∞
A dromana fic called "∞". Yes it's symbol for a name. Yes I am that pretentious. It's fun. :D
Prologue
“Section B6 to Central Command, daleks have taken the left wing.”
“They’ve taken possession of the Data Core?”
“Yes, but they seem unable to breach the security protocols. A team has entered the Matrix and is restoring destabilised algorhythms, but the daleks are beginning to break through some of the lower level network defences.”
“Keep a running contact within the Matrix and inform me immediately of any developments.”
“Yes, sir.”
The comm blinked back into standby, and Commander Asran turned to face the old woman who sat hunched over a monitor behind him. The grey veil of her long hair fell before her face to trail across the monitor, but he could see her watery eyes reflected on the screen, nestled deep in the folds of soft skin that clung, shrivelled and ancient, to her delicate features. She gazed, utterly enraptured, at the screen, one bird-boned finger tapping unconsciously against parted lips. He stepped cautiously forward. “Madam President?” Misted eyes blinked and refocused; she turned. “Ma’am, the daleks have -”
“Yes, I heard.”
“If they gain access to the Data Core -”
“- they have control of the Citadel. I assure you, Commander, I am fully acquainted with the situation.”
Commander Asran fidgeted slightly and coughed, President Romanadvoretrelundar always made him nervous. The intellect that sparked behind those aging eyes could be terrifying, and the personality that supported it, even more so. He took at deep breath and continued.
“Then you are aware of the protocols in place should such a thing happen?”
“You mean you bundling me into a safe little temporally locked box to hide while my planet gets torn apart?”
“Well - yes.”
“Entirely. Now come take a look at this.”
The screen was showing a surveillance readout of a section of the ionosphere directly above the citadel - dangerously close to where the vast black mass of the dalek command ship had taken up its unassailable stance. Among swarms of dalek troops hung a little blue box, Romana tapped it twice with her fingernail and leaned back to allow Asran to read the data that scrolled out across the screen.
“It’s a TARDIS - that close to the command ship and they haven’t destroyed it yet … and a type 40? I thought those were decommissioned long ago…”
“They were, but there’s one left still in use. It belongs to an old friend of mine, as it happens.”
“Oh - well of course. I hope he knows what he’s doing.”
“I very much doubt it.”
The screen flickered, splintering into white noise and blue lines, then fell completely black. Gradually, every monitor in the Central Command Room did the same. There was an electrical whine, then a suffocating utter silence as the President turned to face her commanding officer.
“That’s it then,” she said “they’ve taken the Citadel.”
“If you’re ready ma’am, I’ll initiate security protocol θ8 - 11 and lock you in the Temporally Isolated Chamber.”
Romana’s eyes had drifted back to the black screen before her, though it showed nothing, now, but her own withered features.
“There was a time, Asran, when I would have been on the front lines, fighting to the bitter end; when if you wanted to lock me up and keep me safe, you would have had to tie me up and carry me off. But I’m too old and too tired to keep fighting. Look at this face! How did I let it get so old? I should have regenerated decades ago. Perhaps I’ll do it while I’m waiting for the world to end.” Asran opened his mouth to protest, but Romana wasn’t going to give him the chance “Oh, don’t look like that Commander, you know as well as I how little hope there is left.”
“There’s the Doctor.”
Romana’s pale lips pulled into the saddest sort of smile, “I just hope he knows what he’s doing.” she said.
Commander Asran walked over to a blank stretch of wall, and slid a small panel aside to reveal a hidden number pad. He punched in the code, and a section of the wall dissolved, uncovering a white passageway, and a set of silver sliding doors at the end. “At the end of the passageway is a transport module programmed with your genetic imprint, it will take you to the isolation chamber. The chamber will also recognise you, and will automatically activate the temporal isolation upon your arrival.”
“Thank you, Commander. You know I would offer to take you with me, but I know you better than that.”
Asran gave something like a smile, and nodded, before following Romana down the passageway. The silver doors slid back, revealing a metal box just big enough for one person to stand in. Romana stepped inside, and turned to face Asran. “Good luck, Commander, I leave Gallifrey in your hands.”
“Thank you, ma’am, I hope to see you again when we are victorious.” They both knew how hollow the words were, but there was no gain to be had in admitting it. Asran took one last look at the tiny, frail figure of the President before the metal doors slid shut and transport module dematerialised, leaving Commander Asran alone in a dead end corridor.
Miles above the Citadel, in the heart of the dalek command ship, the Doctor gave Davros the coldest of smiles, and pushed a button.
