her.
"May your bond bring forth generations of peace in Gallifrey," said the Minister, smiling.
The Doctor and Romana arose. Both were beaming. The Doctor took Romana's arm and led her off of the stage. Susan wasted no time in running over and ensnaring her grandfather into a great hug, before doing the same to Romana. Jenny came over and did the same.
The newlyweds were suddenly bombarded with congratulations and well wishes. "Thete, you old dog," said Drax, slapping him on the back. "I never imagined back on Atrios that I'd see you two here like this."
"No," said the Doctor. "I don't think any of us did. And please... it's 'The Doctor,' not 'Thete.'"
"Whose not Thete?" asked Sara Jane, finally nudging her way through.
"Hello, Miss," said Drax. "You're one of the humans, right? The Doctor and me went to school together. Class of '92, ain't that right? Back then, we used to call him Theta Sigma, before he got his doctorate, you know."
"Theta Sigma?" chuckled Liz, who had also managed to reach them, along with most of the other companions. The Doctor gave her a menacing stare, so she did her best to stifle her laughter.
"Doctor, Romana," said a man in white with a golden sash around his neck, a coronet on his head, and a sceptor in his hand. "I wish to extend my congratulations."
"Ah, President Spandrell," said the Doctor, reaching out to shake his hand. "Thank you. And congratulations are in order for you as well on becoming Lord President. Romana made a great choice in her successor. Your inauguration was a marvelous event."
"Oh thank you," said Spandrell. "Though I wear this title with great honor, I don't think my receiving this position was as interesting as the way you received it. Article 17- that was very clever thinking, Doctor."
"Yes, well, it didn't matter how clever just as long as it worked," said the Doctor. "Needed to save my neck... and I had grown very accustomed to it."
"What are you two talking about?" asked Romana. "I didn't realize you knew each other." Since when does the Doctor associate himself with other Time Lords?
"Oh, yes," said the Doctor. "Once. It was a while before you and I met. Sometime between Sara Jane and Leela, if I recall correctly."
"This was back when I was meerly Castellan of the Chancellory Guard," said Spandrell.
"Meerly?" said the Doctor. "You were superb, if I had any indication."
"Why, thank you, Doctor," he said. "Oh, and sorry about the whole torturing thing."
"Quite alright," said the Doctor.
"Torture?" gasped Romana. Why wasn't any of this in his records? Surely, Gallifrey is always exact in recording every detail of significant events. And there's rarely been a case of torture within the past five millenia, and had started to wane in practice since the period of the Dark Times ended.
"I'll explain later," said the Doctor to Romana.
"Will you, Doctor?" said a female voice. The Doctor turned around and came face to face with a short, fierce-eyed woman.
"Flavia," said the Doctor, his voice turning to nectar. "How good to see you."
"Really?" said Flavia. "Because if I recall, there was one time where you couldn't get away from me quickly enough."
"You didn't need me around," said the Doctor. "You handled the situation marvelously."
"Doing your job?"
"I didn't tell you to give me the title," said the Doctor, defensively. "And you seemed quite happy in taking it away again."
"Well, you obviously never wanted it," said Flavia. She knew that when she forced the title upon him, but protocol is protocol. "But you could have at least returned to tell us what happened so we could put the events in the records properly."
"It seemed more fitting that someone could just make it up," shrugged the Doctor. "Put a better spin on it. That's what Borusa would have wanted anyway."
"Wait?" said Turlough. "So no one knows what Borusa did to you but us? That doesn't seem fair."
"Who said anything about fair?" asked the Doctor.
"But he tried to kill you!"
"Someone's always trying to kill me," said the Doctor. He chuckled. "When I was younger, I always used to say he was out to get me; he finally proved me right."
"Yeah, you're right," said Jack, suddenly.
"I know," said the Doctor. "But mind telling me what I'm right about?"
"Someone is always trying to kill you," said Jack. "How does one guy earn so many enemies?"
"Patience," he smiled.
The Doctor was surrounded by the woman he loved, his daughter, granddaughter, and all of his dearest friends. Nothing could feel greater, not even a visit to the Eye of Orion. Put simply, he was content, for the first time in a long time. He took Romana's hand and smiled at her. She looked into his eyes and smiled back. Nope, couldn't get any better than this. But suddenly, he was knocked from his happy thoughts as the entire room turned towards a white puff of smoke forming in the center of the Panopticon. It just wasn't fair, he thought... but who said anything about fair?
For those who don't know: Spandrell appeared in The Deadly Assassin. Flavia appeared in The Five Doctors. (Borusa appeared in both of those, The Invasion of Time, and Arc of Infinity.) Drax appeared in The Armageddon Factor. If you have not seen any of these stories, I suggest you go and watch them right now. Go now! Run!