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The Dommervoy Masterplan
‘Died?’ Ruby shook her head, sure she had misheard that, and continued after the Doctor. ‘A year since you died?’ The Doctor glanced back, his eyes cloaked in shadow. ‘Yes, Ruby.’ He turned back to the hill up which they were now walking. ‘Remember what I said about my body being cloned? Well, this is where my original body is buried.’ ‘So, you’re not really dead, then.’ ‘No. Everything that was the Doctor is in here.’ He tapped his head. ‘But the body that originally housed all that is buried here, on the Eye of Orion.’ The Doctor pointed to a nearby hill, smaller than the one they were walking up. ‘Over there Jeret Seth lies in peace.’ ‘Jeret Seth?’ ‘Yes, a Time Lord I encountered some time ago. His real name I do not know, all I know is that he was killed by one of the Millennium People – a being called the Jester. Hence, the name I knew him by.’ Ruby had to think about that for a moment or two, and then it clicked. ‘Of course, Jeret Seth is an anagram of The Jester.’ The Doctor nodded. ‘Yes. The Eye of Orion seems to be turning in to the final resting place of Time Lords.’ The rest of the walk up the grassy hill was carried out in silence. Since Ruby had first learned about the Doctor and the clone she had come to accept it. It was a form of reproduction, after all, more pure in some ways than sexual reproduction. Now that she was forced to face the issue of the clone straight on, Ruby was not entirely sure how she felt about it. They reached the top of the hill and the Doctor came to a stop. In the near distance was a gravestone, sticking up out of the grass. Even from this distance they could read the clearly chiselled inscription. Dear friend, and trusted hero He died saving the Universe Breathing heavily, Ruby came up behind the Doctor and placed a hand on his shoulder. ‘You okay?’ ‘No,’ he replied gravely. ‘I am very much not okay.’ The Doctor pointed and Ruby looked. The sinking feeling that things were about to get a great deal worse hit Ruby in the stomach as her eyes came to rest on what the Doctor was pointing at. Earth lay scattered around the area before the tombstone, and as they slowly approached, it became more than evident that the grave was empty.
‘Slow down,’ Ruby called out between breaths. The Doctor was racing up the next hill like a man possessed. Not for the first time since joining the Doctor Ruby realised that she was really not suited to his adventures. She was as lively as the next person, more so in fact, but she was not fit enough to keep up with the boundless energy that the Doctor contained within himself. After some effort, she reached the Doctor. He was standing before another tombstone, belonging to that Jeret Seth he had mentioned before. Ruby was relieved to see that this grave had not been disturbed. The Doctor glanced back at Ruby. ‘So, it is just me that has been stolen.’ ‘But why would anyone want to steal your body? What use could it be?’ ‘I have no idea, Ruby. None at all.’ The Doctor turned back to the grave. ‘At least you have been left alone…’ He tailed off and approached the tombstone slowly. Ruby watched him as he leaned down and picked something up off the grass. The Doctor looked at the object in his hand, opened it, and began flicking through pages. ‘A book?’ Ruby came over to him. ‘Who left a book here?’ The Doctor did not look up; he continued to leaf through the pages. ‘This is no ordinary book.’ He closed the book and gave it to Ruby to look at. She peered at the circular symbol engraved on the red cover. ‘Recognise it?’ ‘Yes, it’s the same symbol on top of your cane.’ ‘Yes, the Seal of Rassilon.’ ‘This book is from your planet?’ The Doctor nodded and took the book back off Ruby. He opened it. ‘Look here, there are quite a few pages missing. And do you recognise that writing?’ Ruby looked closely. ‘It’s the same as…’ Her eyes widened in realisation. ‘Those pages you’ve been finding all over the place recently. In Counterpane and… those poor girls.’ The Doctor thought back to the Furies domain, and how, as recompense the three Furies had transformed themselves into three pages. ‘Yes, Ruby, they belonged to this book.’ The Doctor turned and started to make his way back down the hill. ‘This book is "The Worshipful and Ancient Law of Gallifrey", one of the Great Artefacts. We are going to need the TARDIS to translate it.’ Ruby set off after him. ‘Can’t you read your own language? And what about the grave robbers?’ The Doctor glanced back but did not stop. ‘It is Old High Gallifreyan, Ruby, but it is not the writing itself I need translating. The writing is in code. I would be very surprised if the book and the empty grave are not connected.’
