THE GALLIFREY CHRONICLES, THE FALL OF GALLIFREY

A/N Please review

Beta read by Lady Catkin

Disclaimer I did ask really nicely if I could own Brax but they said no

Once more the Transduction Barriers had been lowered as the capital was over run with Alien nations all eager, maybe too eager, to go into business with Gallifrey. As much as Narvin loved Romana, he did not agree with the changes she had been making.

It had not happened over night, he mused to himself. It had taken many months. There had been readings and more readings before the High Council had approved it, although it had felt like it had come about in the blink of an eye.

It was as though since her whole memory loss, she had changed into this new Romana, one minute she was the Romana he loved - his soul mate - the next someone quite different. She was a leader, yes, but much more like an Imperiatrix or the Pythia of Ancient Gallifrey. She was not acting like herself. He pushed open the door to find Romana in her office.

He cleared his throat to announce his presence, unsure more than ever as to how to react around her at the best of times.

"Romana" he began, earning him a sharp look for using her informal name.

He faltered for a moment, before walking purposefully towards the desk, behind which sat Romana, who was eyeing him with some distain.

"What is your one mind, Co-ordinator?" she asked with little interest.

"You are still my President and I do support you. It is my job to make sure you get what you want." Rightly or wrongly Narvin knew he belonged to his President, he was hers and he was loyal to her.

She knew immediately what this was about – her 'new' regime. Where she was from, there was nothing new about it. Soon enough, everyone would see that it was for the benefit of the planet. She just wished that would happen sooner rather than later.

"Then why fight me over it?" she spoke finally, twisting her mouth into a narrow slit. "It's controlled. We are not letting undesirables in, we are simply engaging in business with others."

"Let's not fight over this," he began, rubbing his temples, as if trying to quell the threat of a headache.

"I agree. I understand that change is difficult for people. It just needs some time".

"I know" he replied "there is still a lot of doubt and a lot of pressure from within the High Council on me to make sure this is worth the risk. That's all"

She nodded in understanding, looking away from him and down at the neat pile of Data Sheets sat on her desk between them. She stood up quietly and took his hand in hers, squeezing it gently.

"Just give this a chance to work" she said in a whisper, as though they were being overheard.

"I-" Narvin began, before being cut off by the welcome surprise of her mouth connecting with his. He responded quickly and greedily.

"Narvin," she moaned his name into their kiss. "I need you."

Narvin gentle lifted her into his arms and carried her to her bed room placing her softly on the bed before lying next to her and wrapping his arms around her.

"I'm lonely Narvin," she admitted. She knew that feeling only too well. There was an old earth phrase she heard someone say once so long ago. What was it now? She tried to remember. It's lonely at the top? She couldn't have agreed more with that simple phrase. There was another too. Was it Shakespeare? That Human playwright. Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown. She was lonely on this Gallifrey not to mention the stress and pressure. It just did not feel like home.

"But you have me" Narvin enthused softly, tracing a finger over her chin.

"You aren't here when I want or when I need someone. I want you to be here". Her words all felt jumbled up inside her head, "sometimes I want to be irresponsible and leave Gallifrey. It would be but a dream, but I don't. I have responsibilities. Everything feels too much."

"Tell me what's bothering you, Romana let me help." He moved closer to her as she rested in his arms.

"Stay tonight." Romana felt like she had sank to a new low wanting Narvin, things must be desperate.

"I would stay every night if my President commanded it," said Narvin audaciously.

Romana ran her fingers through his hair, considering his words.

Deceit was in the air, she could smell it, but Emmaline felt uneasy as if something was about to happen. She walked through the capital at an sauntering pace, wanting to think. There was little interruption to her thoughts; most people she encountered seemed to be either too lost in their own or in too much of a hurry to want to hassle her.

She no longer had body guards. Rightly or wrongly, she had ditched them so long ago since her return from the dead, they had not been reinstated. The eerie, volumous colonnades that formed a grand palisade bore down on her like looming god-like sentinels. She picked up her pace a little. She definitely felt like someone or something was following her.