Prologue
“Section B6 to Central Command, daleks have taken the left wing.”
“They’ve taken possession of the Data Core?”
“Yes, but they seem unable to breach the security protocols. A team has entered the Matrix and is restoring destabilised algorhythms, but the daleks are beginning to break through some of the lower level network defences.”
“Keep a running contact within the Matrix and inform me immediately of any developments.”
“Yes, sir.”
The comm blinked back into standby, and Commander Asran turned to face the old woman who sat hunched over a monitor behind him. The grey veil of her long hair fell before her face to trail across the monitor, but he could see her watery eyes reflected on the screen, nestled deep in the folds of soft skin that clung, shrivelled and ancient, to her delicate features. She gazed, utterly enraptured, at the screen, one bird-boned finger tapping unconsciously against parted lips. He stepped cautiously forward. “Madam President?” Misted eyes blinked and refocused; she turned. “Ma’am, the daleks have -”
“Yes, I heard.”
“If they gain access to the Data Core -”
“- they have control of the Citadel. I assure you, Commander, I am fully acquainted with the situation.”
Commander Asran fidgeted slightly and coughed, President Romanadvoretrelundar always made him nervous. The intellect that sparked behind those aging eyes could be terrifying, and the personality that supported it, even more so. He took at deep breath and continued.
“Then you are aware of the protocols in place should such a thing happen?”
“You mean you bundling me into a safe little temporally locked box to hide while my planet gets torn apart?”
“Well - yes.”
“Entirely. Now come take a look at this.”
The screen was showing a surveillance readout of a section of the ionosphere directly above the citadel - dangerously close to where the vast black mass of the dalek command ship had taken up its unassailable stance. Among swarms of dalek troops hung a little blue box, Romana tapped it twice with her fingernail and leaned back to allow Asran to read the data that scrolled out across the screen.
“It’s a TARDIS - that close to the command ship and they haven’t destroyed it yet … and a type 40? I thought those were decommissioned long ago…”
“They were, but there’s one left still in use. It belongs to an old friend of mine, as it happens.”
“Oh - well of course. I hope he knows what he’s doing.”
“I very much doubt it.”
The screen flickered, splintering into white noise and blue lines, then fell completely black. Gradually, every monitor in the Central Command Room did the same. There was an electrical whine, then a suffocating utter silence as the President turned to face her commanding officer.
“That’s it then,” she said “they’ve taken the Citadel.”
“If you’re ready ma’am, I’ll initiate security protocol θ8 - 11 and lock you in the Temporally Isolated Chamber.”
Romana’s eyes had drifted back to the black screen before her, though it showed nothing, now, but her own withered features.
“There was a time, Asran, when I would have been on the front lines, fighting to the bitter end; when if you wanted to lock me up and keep me safe, you would have had to tie me up and carry me off. But I’m too old and too tired to keep fighting. Look at this face! How did I let it get so old? I should have regenerated decades ago. Perhaps I’ll do it while I’m waiting for the world to end.” Asran opened his mouth to protest, but Romana wasn’t going to give him the chance “Oh, don’t look like that Commander, you know as well as I how little hope there is left.”
“There’s the Doctor.”
Romana’s pale lips pulled into the saddest sort of smile, “I just hope he knows what he’s doing.” she said.
Commander Asran walked over to a blank stretch of wall, and slid a small panel aside to reveal a hidden number pad. He punched in the code, and a section of the wall dissolved, uncovering a white passageway, and a set of silver sliding doors at the end. “At the end of the passageway is a transport module programmed with your genetic imprint, it will take you to the isolation chamber. The chamber will also recognise you, and will automatically activate the temporal isolation upon your arrival.”
“Thank you, Commander. You know I would offer to take you with me, but I know you better than that.”
Asran gave something like a smile, and nodded, before following Romana down the passageway. The silver doors slid back, revealing a metal box just big enough for one person to stand in. Romana stepped inside, and turned to face Asran. “Good luck, Commander, I leave Gallifrey in your hands.”
“Thank you, ma’am, I hope to see you again when we are victorious.” They both knew how hollow the words were, but there was no gain to be had in admitting it. Asran took one last look at the tiny, frail figure of the President before the metal doors slid shut and transport module dematerialised, leaving Commander Asran alone in a dead end corridor.
Miles above the Citadel, in the heart of the dalek command ship, the Doctor gave Davros the coldest of smiles, and pushed a button.