Disclaimer: Doctor Who belongs to the BBC. I do not own any of it, nor do I get paid for it.

A/N Thank you for the response on the last chapter. I am glad you all liked it.

This is story #11 The Deadly Auction. As I mentioned last time, it features a Time Lord mentioned in New Who. We know very little about the Corsair but everything in this chapter is canon as can be since it was all mentioned by Neil Gaiman in The Brilliant Book 2012.

It is the seventh incarnation of the Corsair and her face claim is Janina Gavankar.

Happy Reading!

The Deadly Auction: The Corsair

She was in her TARDIS when she got the recall message from Gallifrey. She looked over at her current companion who was a temperamental Siamese cat from Filigree III that she had named Ortan, solely to annoy the current Castellan on the High Council of Time Lords.

Ortan was snuggled into the only part of her TARDIS where the bit of seat was just warm enough with a slight breeze keeping it from being too hot. The Corsair envied the spot but she didn't begrudge it to Ortan. Ortan had been instrumental in helping her escape from Clarkor Nine. Not her fault that the Daleks did not appreciate their plungers and whisks being taken away and then entangled to spell something rather rude in Skarosian.

The Corsair allowed herself a small smile before she turned to respond to the call. She would deny all responsibility, of course. No, Madam President, it is completely inaccurate. I was never in the vicinity of Clarkor Nine, nor do I have any knowledge of a Dalek Scout Ship. Not at all.

"What do you say, Ortan? Want to go and piss off your namesake even more?" she asked.

Ortan flicked his tail lazily and did not even deign to bestow her with a meow. He had no interest in the Corsair's chatter and generally tended to ignore her. The only time he truly felt affectionate towards her was during feeding times, though he was certain that he only needed another month before he could figure out the food machine for himself.

"Alright, you lazy feline," she said, flicking the switches on her TARDIS console to take them to Gallifrey. "Wait till I land us in water again."

Ortan shot her a look of pure boredom before stalking off deeper into the TARDIS with dignity. The Corsair's TARDIS materialised outside the Presidential Palace, assuming the shape of a giant pirate ship. With a grin at the disapproving voices she could hear outside her TARDIS, she plonked her tricorne on her head where it tilted at an angle over the long, dark hair of her latest incarnation.

"Salutations, gentlemen," winked the Corsair roguishly as she stepped out onto the deck of the pirate ship that was the chameleon circuit of her TARDIS.

"Isn't there a less discreet exterior shell to your time capsule?" came Vansell's whining voice.

"Nosebung! Long time no see," said the Corsair as she expertly vaulted off the deck and landed before the Time Lords waiting in front of the Presidential Palace. "Any reason why I have three Councillors waiting to greet me?"

"Perhaps we can move this somewhere quieter," suggested Cardinal Braxiatel. "The President is expecting us."

"Brax! How wonderful to see you," said the Corsair, her smile wider and more genuine as she smiled at him.

"And you, my dear Corsair," said Braxiatel with a small smile of his own. "Come."

The Corsair tossed a wink in the direction of Vansell and Ortan, both of whom looked less than pleased to see her. She followed Braxiatel who inquired politely about her latest survey trips in the Fox quadrant. Not that she would ever admit it, but she was absurdly fond of Braxiatel. She had graduated long before he had even joined the Academy but somehow he ended up being like an older sibling to her as well. It helped that she and the Doctor were such great friends. Brax had covered for their not-so-youthful indiscretions on more than one occasion.

Inside the Presidential Palace, Brax led her to the Council chambers. They were slightly bigger than the Corsair remembered, yet the strict ambience had remained unchanged. Romana sat at the head of the long table, perusing a silver tablet in front of her. At her right was an empty chair that the Corsair knew belonged to Brax. At her left sat Lord Narvin, the present Coordinator of the CIA.

The Corsair recognised a few other people; Commander Andred who sat next to Brax, and Straxus who was next to Narvin, Vansell and Ortan on the other side. However, she did not recognise the two young Time Ladies in the heliotrope robes sitting next to Andred.

"The Corsair, my lady," announced Braxiatel as he took his seat.

Romana looked up and gave a small nod in the Corsair's direction. "Do have a seat, Corsair," she said.

"Madam President," bowed the Corsair before taking a seat at the opposite end of the table. The rest of the Council seemed to be waiting for her, and the Corsair felt her curiosity peak.

"I assume you are acquainted with all but Lady Rodan and Lady Layal," said Romana with a glance at said Councillors.