Ruby stood by the console waiting for the Doctor, who had walked further into the TARDIS to retrieve the pages from the library. She looked around at the walls of the console chamber, wondering why he had not simply bothered putting the pages in one of the myriad books lined on the three bookcases. She held "The Worshipful and Ancient Law of Gallifrey" in her hand, feeling it vibrate softly. The Doctor had attributed that to the book’s proximity to another Gallifreyan product – namely the TARDIS. Call me old fashioned, Ruby thought, but I like my books to be vibrationless. With that thought in mind she placed the old book on the console and turned to greet Missy, who has just sauntered into the chamber. Her back now to the console, Ruby did not notice the lights inside the glass time rotor begin to flash and wink softly; seconds after the book had touched the control panel. Ruby was still fussing with her cat when the Doctor returned to the console chamber, the loose pages held in his hand. He looked down at his friend, who was sitting on the floor dangling a piece of string in the air just within reach of Missy’s paws, and smiled. Ruby looked up. ‘Changed clothes, I see?’ The Doctor glanced down at his long frock coat, stripy shirt, waistcoat and black trousers. ‘Yes, obviously today is not a day of mourning after all. Rather a day of mysteries!’ He turned his attention to the console. ‘Ruby, have you been playing with the controls?’ he asked when he noticed the dim lights flashing. ‘Don’t be silly, pet, you know I wouldn’t have a clue where to start.’ ‘Well, the TARDIS is responding to something.’ Ruby looked up and over at the time rotor. ‘It must that book of yours. Didn’t you say it responds to the TARDIS? Must work both ways, then.’ The Doctor walked over to the console and picked up the book with his free hand. ‘It must do,’ he said and indicated the now inactive time rotor. He looked at the book intently. ‘You know, those lights only activate when the TARDIS is in flight. I have a feeling that the code in this old tome could be a set of instructions for a TARDIS flight plan.’ Ruby got to her feet and joined the Doctor. ‘Beats reading them out then, if the TARDIS can read them simply by putting the book on the console.’ The Doctor lifted the papers. ‘Yes, but the book is incomplete. Which means that the instructions are incomplete.’ He opened the book and began replacing the pages in the correct order. He glanced at Ruby and held the final page before her. ‘Would you like to do the honours?’ She took the page with a smile. ‘I wonder where these instructions will take us?’ ‘To wherever my body is, I hope.’ ‘Finger’s crossed, darling,’ Ruby said and carefully replaced the final page into the book. As soon as she did so the lights in the time rotor began to flash again and the steady background hum of the chamber increased in intensity. ‘Well, here we go.’ The Doctor held up a finger. ‘Not quite, Ruby, not quite. One last thing, I think.’ He closed the book and gently laid it on the console. He placed his arm over Ruby’s shoulders and together they watched as the time rotor began to move. While they played with the book, Missy was rolling on the floor, playing with the string. As soon at the TARDIS engines set into motion, the little cat looked up, then leapt onto the console. She glanced as Ruby, shivered her tail, and pounced onto the top of the rotor. There Missy curled up into a ball, tilting her head upside down and watching the Doctor and Ruby as they watched both the time rotor and the cat rise and fall softly.
