the_lady_romana

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...It's happened. My worst fears. An invasion. Just when our resources were at their weakest; overstretched as we were. And I tried to tell them, damn them all, I tried...

*pauses, regains composure*

It's them. They're back. And...and the Doctor's here. Not my Doctor, or the one I've been...not him. So I suppose everything he said must be true.

All time travel has been restricted until further notice, and all known time corridors have been closed down. All but one. I've had to pull every last bit of Presidential rank I could muster to keep it open - if they should ever get their hands on it; and finally master time travel technology - but I must. I must do this. I cannot turn away from my duties as President...or as a mother.

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*deep breath*

K-9, open access to final remaining time corridor via this office. If I don't return within the set parameters then you must close it off again, is that understood? But I will return. This shouldn't take long.

*goes to the small end table, lifting off the red paisley cloth to reveal the vat underneath - the green 'gestation' light still glowing brightly*

*sighs*

*enters a series of commands*

*the green light dims, replaced by the amber 'birthing process initiated' signal...then the scarlet 'birth in progress - do not open' light...and finally, the blue 'birthing complete' display*

*bites lip anxiously and opens the vat*

*bursts into chambers*

*holds hand to forehead, pressing lips and breathing very hard, trying to regain composure*

...They don't understand. They just don't. And I can't make them. By every law of Rassilon, how can every member of the Council be such an unadulterated imbecile...?

*goes to desk*

K-9, begin dictation.

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The debate has ended. And despite my very firmest efforts, I simply cannot make the Council see sense. They have made our citizens believe that the struggle with the Hallantrian freedom fighters is a worthwhile cause, and that the rebels actually pose a serious threat...as if there could be anything more ridiculous! If their planet weren't in such a strategically advantageous spot in the vortex...

They are no danger to us. They have been struggling for their independence from oppressing civilisations - of which Gallifrey is only the latest - for aeons. And quite apart from the fact that leaving them be is the right thing to do, military actions are bloody expensive! We've already overextended ourselves trying to keep the Eldgate Sector of the vortex open...if we continue in this enterprise and some unforseen natural disaster should befall the planet...or a genuine enemy should attack us...

*sighs and rubs temples*

K-9. delete expletive from preceding paragraph. Continue dictation.

Well, it's abundantly clear what's going on here. Those H'yd'loc'ian arms dealers have got some of the Council members in their back pockets; convincing them they'll make a fortune in the weapons trade to both sides. Idiots! Can't they see this is no game? Can't they see what it really is that they're playing with...?

There is only one option for me now: to invoke my Presidential Right of Council Dissolution. *rueful laugh* Some option. It's hasn't been used for...well, it's practically unheard of. Do I really want to be the first President in millenia to wield such dictatorial power? *sighs* Besides, even if I did, they've got the citizens so worked up I'm fairly certain they'd just invoke a Populus Veto right back.

*pauses for a very long time, staring out the window*

K-9, end dictation.

dictation ends

*glances at the small table covered with red paisley cloth, under which the gestation vat hides, and unconsciously puts hand up to mouth*

*almost whispering*

I must find a way to make them see sense. I must....

*stares a while longer, face strained in quiet desperation*

*sets table for tea*

*absently eyes something underneath a short table covered by a red paisley cloth*

*waits for the Doctor to arrive*

begin dictation


Lluandra leaned back into the cold grey stone, her gossamer strands of brilliant blonde hair cascading down her soft-but-clever shoulders. She was taking a well-earned break from her grueling exams schedule with an old romance epic written in Old High Gallifreyan. The plot was somewhat turgid, but the hero's lengthy speeches expressing his undying love for the heroine were so beautifully written they drew the occasional tug from the twin hearts beholding them.

She only wished she'd thought to bring a cushion this time. This space under the old stone bridge had long been a favourite place for her and Sigma; they had often played games and hidden here as Time Tots. Gradually, the soothing shade and sweet low rushing of the water began to lull her to sleep, until -

'Sigma!'

His unexpected arrival startled her awake. He looked as surprised to see her as she was to see him - he was disheveled and his eyes were rather red.

'Go away.' He shrank into the dark recesses of the bridge, but Lluandra was too quick for him.

'Sigma, my love. What in the nine worlds is the matter?' She took his hand, drawing it gently away from his face, and saw that yes, he had been crying. She knew it was a disgusting Human habit that only made him ashamed.

'Nothing,' he sniffed, wiping his blue-but-sometimes-brown eyes. "It's nothing. Leave me alone.'

'My love, whatever it is, you can tell me.' She stroked his hand in that special way that she had, a way that no Human or organically-grown machine could ever hope to duplicate.

Sigma sniffled again, chokingly. 'Oh, it's just that - everything's going wrong! I had a fight with my alien mother and there are these two silly little girls that both want me all to themselves and I'm just sick of everything!'