The Corsair gave a nod and inclined her head towards them in turn. Their heliotrope robes proclaimed them to be from the Patrex chapter, which was a rarity in itself. The Patrexes generally steered well clear of Time Lord politics, being content with their artistry. To have two of their numbers on the Council had to be unprecedented. She cleared her throat. "Was there a particular reason why I was summoned to face the entire Council, my lady?" she asked politely, though with a distinct edge to her tone.

Romana glanced at Narvin who stood up and activated a switch on top of the table. A hologram of a brilliant electric blue diamond encased in a transparent crystal circle appeared above the table.

"This is the Peylix," said Narvin, capitalising the name of the artefact just by the way he said it. "It was said to be crafted by Omega himself."

The Corsair knew her history well but she had never heard of the Peylix. She waited for Narvin to elaborate.

"The Peylix was lost to time, and it became a myth," he said. "Until a few hours ago."

He sat down and Lady Layal stood up, looking nervous but quite determined. "We discovered its presence in the Matrix," she said in her timid voice with a glance at Rodan who gave a small nod of acknowledgment. "The exact location was difficult to find but we were successful."

"And you wish for me to retrieve it?" asked the Corsair, raising her eyebrows at Romana.

"Yes," said Romana. "The Peylix is not a mere bauble. It is said to contain tremendous power and until our scientists can determine the exact nature of its power, it is dangerous to remain free."

"I see," said the Corsair. "Where is it now?"

"At an auction," said Narvin. "On Terra."

"The humans are unaware of what the Peylix is. They think it is a pretty diamond," said Ortan disdainfully.

"What time period?" asked the Corsair.

"The precise coordinates will be programmed into your TARDIS," said Romana. "However, the Terra that we speak of is in a parallel universe."

The Corsair sat up. "What's so special about this universe then?" she asked shrewdly. "Usually, a recovery of an item such as this would not require my expertise. Terran technology is hardly a challenge and discretion is not exactly a concern for us. So, what is it that is different about this one?"

The tension was palpable at the table before Brax spoke. "It was sealed off from the rest of the multiverse, following an incident with the Guardians of Time."

The Corsair raised her eyebrows. She had been away in the Fox quadrant for a few decades now and hadn't stayed as updated as she would have liked with current events on Gallifrey. "What sort of an incident? Who has been exiled?" she asked.

"The Doctor and his human friend," spat Vansell. "For reasons unknown," he shot a look towards Brax who returned his gaze coolly. "It was not dealt in a traditional manner."

The Corsair sat back in her chair. "I see," she said. "Am I to seek them out or keep them away?" Vansell scowled at that and the Corsair hid her smirk as Brax tilted his head at her. "Of course," she said with a nod. "It will be done."

"It must be brought back to Gallifrey at once," said Narvin seriously.

"Understood," said the Corsair as she got to her feet and bowed to the Council. "I shall take my leave."

"I will walk you back," said Brax as he stood up with her.

Romana gave her a small nod which she returned before she and Brax left the Council chambers. "That was tense," she said brightly.

"I don't have to tell you to be careful," said Brax.

"Yet you are doing so anyway," she pointed out.

He sighed. "I just know that the last time you and the Doctor were together, you two outdrank the entire Shobogan population and ran naked through the Lower Archives room before passing out in the Panopticon."

The Corsair grinned widely. "Oh, good times," she said. "Thank you for deleting that footage, by the way."

Brax rolled his eyes. "I had to pull quite a lot of strings to allow you to contact him and Miss Tyler. As you can guess, certain people are not happy with me."

"Nosebung needs to learn how to take a joke," snorted the Corsair. "So, this Miss Tyler? What'd she do to get exiled by our lot?"

"You shall understand when you meet her," said Brax ruefully. "Theta followed her voluntarily. He is, shall we say, quite taken with her."

The Corsair raised her eyebrows at that. "Our boy is all grown up is he?" she asked.

Brax smiled goodnaturedly. "That remains to be seen," he said. "Like I said, it is vital that this incident doesn't draw too much attention. The Council is already watching this keenly. One mistake could see the end of that poor girl's life."

The Corsair took note of the concern in his voice for the mysterious Miss Tyler who had captivated the Doctor. She nodded reassuringly. "I will be discreet," she said. "Also might avoid alcohol altogether."

Brax nodded as they reached the Corsair's TARDIS. "I wish you luck," he said. "Do give my regards to them."

