THE GALLIFREY CHRONICLES, THE FALL OF GALLIFREY

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Romana walked into the presidential office to find not Braxiatel, but Matthias. The room was different; surely Braxiatel hadn't redecorated it? A further look told her there were none of her things here - or Braxiatel's for that matter. Shelves of books and photos and art were no longer here it was almost as if she and Braxiatel had never been here.

"Where's Braxiatel?" she asked finally finding her voice.

Matthias's dark, fierce eyes bored into her soul. Once she trusted this Time Lord that stood before her, but now? No; he kept secrets, he was a rat. Oh, he had that bright smile that could make you trust him and believe him. He was tall and strong with a domineering body. He had reminded her of Brax once, such a long time ago despite knowing she should watch him.

"Lady Romanadvoratrelundar, Braxiatel has resigned and nominated me as President." Matthias said coolly.

"He did what?" Romana asked indignantly. "Oh, just wait till I get my hands on him he's going to regret ever coming back to Gallifrey."

"So where is Braxiatel now?" Romana asked resting a hand on her tummy.

"He left Gallifrey with his TARDIS." Matthias replied

"Oh, this just gets better and better."

"In the mean time we have a job for you," said Narvin, coming into view.

Romana looked at Narvin. "Thanks but no thanks. I would rather die than work for a selfish old little despicable rat," she spat. "Did you ever care or was it one big game to you?"

"I care about you and the baby. I care about what happens."

"Would that be the same way you cared for Erisa?" Romana spat back but she was met by silence. She expected nothing more.

Emmaline dashed insanely through the palace, her feet pounding on the gritty ground, as more and more Time Lords emerged chanting "Free time. Free time..."

"Come on lets, get out of here!" Damon shouted, grabbing her hand.

The zombies were coming from everywhere in every direction. "This is what we will become if a cure isn't found." Damon panted as he ran.

"That's nice," said Emmaline sarcastically, though the effect was lost as she panted. "How many do you think are affected?" she asked shakily.

"It's growing all the time...could be three-quarters of Gallifrey? There's no cure yet; all they do is say 'Free time'."

"Free Time!" screeched a Time Lord heading towards them. Emmaline screamed as she stumbled before she felt Damon's hand in hers and there were running for their lives once more through the blood stained corridors where dead Time Lords lay. Those that weren't dead were regenerating into mind numbing zombie-like creatures, with blank faces and a chilling stare.

"Awen!" Emmaline called out. The girl turned around, blood dripping down her face, which was beginning to ripple and change.

Emmaline gasped. She had never liked Awen, but she never wished this on her and ever since finding out Awen was her cousin she felt she should make the effort to get on with her.

"Free time," Awen chanted moving towards them before Damon grabbed Emmaline's hand.

"Run!" he shouted.

"Now I have heard it all," Romana said. "Take a battle-TARDIS packed with extorted weapons to an unspecified location of a ruthless criminal's choosing, all in the hope of picking up a miracle cure to this wretched disease." She looked distinctly unimpressed at this far-fetched plan. "Find someone else, I am not interested Matthias."

"Correction, Mistress; the correct title is Lord President Matthias." K-9 pointed out.

"Let's wait until he has earned it." Romana said scathingly.

"Lady Romana, I realise that Braxiatel's nomination of me over your good self must have come as a terrible shock."

"Not really," Romana said simply, "my back looks like a pin cushion with the amount of times I have been stabbed in it. I refuse you, not for personal reasons my Lord - although Rassilon knows I ought to - but unlike you and Narvin here, I am not one of the babes in the wood."

"Romana, we and Gallifrey need you," Matthias said. "Only someone as clever sly and devious such as yourself can be trusted to outplay Arkardian."

"Don't flatter me, it suits neither of us." She did not know how Gallifrey had come to be involved with that grubby little man, who she despised with every breath. Meeting him had never been a pleasure. He was a crook and he had played people like Narvin time and time again but not her; she saw exactly what he was.

"And to avenge ourselves on free time." Narvin added, looking at Romana.

"Well, that's different," Romana replied. "Appeal to my better nature all you like, but ridding the Galaxy of free time...I like the sound of that."

"Well, the chances are that Arkardian buyer is free time its self." stated Narvin, a small smile on his face.

"Oh you've realised that have you?"

"The weapons have been booby trapped as soon as they hand us the cure the weapons will go off wiping out the free time agents." Matthias explained.

"If you do this we are prepared to let you have a TARDIS; the universe will be your oyster. What's here for you anyway? Nobody wants you here..." Narvin said in a rather smug and annoying tone. Romana glared at him.

"What do you say Romana?" Narvin asked her softly this time. "A new lease of life, a fresh start? Officially you will be renegaded, unofficially the agency will be far too busy to deal with you over the next few centuries."

"K-9 what do you think?" Romana turned to the tin dog.

"It is your decision, Mistress Romana."

Romana sighed in defeat. "Oh, all right! I know when I'm beaten, but you two had better hope I don't live to regret this."

Romana stood in the TARDIS along with Elbon, a medic. She knew straight away she would have been better doing this alone. Elbon stood there calm and remote. His brown eyes looked at her with disinterest. His hands clenched together as if he was afraid of her it would have been almost laughable. She had no power anymore; she was no longer President thanks to Braxiatel.

Romana started reflecting on what she had lost and all the things she had already done what would her future even be now even with this new leash of life they had given her. Her hearts hurt; if only things had worked with Braxiatel but he had betrayed her; at least that's how it felt but she had to be strong for her baby, the only thing that was keeping her from going mad.

Finally Narvin's voice came on the intercom as he read out lists of co-ordinates as the TARDIS went through Monan, Sunari, and even Dalek space. She felt alive once more after all that had happened in the capital, but suddenly it started to spin and shake as Romana and Elbon held on for dear life. Sparkls flew around the console.

"We going to crash and we have a whole bunch of weapons!" shouted Romana, "but you know what they say, theres nothing quite like going out with a bang."

Finally it stopped knowing instantly the long flight had been solely for someone to de-list the TARDIS and no one knew where they were and could no longer trace them.

She took a deep sigh. "Well we should probably go out there and meet whoever is out there."

"But- but is it safe?" muttered Elbon.

"Don't you ever stop asking questions?" Romana snapped. "Now are you coming or do I have to drag you out!"

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