THE GALLIFREY CHRONICLES, THE FALL OF GALLIFREY

Beta read by Lady Catkin

Disclaimer If I owned big finish audio's I would have Braxiatel back in the audio's now not next September because I cant wait that long that's over a whole year :D

And if I owned Doctor Who I would have Braxiatel and Romana for the 50th anniversary


There were already the normal unwanted aliens down there in the Panoptican,bickering amongst themselves. It was too early for this thought Narvin, much too early. He had the other Romana to thank for this situation.

He frowned as he stepped on a large stone tablet that signalled for the floor to lift into a magnificent staircase. He walked down the stairs, ignoring the stares he strode away, his gown flapping behind him, before finally reaching the President's office.


She was curled up in her black leather armchair seemingly asleep with a couple of transparent files on her lap. Her dinner still on her desk from last night, left untouched.

He picked up the files from her lap and placed them noiselessly on an obliging table. He gentle touched her face as her eyes opened.

"Narvin I was just-"

"Did you even leave this office last night?" his tone was harsh, but he didn't care. He was not prepared to let this go on.

"I was working, and I fell asleep. It happens" she remarked irritably, sitting up and adjusting her clothing.

"Romana! Are you trying to prove a point? Stop trying to work yourself to death. Besides, if you can't do it for yourself, think of the baby. Is it fair on them?"

"For your information I was not working myself to death" she began ignoring his cutting words "it is my choice to be here". She stood up, wiping the back of her hand over her mouth in case she had drooled in her sleep. "Gallifrey needs me as you well know Co-ordinator, and if you spent as much time working, maybe you would have less time to come here and give me grief every second."

"Madam President," Narvin gritted his teeth. He knew her ire was easily wrought, but still, it was like negotiating across the floor of a snake pit just talking to her.

"Co-ordinator," she replied in the same tone.

"Romana, I am taking you away for the day."

"I can't just go I need to give some notice."

"Yes you can " came a voice from the doorway, Braxiatel's hand waved in the air in a dismissive gesture.

"Braxiatel I really-"

"Need to put yourself first for once. Stop making excuses. Now go Gallifrey, will still be here. So will your paperwork," he said smiling at the growing stack on her desk.

She turned to face Braxiatel with that defiant look in her eyes, the one that Braxiatel knew so well.

"Braxiatel", she said with a questioning look. "I am fine you know, honestly".

He shook his head sadly "You haven't been fine for a very long time. Are you really going to pick a fight with your Chancellor?" he asked sternly as if he was a headmaster and she was one of his students.

"Braxiatel I-"

She sighed, maybe he was right. He had always known how to help her and give her what she needed and this was Braxiatel, her Braxiatel, the Time Lord she had always trusted. His motives where questionable at best and his behaviour even more so, but she always felt that she needed him close at hand. At the very least, she could learn more from him.

She couldn't read him today though, come to think of it. It had been quite a while since she had been able to and that bothered her slightly.

"Oh very well. I know when I am beaten," Braxiatel quickly slipped her coat on her and kissed her quickly on the cheek much to Narvin's displeasure, who was looking at Braxiatel with a warning in his eye's.

"If I didn't know better I would think you were trying to get rid of me Braxiatel."

"Whatever do you mean?" replied Braxiatel, raising a dark eyebrow.

"Don't take me for a fool Braxiatel. I see everything," giving him a meaningful look.

She had never quite got used to being smaller in this incarnation. Braxiatel almost towered over her. She stood on her toes and whispered something in his ear.

"My Lady," Braxiatel said, slightly smiling at her. He turned to Narvin. "Take care of her. I expect her in one piece when she returns. Or it will be your head rolling in the panoptican

"Is that a threat?" he hissed.

"No, its a promise," Braxiatel said quietly.


Bainbridge entered the Chancellor's office escorted by two of the Chancellor Guards. "Sit," spat one forcing him into the chair as he glanced round the large homely office, an office that once used to be his before he became President. It certainly looked different to when it had been his office when he had been Chancellor.

They were stacks of what appeared to be art leaning against most of the walls. Marble busts of other Time Lords he knew adorned a long red wood shelf behind his desk.

Then he noticed the portraits of people even Bainbridge knew and had detested throughout the years. One particular image stood out from all the others; one of two Time Ladies he despised more than Emmaline. Everquest, the sister of Braxiatel, she had been on a pedestal for years to her brother. In Braxiatel's eyes, she could do no wrong. Yet there she was, frozen by the image. Standing next to her was another Time Lady although in Bainbridge's eyes the mere title of Time Lady was wasted on her. Her name was Eris and he had exiled her during his reign. He grimaced as he wished that he had done so many years before.

She had made Gallifrey look foolish and she looked down on him like he was a piece of dirt on her shoe. She had rejected him, told him what a complete loser he was and then humiliated him when they had been children. He never forgave her.

Then he noticed the picture of Emmaline and Braxiatel. There was no love lost between Emmaline and him. She was a spoilt little brat who deserved all she got and even one day Braxiatel would see her for what she was. She had about as much right to dwell on the same ethereal planet as him as a piece of scum. He sneered at her visage, as if she could see him.

Braxiatel wafted into the room, that same important manner that all robed Time Lords had about them. He walked quickly to the other side of his desk and looked intently across at his guest.

"You only had to ask nicely," Bainbridge pointed out, nodding in the direction of the guards who were being dismissed by a wave of Braxiatel's hand.

Braxiatel tapped his knuckles on his desk. He was pleasantly pleased that he had been able to step into Braxiatel's shoes with ease, with the real Braxiatel safely locked away. Nobody even noticed, although he had developed some kind of meagre affection for Emmaline he did not quite know why. He had struggled at first to differentiate himself from the real Braxiatel, but as his feelings began to wane and come into sharp relief, his inner questioning only gave way to the truth. He was not who he thought he was: he was much better than that.

Romana was more his style. He could see why Braxiatel was so hung up on her, but that idiotic Co-ordinator stood in his way. One way or another he would own Romana,and that brat she was carrying inside her would consume her days leaving him the presidency. He was all for packing her off to the sisterhood on Karn, letting her think she was running things remotely when it was really him making all the plans and decisions.

"Still getting others to do your dirty work are you?" Bainbridge drawled.

"I do what I do for the good of Gallifrey."

"You do what do for yourself Braxiatel and don't try and convince me otherwise. Takes one to know one. Anyway, you wanted to see me?"

"That is correct, a little job" he replied coolly, leaning back in his chair and steepling his finger tips.

"And why would I be interested?"

"Because I understand you like living"

"Ha!" chortled Bainbridge "is that supposed to be some sort of threat? I've got to be scared of your first in order for you to adequately threaten me. Why should I be bothered about what you could do to me?"

"Because I control your future. I decide whether a piece of scum like you deserves a future. I know about the abuse you inflicted on Emmaline, and it would be terrible if it was to get out, especially if some disgruntled guard was to, let's say, be involved in an accident."

"And If I do this job?"

"You will leave Gallifrey forever with a fully functioning TARDIS. The universe will be your playground."

Bainbridge looked thoughtful for a moment. Braxiatel gave the impression of his cards being on the table, when Bainbridge was convinced he had several of them stuffed up his sleeve.

"Do we have a deal?"

"That depends on what it is."

"I want you to get rid of Damon and then I want you to get rid of Narvin by any means necessary."

Bainbridge smiled at the joy of getting rid of these two buffoons, but how could he truly trust Braxiatel? He had more facets to him than a White Point Star diamond.

"Now, do we have a deal?" Braxiatel asked after a sufficient pause.

"Yeah, we have a deal."

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