Gallifrey Plot

[continuum_of_drs]

The TARDIS has landed. That much was made obvious by the soft, musical chime one could hear through almost the entire ship.

Eight looks up from pondering a small object. He slips it into his pocket. It's now or never, really. They know he's here. He uncurls from the chair he's been occupying and makes his way into the TARDIS interior.

Comments

[gabriel-grey.livejournal.com]

"Madame President...?" Christ, it sounded like an impossible task. He was smart enough not to say 'we're not even supposed to be here', but he was starting to wonder if the Doctor had his head screwed on correctly.

"I will do anything within my power to help you. I was helped more than a few times, and I owe my sanity to your Lord Rassilon. My..." He looks over at Savannah. Well, shit. "... daughter is here with me. I'd request if at all possible that she be kept safe." You know, if. There's always an if.

[capnhotness.livejournal.com]

This is why Jack Harkness is here, actually. He let this whole mess slip to the Doctor's eighth regeneration - the Time War and how it ends - and, in the aftermath, promised to stand beside him when the Doctor made his decision regarding Gallifrey. Here they are, probably attempting to change history (technically before it happens), and ... he's pretty relaxed about that, actually, for an ex-Time Agent who perfectly understands the repercussions of what's going on.

He leans forward in his chair at the table, all-business (look, he's not even flirting with the gorgeous Lady President of Gallifrey!), and glances between the Doctor and the President. "You know I'm in, Doctor. Whatever I can do, whatever needs to be done, I can do it." Oh, he's confident, though no entirely sure if he should mention (in this particular setting) that he's faced Daleks before and feels, at least, a little more knowledgeable than most humans by the experience.

[doctorbluebox.livejournal.com]

There's terribly puzzled blinking from Romana and from the Castellan, but before they manage to ask any questions that'd take about an hour and a half to answer, the Doctor utters the infamous line:

"I'll explain later."

Looking at Gabriel, he glances at Savannah, and then returns his gaze to him. "I don't know what can be done to keep her completely safe. But we'll do everything we can."

Then his gaze shifts to Jack. Are there words? Probably not. Just the eye contact alone says enough.

"But what do they know of our enemy? Do they know how the Daleks fight?" the Castellan asked.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_meadow_lark/]

Savannah very much approves of the motion to keep her safe. A few years ago, she would have protested at this lack of faith in her own self-reliance. But She knows the fate of Gallifrey, and would rather not be erased from time, thank you.

"I've met a Dalek. They have plungers, right? And can't go up stairs?"

[capnhotness.livejournal.com]

Jack straightens up at the question from the Castellan, prepared to answer that yes of course he knows about the enemy and how they fight, though he'd probably tactfully refrain from mentioning that his experience comes from a relative time future after the Time War with the Doctor's ninth regeneration.

And speaking of tactful, Jack sort of sits with his mouth slack from almost speaking while Savannah cuts in with ... what!? The Captain shoots her a look. A rather indescribable look of confused ... is that horror?

Right. Right? He schools his attention back towards the Lady President and Castellan. "I've fought Daleks before." The confidence in his voice, of course, is going to make up for Savannah's questions. Hopefully.

[gabriel-grey.livejournal.com]

Gabriel just frowns in that way he has when he either looks like he has a migraine onset or Savannah has said something off colour.

Oh please, don't let that get us thrown in the Gallifreyan equivalent of the brig.

[nightflowering.livejournal.com]

For those in the room well versed in Lan's colour changes, she's more than a little nervous and (*gasp!*) unimpressed by Savvy's latest commentary.

Clearly, this will end well.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_meadow_lark/]

Savannah gets the feeling that perhaps that was the wrong thing to say. She has met a Dalek, and was unimpressed. She honestly wondered if there was a little man inside, driving it around and making it yell at people. Then again, this was in the Sanctuary and wasn't dangerous. She sinks lower in her chair as she gets the Look from all sides.

"Uhm...sorry?"

[doctorbluebox.livejournal.com]

The Doctor realises he's got a lot of explaining to do.

"Eh... alternate universes... well, to all of it, really...."

Romana's gaze turns very solemn. "I think you'd best explain, Doctor. How can this man have met Lord Rassilon and this girl think so lightly of Daleks?"

So the Doctor explained these things. Or, at least, he explained the Nexus. In rather a lot of Temporal-physics-ese, which probably made all the sense in the world to the Time Lords. After all, they've long known of the possibility, even the existence of alternate realities for centuries.

"So you're saying that in this Nexus, there's a reality in which Lord Rassilon is still alive?" Romana repeats slowly.

"Yes." At least the Doctor can be definite on this one.

"And a quantum restriction that renders deadly things harmless?" the Castellan is having a little more difficulty wrapping his brain around the second concept.

"Yes. It makes things a bit ... too controlled, sometimes. As you can see." Dratted AVF and temporal elasticity.

"Your companions certainly do come from a unique world," Romana observes.

"Worlds," the Doctor corrects.

"Worlds, yes."

"That's as may be," the Castellan says. "I think a little education is in order. Everyone here must know the risks involved."

"What are you planning on doing, throwing her into the front?" the Doctor asks with indignant sarcasm.

A frown results at that. "Nothing so barbaric. The point would be wasted, besides."

"Forgive my sarcasm, but 'a little education' sounds disproportionately ominious," the Doctor counters.

"Perhaps it does." The Castellan sighs. "But the point stands. We cannot afford anyone remaining ignorant of the realities. She'd best be told everything. And as soon as possible."

"I agree," Romana puts in quietly. "Do it carefully. But everyone who doesn't know, must know, Doctor."

"I've tried, but experience, as you know, is a much more memorable teacher than words--"

"Do you want them to see, then?" the Castellan interrupts. The two look at him.

"Do you want them to see what's left of Dronid?"

[gabriel-grey.livejournal.com]

Gabriel scans the faces of all assembled.

"If we're here, and we're to help out, I for one would like to know exactly what is going on, and what is at stake. I realize you've tried to fill us in as quickly and as thoroughly as possible, but we're from another world... and things in the Nexus are often strange and outrageous. It makes a person somewhat ill-prepared for harsh realities." He pauses, looking around the room again.

"The truth is often harsh, but it's undeniable. I think we should know."