She glanced over her shoulder, but there was nothing. She berated herself silently for being so paranoid as she finally reached the Presidential offices. Something was wrong, why were they no guards around? They were usually guarding the complex night and day. Come to think of it, she thought, there were few visible guards all the way there.

Quickly Emmaline headed for the bank of lifts and entered the security codes that allowed her access to the Presidential Offices.

"Stupid," muttered Emmaline to herself as she exited the lift. Suddenly a shadow emerged from the darkness, making her instantly jump.

Out stepped Bainbridge.

"You!" she shrieked in both shock and horror.

"Why aren't you dead?" he spat in a menacing tone. "I have been so very eager to have a little chat with you - brother to sister."

"You are not my brother you never were," she retorted, memories playing out silently inside her head, making her unconsciously back away.

It did not matter though, he lunged at her, pinning her with stupendous force against an obliging pink marble wall.

"Not your brother? Really? Good. That means I can finally do this," he slammed his lips against hers, forcing his tongue into her mouth and kissing her with such force that she struggled to free herself from him, but he was stronger than her. As he pinned her hands against the wall he kissed her harder this time each time he kissed her more deeply.

She wriggled and tugged her hands against his grip until finally releasing her right hand which she pushed him away with, as hard as she could.

He moved away from her, a hateful, mocking look in his eyes.

She wiped her mouth with the back of her now free left hand and used the right one to land a hard punch in his face.

His head shot backwards with the force from the jolt, but it had clearly not hurt him too badly. When he looked back at her, he was laughing, a small dribble of blood coming from the corner of his mouth.

"Don't you ever think about what it would be like to be with me, my feisty one?" he stepped towards her, like a predator about to eat its prey.

"No, please don't," she managed to say as she struggled with her memories. She whipped her eyes back and forth, looking for some sort of escape or even something use as a weapon. He pounced with cat-like agility, pinning her again and forcefully kissing her once more. She writhed and thrashed as hard as she could, hating herself for being so defenceless against this vile creature. For the first time she envied Awen. At least she'd probably be able to not only defend herself against this creep, but make him very sorry he tried anything in the first place. She felt the evil raging inside him as his hands were all over her. His body pressing against hers as he had her pinned against the wall.

"If I decide to have you I will," he said grabbing hold of her roughly.

"That's enough," said a voice she recognised as Braxiatel's. "I said that's quite enough." Braxiatel roughly grabbed him, slamming him into the wall. "You piece of Gallifreyan scum!" he snarled rabidly, his face contorted in rage.

Emmaline gasped. She wasn't sure it was from Bainbridge's attack on her or seeing how angry Braxiatel was, but she was stood shaking and hugging herself.

Back in the Presidential quarters, Emmaline stood with her back against the wall by one of the huge arched windows that looked out over the city. She wrapped her arms around herself once more as the tears streamed down her face, remembering what had happened.

The door suddenly opened and in walked Brax, concern for Emmaline once more etched on his features. She looked up to acknowledge him. That look was becoming a staple of his daily demeanour and she hated knowing that look was there because of her. She wanted to make him happy after all.

"Emmaline" he called over to her, before sweeping across the room to be by her side.

"Emmaline you are safe with me, you know" he tilted up her chin so that she looked directly into his eyes.

"I won't patronise you and ask what's wrong. I know what's wrong. I also know that no matter what I say or do, you won't feel safe knowing he's on the same planet as you". He moved his hand away from her chin and watched as she slowly turned her head back to the view.

"I won't let him hurt you again". His head started to spin with what could have happened had he not turned up when he did.

"I will not let him touch you again. I'd gladly will kill him before that happened again" hissed Brax angrily as he put his arms around Emmaline's shoulders. Finally he felt her relax in his arms.

"Brax," she mumbled, but hesitated to go any further. He could sense she desperately wanted to tell him something as she looked up at him.

"Bainbridge he abused me when I was a little girl, both him and Rassilion did. Bainbridge told me he would kill Romana if I didn't-" breaking off mid sentence she choked back the tears as more tears fell down her face.

Brax was furious now. He bundled her up into his arms and tightly held her to him. He would do anything to protect them both, Romana and Emmaline, and he would not rule out erasing Bainbridge from history. It would be like he had never existed.

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