There It Is

'Of course, it wasn't that easy. It took several more meetings with the Council members, both privately in small groups, and all together before the now-packed Council Chamber – and broadcast on their media channels to the entire planet – before the SenSaru were half convinced of it. First the human visitors provided incontrovertible proof that the up-til-then ignored SenSaru scientists had been correct: the poison was coming from their own power grid, and would take thousands of years to 'wash' safely out of the environment. Then the Traveler took the entire Council in his ship to visit the proposed site of the colony – and that did it. None of you now reading these words could fail to appreciate the impact of standing on our beloved Pacifica, gazing out over the crystal waters of SanSara Bay – for that is where they came. The historical marker on Star Point, at least, is accurate. After that, the SenSaru began immediate preparations for the removal of their entire remaining population to Pacifica, whether Earth would join them or not.

That, of course, was a whole different kettle of fish.'

^..^

Donna only paid half attention to the conversation in the Council Chamber, the other half just drinking in the sight of her parents and trying not to faint from relief. By necessity, Rose had turned away after a single searing glance to carry on her negotiations, but Corin gazed at her steadily for a while, seeming to give and get courage and reassurance in equal measure. (Donna had only glanced at the third member of the party; he seemed familiar but she couldn't place him.)

They both returned their attention to the goings-on when SesTok suddenly laughed aloud – the loudest and closest to a human laugh that Donna had heard. "Ah, so you would propose that we provide your colonists with their transportation as well? And what, then, would you bring to the colony in return, Elder Mother of Earth?"

Rose was genuinely enjoying this, now that her daughter was safe. Part of her was swept back to the days of traveling with the Doctor, solving mysteries and problems and stopping wars wherever they went. She now proceeded to lay out the rest of the Traveler's proposed plan. (The three of them had agreed that Rose should continue in the lead, taking advantage of the SenSaru's natural respect for their women under their matriarchal society. Besides, she did have the mandate from the Earth governments – stretched as it was.)

"The colonists themselves," she replied to SesTok, also half-turning to address the Council, "and I propose they include many more females than males. We would also send along our best genetic and reproductive scientists, and all the equipment they need to set up a top-notch – that is, the best and most complete laboratory and clinic they can, in order to help the SenSaru past your current bottleneck. I do not know if humans and SenSaru can interbreed, but there are other options, and our scientist colonists would have the continuation of the SenSaru race as their top priority." She whispered to SesTok, "Did all that translate correctly?" and he gave her a grin and a human-style nod.

Green Robe broke in. "Are you suggesting that your females would be willing to bear and raise our young? They would do so voluntarily?"

Rose faced him squarely. "Yes, I believe that we will be able to find a large number of individuals willing to both colonize a new world, and to do what is needed to help you, including the bearing and raising of young. We are a very large population, immensely so. I am certain that if the call goes out, the right people will respond."

Green Robe was skeptical, as were many others, judging from the muttering. "They would leave their homes, their planet, and travel willingly across the galaxy to a new planet, and then do this as well?"

Donna surprised even herself by stepping forward at that point. "I would. If it were a genuine choice." SesTok wasn't the only one who turned to gaze at her in shocked surprise.

"So would I," said the girl two places to her left, also stepping up beside her. "I would jump at the chance to join a colony on a new world, and the challenge of keeping any species from going extinct is one of man's highest callings." She looked determined not to faint.

"That is easy to say, here on these sands, when faced with grim alternatives," scoffed Green Robe.

SesTok whirled about, bristling. "They are healers, Respected Elder. Are you saying that healers would lie? Even those of another people?"

The humans may not have understood the reasons, but the crowd's reaction to SesTok's revelation was unmistakable. They felt the tide of opinion unexpectedly turning. Green Robe's gill slits flared wide as he stared at SesTok for a moment, then the girls. Then he turned abruptly away and addressed the rest of the Council. "How does this current run, my brothers? Will you hear more and consider this choice?" He swept his left hand far out to his side, and one by one each of the Councilors sitting around the ring leaned in that direction, until every one was tilted. If the situation hadn't been so serious, the sight might have been comical, but none of the humans even smirked.

Green Robe turned back to Rose. "Will you come speak with us in closed session? There are too many eyes and mouths here."