Lluandra smoothed back his scruffy-but-sometimes-curly hair. 'There, there. I know it's difficult, darling. Not everyone understands that you're a wild Chronosaur at hearts - put a yoke on you, and you smother. You need to run free.'

Sigma looked deeply into her eyes. Oh, if only everyone else could understand him like she did, his life would be so perfect.

'Here,' Lluandra said, making things better as she always did, 'why don't you hide out down here for a while? The little girls won't ever think to look for you here. Or even better, we could go back to my old nursery room. Beat you at a few smashing rounds of Beldinian table-tennis. No Time-sex, or mortgages, or anything complicated at all. What do you say?'

...

Oh shit! I was due at the Council Chambers half an hour ago! K-9, hold, save and quit until I get back.


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Dear Diary,

If, in future, I ever need reminding of the exhausting sort of lifestyle the Doctor leads, I shall need only think of last night. I have hazy recollections of a rogue agent and a strange green compound and an earth mammal that ate too much porridge, but beyond that my memory is vague. Thank the universe for Maldarian birch extract...say what you will about Rassilon; the old man certainly knew his hangover cures.

Upon awakening, however, I discovered that Someone had been at my Diary again; leaving his grubby little mitt-prints all over it and dog-earing the juiciest entries (which is saying something as this Diary is kept on an encoded Gallifreyan database disc). Ooh, Doctor, when I see you again, you are in for such a spanking...

And speaking of the Doctor, he has been acting a bit odd since I've seen him again. He seems to have got this silly idea into his head that he blew up our planet and killed us all including me. Of all the utter nonsense. Well, you know what children are; so arrogant they think that everything's their fault. I don't think you can put it down to his new body though; in fact I quite approve of that because this one makes the most adorable squeaking noises when you pleasure him. But he's been acting odd in other ways too. I'm sure it has nothing whatsoever to do with the fact that we've been having so much sex seeing each other so often since his return. Crikey, I do hope I haven't gotten him pregnant again.

He seems reluctant to introduce me to his new companions as well. I think Madame de Pompadour would be rather pleased to see me again, although I doubt she would recognize me in this (much sexier) body. Probably he's just afraid that once his little Humans got over their initial jealousy, we'd all bond and braid each other's hair and laugh at what a silly sod he is sometimes. Ah, Time Lords.

Oh dear. All this talk of the Doctor and Reinette has made me rather bothered. Shall have to go and pleasure myself erm, review some new measures on fines levied by Tardis parking meters on the Council grounds. Yes. Nice big thick stack of measures. Just the thing.

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Dear Diary,

I notice that my old friend the Doctor has started an online journal. It's quite intriguing, to be able to look in on someone's private thoughts like that. He is travelling with two young female companions now. Both blonde, I notice. (Hmm...not trying to replicate anyone now, are we, Doctor?) But then...

But then he dropped by. After years with no sign of him; just like that - out of the blue. We were together. And oh, it was so gorgeous to see him. And it was even more gorgeous to...well. To do that again. With him. For the space of a few solar days.

But it was sad, too. And terrifying. Things I hadn't felt in lifetimes came back and I...I'm afraid I left him in rather a hurry. He must be so confused right now. Poor man; the subtleties of personal relationships were never his strong suit, in any of his incarnations. And he is so cute in this body when he is confused. Or pouting. Or taking readings or just standing there staring at the wall.

Ahem.

I hope I shall see him again. I left him my Rigellian Neurosympathetic Homing Beacon so he can visit me whenever he wants, but...but I very much fear he will not want to after the way I left him.

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"Oh, Sigma," Lluandra sighed, holding his hand as they watched the suns setting over the mountains. "If only you hadn't played that joke on Cardinal Luvis. You wouldn't be expelled from the Academy now, and we wouldn't have to be apart."

Sigma gulped. Lluandra was always right. Oh, if only he could be as clever as her. She always saw what was so obvious to everyone in the known worlds but himself: he really should not have placed that Vortisaur spawn in Luvis's meditation pod.

"Was almost worth it, though," Sigma grinned. "The look on the old codger's face...cost him about three lives in one go. I thought he'd regenerate on the spot."

Lluandra looked deeply into his blue-but-sometimes-brown eyes. "Oh, my darling," she said, sighingly. "Whatever will happen to us now that - "

- oh, what is it, K-9? Well tell Cardinal Rosina I'm busy. No, don't say I'm writing a story! Tell him I'm...I'm reviewing the budgets for next year's Council salaries. That should shut him up, the avaricious old Myrka-faced -

Oh. Oh Cardinal, I didn't know you were -

K-9, remind me to install a 'mute' function in your Council-frequency intercom device. Manually, forcibly, and preferrably via your rear cooling duct...

end dictation