Arcadia
Koschei, The Doctor and Rose landed in Arcadia with much protest from the TARDIS. Each of the three had to wrestle their designated controls and even then, she landed with protest. Arcadia was one of the largest cities on Gallifrey and a prime target for the Daleks. As such, Romana had asked the three of them to report there and bolster the defenses. Even though the Doctor didn't want to be in this War, he was widely acknowledged as a brilliant tactician. Koschei was notorious for it as well. The only really problem was getting the Time Lords already there to follow Koschei. Even though his mental imprint had changed, every Time Lord knew who he was, or had been. Rose made it her job to smooth over things between the three of them and the soldiers who were already positioned there.
~DW~~DW~~DW~
Their first couple of weeks, there was no progress. None of the staunchly soldiers wanted to follow two Renegade Time Lords and the mutant ape that was with them. Because of this, they were at a stalemate. Even Romana, who had ordered them to follow the Renegades, couldn't make them really comply.
The Doctor, Rose, and Koschei spent their time bolstering defenses and escape routes. Since the soldiers refused to let them compose plans, they did what they could.
Two months in, and they still weren't trusted. Koschei had become disheartened and the Doctor bitter. Rose, however, stayed wildly optimistic. It was Rose's compassion that finally won over the soldiers. Each time one would come back injured, she would tend his wounds. Sometimes she would use equipment. Other times, for the more severe wounds, she would heal with Regeneration energy. This worried the Doctor, but Rose never seemed to feel any ill-effects so he kept those fears to himself.
Eventually, after months of being there, the soldiers finally let the Doctor and Koschei sit in on their meetings. The Doctor was able to flesh out the plans he and Koschei had already made. It wasn't much. Arcadia was equipped for skirmishes but not for all out war, which was what was coming.
They spent years at Arcadia. The War hadn't touched them on the surface of the planet. They felt relatively safe. They were wrong.
~DW~~DW~~DW~
The day the Daleks came started like any other. Scout ships left the atmosphere, as was normal routine. Rose toured the medical buildings, helping anyone who needed her. Koschei and the Doctor were in a conference room, listening to the reports from other outposts. Everything seemed calm. They hadn't had any attacks on the planet in weeks. Even the closer outposts had been safe.
Romana had called everyone back to Gallifrey, though, as if preparing for a seige. She believed this was only the calm before the Storm. The Doctor couldn't help but agree. He'd never known the Daleks to retreat. They always kept moving forward. This repreive was unlike them.
~DW~~DW~~DW~
The entirety of the Dalek Fleet materialized around Gallifrey, effectively sealing it. Without warning and without mercy, they began attacking the planet.
Each adult who was able to fight, was. The Doctor and Koschei included. Rose was left to tend the wounded. Soon enough, she was busy trying to save the few she could. Even though she knew how this would play out, she couldn't resist a cry for help.
The Sky Trenches were Gallifrey's last defense. The Doctor spent his time trying to strengthen and repair them, while Koschei led a frontal assault. Despite how things had started, the men and women who had been stationed with him followed his commands without fail. After several days of fighting, it became apparent that they were losing, and miserably. The TARDIS was badly damaged as were both the Doctor and Koschei. The Doctor closed his eyes for a moment, weary beyond belief.
Faintly, in the back of his mind, he could hear Rose calling for him. He leapt up, not conscious of the movement, and began piloting back to the surface to get her. Once she was inside, she took over piloting while her two weary companions took a moment of rest.
~DW~~DW~~DW~
The TARDIS materialized with a shudder. She didn't want to be here any more than her three occupants. This TARDIS was willful and wanted to run to the ends of the Universe and from the troubles of this War. Her Wolf had a plan. It's a better plan than what her Thief had. But there was still plenty of margin for error and the Moment might still be used. It was horrible, what that Time Line entailed. Still, she put her faith in her Wolf.
~DW~~DW~~DW~
Arcadia was chaos. It was a shining jewel in this shining world and the largest actual city. Daleks fired down on the city from the skies before descending on the populace.
They meandered through underground passages for what seemed like hours before coming to the Vault. The approached cautiously. The door had already been opened and they didn't know what gruesomeness lay beyond those doors.
Koschei was the first to enter. He was immediately restrained, placing the Doctor on edge. Had he been in the right frame of mind, he would have recognized the minds beyond the door. He burst through the doors, coming face to face with Romana, Andred, and Leela. His oldest friends besides Koschei. Speaking of Koschei, Leela had him pinned to the floor while Andred kept his weapon pointed at the Time Lord's head.
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't end you right now, Master." A dual-toned, ethereal voice filtered through the room, immediately putting everyone on edge.
"Because he's with me." Goosebumps prickled along the Doctor's skin. The last time he had heard that voice, he'd watched Rose disintegrate forty or more Daleks. The voice didn't just come from her, though. It was echoed further in. Another Rose, slightly more feral looking, sat on a golden box. No one besides him seemed to notice this second intruder. He honestly wondered if he was imagining her.
When both of the Rose's eyes met, however, there was a collective gasp. The second Rose seemed to appear so everyone could see her. In sequence, they continued.
"Leela, let him go." The command in their combined voices felt like nails across a chalkboard. Andred lowered his weapon and with a nod, Leela released Koschei. He slowly got to his feet and faced Romana.
"Lady President."
"Master." Everyone saw his cringe at the name. He shook his head sadly and looked at Romana.
"No, Lady President. My name is Koschei. The Master you knew is dead and gone."
"How?"
"The Wolf howled and declared 'No More'."
Rose and her mirror had gravitated towards one another while the others were busy talking. Only the Doctor seemed to notice. He watched them warily, not sure what was going to happen. They looked the same, but weren't. He knew Rose wasn't exactly human, but that didn't mean that touching herself wouldn't create a paradox. Then again, was that really her?
He didn't get a chance to ask or even intervene. Each reached out a hand and as soon as their hands clasped, the Vault was engulfed in a bright light. Then everything went dark and he knew no more.