Rose began to assent, but SesTok broke in above her. "Forgive me, Respected Elder, but I am still on trial here. Is there a ruling in this matter?"

Green Robe considered him. "You gave no real defense of your actions, Commander. Would you give one now?"

"My defense is merely that I was attempting to meet with this Elder Mother," he waved a hand at Rose, unwilling to try her name, which he had never really gotten down, "to discuss these very ideas. SubCommander JanDel mutinied against me, preventing the meeting, and wrongfully accusing and imprisoning me. I ask for judgment against him for his actions."

"Were you not releasing the ones already captured, as JanDel has said?"

"Only the remaining males from our first sweep, and a few females, at that point. I had to show good faith to this one in order to speak with her." He shot an apologetic glance at Rose for that bit of deception, as he'd led her to believe he was bringing all the hostages back.

Green Robe grunted, and turned back to the Council again. "How does this current run, my brothers? Does the Truth stand with Commander SesTok," and he again swept his left hand out to that side, "or with SubCommander JanDel?" sweeping his right hand out. Again, one by one, every Councilor leaned to the left. SesTok was cleared, and he turned to Donna, sharing an elated grin.

The Councilor waved a hand to the guards, who immediately quitted the line of girls and surrounded the hapless SubCommander. He turned back to SesTok to complete the judgment. "For mutiny, and for attempting to dishonor you, he is yours, for five years. What will you do with him?"

"I want no unwilling slave on my ship. The SenSaru need laborers, especially if we are to colonize a new world. Let him be one." Green Robe nodded again to the guard, and they dragged a shocked but unprotesting JanDel back through the doors to the tunnel.

Green Robe then turned to the silent, watching crowd. "This open Council session is ended. We will meet with the visitors after the midday meal in the smaller chamber. You will hear our decision when it is reached." He turned to another guard standing by the entrance tunnel door. "Escort them all to that chamber now, and see they have food, as well."

^..^

Donna and her parents managed to maintain their decorum until they were safely inside the smaller chamber; as soon as the door closed behind their guard, she rushed to Rose's arms. Donna felt the facade of courage she'd maintained the five days since her abduction melt away as Dad's arms too surrounded both of his women, and all three simply held on for several minutes. SesTok grinned at them and left the chamber again with the guard to see about food, as he had an idea by now what might appeal to DonNah, and by extension the other humans. The other girls drifted to one side of the chamber to give the reunited family space, while the Traveler crossed his arms and leaned against the huge rock table, frankly watching the trio with a grin before turning to take in the impressive surroundings.

This one actually was a chamber, open not to the sky above, but sideways to the ocean. It had been carved out of solid rock to one side of the amphitheater; the table and benches were the living rock as well, carved in place and unmovable. Another waist-high ledge ran along the edge, but the huge window left above it was unglazed, and the constant teasing winds carried in the sounds and scents of the sea life as well as the surf.

When each of them had been reassured that the others really were all right, Donna asked, bewildered, "But how did you get here, really?"

Corin waved Joshua over. "In his TARDIS." He grinned at Donna, waiting for the coin to drop.

Turning, Donna really looked closely at the stranger for the first time, seeing his resemblance to Corin, while the old word sunk in. Slowly she gasped. "Joshua?" She stepped closer. "Is that you, Brat?"

Joshua grinned. "Hey, Sis."

"You're a Time Lord now. With a TARDIS." She stated them as facts, rather than questions. He nodded, not catching the growing glint in her eye – and suddenly was rocked by a stinging slap to his face.

"Ah. There it is," he remarked calmly, mystifying the others, but they didn't get a chance to query him as Donna slipped into redheaded volcano mode.

"You left me there on that ship. You left me, and you could have come and rescued me at any time!"

"Yes, I did. You were needed right where you were."

"'Needed'! For what?"

"To lay the ground work for Mum, so her proposal would be listened to properly."

Donna was completely outraged now. "But you could have prevented this whole thing! You could have kept the SenSaru from even coming to Earth! You could have sent them somewhere else!"

