Instead of the warm buttery light described to them what met their eyes made them want to retch. The large dome of the Citadel was cracked and singed, all around the city broken spires lay where they had fallen. It was like a ghost town. The red flowing grass had been diminished only to ash, above in the sky there was a ship, the twin suns burned a red color. The color of blood.
"This is home?" Xandria asked. She was skeptical, the place the Doctor had described was so welcoming, and this was a scene from Hades.
"Gallifrey has been at war for years," suddenly the Doctor looked his age. No his appearance did not change, but a glint in his eye had. It became harsher, more firce. They were not the eyes of a healer, but a warrior.
"Who could have done this?" Pete asked looking around for some sign of life.
"Davros," the Doctor spat out the name.
"Who?" asked Myka.
"He's the leader of the Daleks, this is his fault."
"Doll-licks?" asked Artie. "What are those?"
"Daleks are one of the most vile creatures there are. This war? This war is for the sake of creation. Do you know what they are capable of? No. But I do. I tried to stop their creation...instead I found that they had learned Tardis-esque time travel. They tried to kill the high council using a duplicate of me and my companion. And now they have returned with reinforcements and we stand no chance. Originally there were ten million ships, we barely had a million. And now? We will lose, and all will be lost," the Doctor said bitterly. His audience was captivated, how could they stand up to a whole army?
"What can we do?" Claudia asked fiercely. Her emotion took the Doctor by surprise, why would she be so passionate for a home she never had?
"We need to see if they have arrived yet. We need to split up," the Doctor said seriously.
"What? NO!"
"You can't be serious."
"We have no chance, how will-"
"Silence," the Doctor whispered, but still he was heard, and they all stopped protesting. "Good. Artie, Claudia, and Pete you stay here. Don't protest. I need you to warn my people and keep a look out for the Daleks. I'll take Xandria and Myka to Skaro and get the Antikythera Mechanism back. Got it?"
"How will we keep in contact?" asked Artie.
"Here, take this," the Doctor handed him something.
"A radio? God this looks like it's from the 50's!" Claudia complained. "How about we just use the Farnesworth?"
"Fine," the Doctor muttered. He had thought that using old human technology would have made them feel better...but perhaps it was too old.
As he got into his Tardis with Xandria and Myka he turned and said, "whatever you do, stay away from the south."
With that the door closed, and the Tardis disappeared leaving Artie, Claudia, and Pete far, far away from home.
Claudia turned on her heel and started to walk, the sun was beginning to set to her right. Without realizing it she was leading them south.
I have realized it has been about a month since I have updated. This is very wrong. Sorry this chapter is so short...i wanted to write more just don't have the time to since I have play rehearsals Mon-Thurs, dance everyday, and exams next week...aren't I super lucky?! Anyways more to come, hopefully shortly. Please leave a comment, I want to see what you guys think will happen * evil grin*