The Time War

The first chunk of my ongoing mission to chronicle the Time War. Book One sets the scene for a concerted Dalek attempt to conquer Gallifrey, while Book Two develops the first half of the War. Book Three will chronicle the last days of the War and the destruction of Gallifrey.

Characters/Pairings: 4th, 7th, 8th, 9th Doctors (plus Richard E Grant's 9th Doctor) with Romana, Ace, Fitz and Compassion
Warnings: The odd little swear now and again – a bit of violence
Notes: Thanks to Ana for beta work.

Art by Barbana (LJ | comment), Erisinia (LJ | comment), and Van Donovan (LJ | comment)

The Time War

Prologue

BERNARDO
Sit down awhile;
And let us once again assail your ears,
That are so fortified against our story
What we have two nights seen.

Hamlet, Act 1, Scene I

'Oh, all right. Come on, sit down Maxil, let Bernardo have his moment.'

In truth, Romana was only too happy to take a seat, even if it was on cold Old Time flagstones. The wind was smashing its way cruelly around the upper floors of the Panopticon, and getting below the level of the parapet at least meant she didn't have to keep clawing her whipsawing blonde hair from her eyes.

Maxil was less pleased at the prospect and even Bernardo smirked as the huge guard struggled to fold his bulky frame to the ground while carrying his plumed helmet tucked underneath his arm.

When they were all settled, the old guard spoke, choosing his words carefully in a Time Lord's presence.

'We've only been on this shift a couple of nights, you know, since Maxil shot the latest unarmed prisoner.' Maxil harrumphed but Bernardo ignored him. 'Well, just as Omega's Ruin aligns with the spire each night, we've been seeing something.'

Romana couldn't help glancing up. The tiny smear of the distant black hole was already almost directly overhead.

With a squeak of leather and rustle of feathers, Maxil tried to leap to his feet. 'Get up, quick! It's here!'

Just five metres away, stood a faintly transparent figure that dwarfed even Maxil. A grey giant of a man in slate grey robes, with one hand gripping the parapet, staring out over the tranquil roofs of the Citadel. A sorrowful frown deepened a crease on his forehead, and he stroked his greying beard with his free hand as he stood at his silent vigil.

Romana was aghast. 'But isn't that...?'

Maxil nodded, his habitual sneer drooping slightly. Romana clapped a hand to her head, partly to stop her hair flying off again. 'But why? Has it said anything? Why am I here? Surely a Cardinal would...'

But Bernardo only shook his head sadly. 'It's said plenty. And that's why you're here, my Lady.'

Romana turned to Maxil, a question on her lips. But he was ready with a clipped response, supercilious sneer as high as ever.

'Iambic pentameter. A primitive poetic form found in just three systems, chiefly...'

'Yes, I know where it's found, Commander. Congratulations on your literary training.'

Maxil winced from her heavy sarcasm, but he needn't have worried. The Lady's eyes were fixed on the apparition.

'It's quiet tonight, Lady Romana,' Bernardo quavered. 'Normally it can't stop spouting all manner of Level Three society metaphorical imagery. Perhaps,' he hesitated again, 'perhaps it's waiting to be spoken to.'

'Oh, I'll speak to it all right,' muttered Romana. 'I'll jolly well cross it though it blast me.' Before the two men could react she strode across the walkway and cleared her throat loudly.

'All right, very good, you got me up here. But it's absolutely freezing, it's gone two in the morning and I prefer Jonson anyway. So tell me what you want with no couplets, alexandrines or dramatic irony.'

The figure turned slowly, and Bernardo and Maxil shrank back. Only Romana stood fast, interested to note that its face seemed to grow more indistinct as it moved.

Just as the ghost opened its mouth, the faintest echo of a TT capsule's grinding engine floated across the spire. Instantly, the apparition grew more solid, and swung away to move towards the nearest entrance to the Tower.

'Did you offend it?' asked Bernardo. 'It's stalking away.'

'I'll blast it though it cross me,' muttered Maxil, drawing his staser.

Bernardo slammed his fist across Maxil's gun arm, sending the weapon clattering over the edge and into the night. They didn't hear it land. 'You will not,' he hissed with rage in the sudden silence, 'how dare you even consider using force against that form? And what do you think you're shooting at anyway, you damn fool?'

'Couldn't have put it better myself,' said Romana brightly, 'but never mind, he's back.'

Sure enough, the figure was striding back down the narrow path between the parapet and the Panopticon wall, its grey robes blazing with unearthly light.

'Right,' said Romana, throwing her shoulders back. 'Let's play its silly game.'

Standing in the ghost's path, the Time Lady raised an imperious arm and declaimed:

'If thou hast any sound, or use of voice,
Speak to me:
If there be any good thing to be done,
That may to thee do ease and grace to me,
Speak to me:
If thou art privy to thy country's fate,
Which, happily, foreknowing may avoid, O, speak!
Or if thou hast uphoarded in thy life
Extorted treasure in the womb of earth,
For which, they say, you spirits oft walk in death,
Speak of it: stay, and speak!'

There was a long pause.

The ghost smiled.

Then, finally, in an icy whisper that chilled all three to the marrow, it spoke.

'Not you...' it said. 'The other...' And then it vanished.

Romana lowered her declaiming arm. 'Oh, ROCKS,' she cursed.

Go to Book One, Part One