Joshua was doing a fair job of matching her rising temper. "And if I had, they'd all be dead – extinct – in less than 10 years. I am a Time Lord, Donna. I'm not here just to protect you, or my family, and I'm not here just to protect humans alone. I'm here to help and protect everyone, every species. By taking this route, I'm doing just that – helping and protecting two intelligent species, two planets of people, at once." Growing even more exasperated, he stared at his sister's mutinous, unforgiving face. "What the hell is your problem?"

She took a shuddering breath. "You have no idea what I've been through. I was so scared..."

Joshua shook his head, disgusted. "Right. Let's just forget about anyone else. Let's just let this entire species die, and keep humans trapped on Earth, so we can rescue little Donna Gallifrey, because you were scared." He paused, then gave a disgusted snort. "Grow up."

Eyes stinging, she whirled and walked stiffly over to the window, staring out at the ocean.

Corin turned to Joshua, disturbed at the distant echoes from his own past – even he recognized that the Doctor had frequently been incredibly arrogant. "That was harsh," he said, keeping his tone mild. "She is your sister, and she's only twenty-two."

Josh just looked at him levelly. "Don't play the family card, Dad. It goes both ways."

The door opened again just then, and SesTok re-entered, followed by several SenSaru carrying trays of food, which they set down on the table and left again. The girls clustered around, discovering fruits and breads and bits of cooked meat, with pitchers of cool, clear water. While the individual items tasted quite different, the analogy to an Earth picnic was reassuring, and they set to with satisfaction; they hadn't been getting fed nearly as well as Donna and SesTok had.

SesTok looked at Donna still staring out the window, curious, then walked softly over to stand beside her. "DonNah?"

She sniffed and swiftly scrubbed at her face, wiping off tears that had snuck down her cheeks before she turned to smile shakily at her friend. "I'm glad you were cleared."

He returned her smile. "Good, the translator is still on. I, too, am happy to be free. And I am happy to be able to speak clearly with you at last." He paused for emphasis, knowing this might be the only such time he might get, and that short. "You will be a good healer, DonNah. You listen beneath the surface, and your eyes see clearly. You know the Truth when it is sounded to your depth."

Surprised and touched, she didn't know what to say, especially after the last few minutes. Finally, she settled for a simple, "Thank you... my friend."

He gazed at her a moment longer, then nodded, and turned away, drawing her with him to her family. He smiled at Rose, "I am happy to meet you face to face at last, Elder Mother. Uh – I never caught your name. How shall the SenSaru address you?"

"Rose will do fine." She turned slightly, bringing the two men in. "This is my mate, Corin. And this is... the Traveler." Though it felt supremely weird to introduce her son this way, she certainly understood the various names of a Time Lord, and wasn't going to contravene the custom.

SesTok had been studying Corin's face, and thought he recognized him. He asked Donna, aside, "Isn't this one...?" She nodded, and he turned back to Corin. "I wish to tell you, I am sorry for stunning you during our raid. I did not want to do it."

Corin was taken aback. There were unexpected depths to this alien. He smiled slowly. "All right. Apology accepted. The incident is forgotten."

SesTok nodded, and turned to the other man. "I missed your name?"

"Just call me the Traveler. That's all."

SesTok shook his head, not quite understanding, but he had more important things on his mind. He turned back to Rose. "This planet you speak of, for the colony. It truly does exist?"

"It does. We can take you there."

"And will it really work? You speak the Truth? Will my people survive? Will your people join us?" Even without the TARDIS translator, his desperation showed through. He didn't want empty reassurances, he wanted the truth.

The Traveler put a hand on SesTok's arm, recapturing his attention. This was his territory. "Commander. I'm not just a Traveler in space, I'm a Traveler through time. I have been to the future, the far future. And I tell you this now: yes. It will work. Your people will survive, and thrive, merged with humans into a new mingled species, keeping the best of both. And history will record this as not only the first successful off-world colony for both humans and SenSaru, but the first step for both species further into the universe.

"And more, I tell you this. SenSaru'a is not lost forever. Some day, your children's children's children will come back. They will come, from this colony we establish now, to reclaim and resettle this planet after the poison has gone, though it will take millenia.

"The SenSaru will someday come home, and swim in the sweet waters under the eyes of Marusska Moon once more."