"Count on it," said the Corsair.

Rose was sitting comfortably on the chaise, her diary open in her lap as she traced the drawing she was currently envisioning. The Doctor was at the console, fiddling with the TARDIS controls while Fitz sat on the arm of one of the chairs in front of her, tuning his guitar and occasionally playing a few notes of familiar songs.

She had all but given up her art, even after starting her travels with the Doctor. But she had never been able to give it up completely. Her diary contained sketches of various aliens, people they met, alien buildings and landscapes. After she and the Doctor had become lovers, she had been...inspired. She hadn't ever worked on her art in the Doctor's presence, let alone Amy or Rory.

But for the past few months or so, she was less shy about it. She had finally shown the Doctor the sketch of him that she had made on the morning after the first time they had made love. That had been almost three months ago, and this was one of the first quiet days they'd had since then.

She was still surprised at how much there was to see on only one planet. They'd gone to the moon landing more times than she could count, gone swimming with dolphins, visited countless beaches and rainforests, met various monarchs, and even saved the occasional dodo. It was a brilliant life.

The shrill ringing of the phone broke through her reverie and she glanced up in surprise. It was not uncommon for the TARDIS phone to ring, usually with someone who needed help on the other end of it. But that had been back in the old universe. She didn't think anyone in this universe had the TARDIS phone number.

The Doctor seemed to think the same, since he threw a look of confusion at Rose before picking up the receiver. "Hello?"

"Since when does the TARDIS have a phone?" Fitz asked Rose in a whisper.

"Always has," she said, shutting her diary with a snap and getting to her feet. The Doctor seemed to be beaming, obviously very pleased with whoever was on the other end. He grinned at Rose and Fitz. "Yes, we will see you there."

"What was that about?" asked Rose as he put the phone down and ran around to the other side to input new coordinates.

"We are about to meet a very dear old friend of mine," he said, sounding very excited. "Oh, haven't seen him in years. Though I think the latest regeneration is a woman. Well, he always was a bit adventurous."

Rose grinned at his excitement. It was rare for him to be so happy about a Time Lord, and even with the brand new knowledge that Time Lords could change genders upon regenerating, she couldn't help but be excited at the prospect of meeting an old friend of the Doctor's.

The TARDIS came to a halt and the Doctor was out of the doors in moments with Rose and Fitz right behind him. They had arrived on the deck of a magnificent sailing ship where a woman was waiting for them.

She was the same height as the Doctor, with light brown skin and long black hair. She wore dark brown leather trousers tucked into long black boots, a loose white shirt, a brown navy coat with dusty gold buttons, and a tricorne plonked haphazardly on her head. In other words, the very image of a swashbuckling pirate.

"Doctor!"

"Corsair!"

The two of them embraced tightly, obvious happiness on their faces. "Gosh, how long has it been?" asked the Doctor as they parted.

"Half a century at least," she said with a bright grin. "Been meandering in the Fox quadrant for a while."

"Ah yes, I heard about Clarkor Nine," he said, sounding amused.

"I can neither confirm nor deny what you may or may not have heard," she said with a roguish smile.

The Doctor threw his head back and laughed heartily. "Come meet my companions. Fitz Kreiner, Rose Tyler, this is the Corsair."

The Corsair was the closest to Fitz and took his offered hand to place a kiss on the back of it, much to his surprise. "Enchanted," she said with a wink.

Fitz blushed a little before smiling back. She looked at Rose next and her eyebrows shot up. "Oh, I know what they meant now," she said.

Rose flushed, wondering what the Time Lords had told the Corsair about her. To her surprise though, she beamed at her in the next moment and kissed her hand, just like Fitz's. "Nice to finally meet you. A+ job on pissing off everyone on Gallifrey. It's probably the most excitement those old fogies have had in a few centuries at least."

She nodded uncertainly but couldn't help smiling back at the Corsair. Her smile was just too infectious. "Nice to meet you too," she said.

"So, what brings you to this corner of the multiverse?" asked the Doctor.

"Come inside," said the Corsair, nodding towards the door of her TARDIS. "This is going to take some explanation."

A/N End of Part 1. Thanks for reading.

As you can probably tell, I am having a lot of fun writing the Corsair. It is a fascinating character to write, and there is a lot of room for exploring the character.

The next chapter will see the Corsair explaining their mission from the Time Lords, as well as the auction where the Peylix is. It will be up pretty soon.

See you then!

~ Phoenix