‘Zelante!’ The voice echoed around the cavernous room, causing the young man to blink. He sat on a seat made from a soft comfortable material, hovering several inches from the floor. Before him an image hung in the air, displaying the scene of a man with shoulder length hair dressed in a velvet frock coat entering a small Russian café. Zelante let out a sigh and sent a thought impulse to the image, causing the scene to freeze. He turned and looked at the even younger woman who had entered the room. Like him the woman was dressed in an outfit comprised of two sets of robes. A white robe underneath an open black sleeveless one. The woman had fiery red hair, worn in a tight bun. In contrast Zelante’s hair was wild, a mess of mixed colours. ‘Yes, Shinjiru?’ Zelante said with long-suffering tones. Shinjiru remained by the door, looking at the frozen image, fiddling absently with the hem of her outer gown. ‘Please tell me this is important.’ ‘Why, what are you doing?’ Shinjiru walked across the room, the door closing silently behind her, and came to a stop near Zelante’s chair. She continued to look at the frozen image. ‘That’s his eighth body, isn’t it?’ Zelante glanced up at the paused scene. ‘It would have been, yes.’ He turned back to Shinjiru and raised his eyebrows. ‘You interrupted me for why?’ ‘Just wondering what you’re wearing at the Investiture.’ He looked down at his own robes. ‘These, obviously.’ ‘Oh.’ Shinjiru looked around the room, unsure of what else to say. For a few moments she stood there, continuing to look around, playing with her gown, while Zelante just stared at her. His eyes slowly narrowed and he got off his chair and took her face in his hands. He held her there, so that she could not look anywhere other than at him. ‘Is that it?’ he asked, his patience rapidly draining away. She nodded the best she could. Zelante shook his head. Out of the entire world, why do I choose to be friends with the most awkward and socially inept people? ‘Do you want to watch?’ Shinjiru averted her eyes to the still immobile image. ‘What one is it? The one with the clock?’ Zelante released her head and span around. ‘I’ve called it “Christmas on an Irrational Planet”. It’s actually quite a long one, and not the best, but interesting still.’ He jumped into his chair that continued to hover by the image. Shinjiru smiled. ‘How come I haven’t seen it?’ She pressed a small tab on her wrist pad and another floating chair materialised next to Zelante’s. She sat down, her face now smiling in anticipation. ‘Only managed to access this one yesterday. A period of the potential reality that the Elders didn’t want me to find.’ He twiddled his fingers in the air. ‘But you know how it is, there’s not much that can stop me from finding more adventures of our favourite Time Lord.’ Shinjiru glanced around the room furtively. ‘You’re quite sure this place is secure?’ she whispered. ‘Very. No Elder can get in without asking me, so we can use whatever words we like.’ Zelante nodded at the image. ‘And watch whatever we like. Where’s Rewunderer?’ he asked abruptly. ‘He’s been assigned as Personal Assistant to the Candidate.’ ‘Don’t know why he would want to do that,’ Zelante said in no uncertain tones. ‘Still, a member of the old order leading us again could be just what we ’Freya need.’
Rewunderer stood in the antechamber, waiting. The door between him and the Candidate for Investiture was closed, which was good for Rewunderer since it offered him a last chance to check over his appearance. The closed door was made of a reflective material, and as such acted as the perfect mirror. Rewunderer liked to think of his body as average, not as short as Shinjiru and not as tall as Zelante. His straw coloured hair was long and flowing, but for the sake of his new position he had it tied back in a ponytail. The usual double-robed suit was accented by gold piping on the hem of the outer gown. This indicated to all the ’Freya that he was the Personal Assistant to the Candidate. It was a role that he was looking forward to. Rewunderer had heard many whispers about the Candidate, about how he had managed to breach the barriers around their home. As far as Rewunderer could work out the newcomer was a renegade from the old order; away from the home planet when the catastrophe had struck. It was unexpected for the Elders to accept such a person as a possible leader for the ’Freya, since everyone on the planet was against the old order, and were now on the path to enlightenment. The reflective door slid open and Moulivia stepped through. She was quite short and plump; her body always tense as if expecting trouble. Her hair was short and auburn, and like all the Elders, she wore a face that was lined with age. In truth Rewunderer knew that the oldest Elder was no more than 200 years older than Zelante, and for their race 400 years was a relatively young age. Rewunderer had once suggested that they call the Elders the Relatively Youngers, but that idea did not have a long life. ‘The Candidate is now ready to see you,’ she said. ‘Although why he chose you I have no idea.’ Rewunderer smiled and went to move forward, but was stopped by a firm hand on the shoulder. He looked at Moulivia curiously. ‘This must be a rare treat for you, Rewundereriranunderloois, to meet up with your hero.’ Rewunderer totally ignored the incongruous use of his full name, a tradition left with the old way of things, so caught up was he in the sudden hint about the identity of the Candidate. ‘You mean he’s…’ He could barely bring himself to utter the name. Moulivia nodded. ‘By your reckoning the most important figure in our history.’ The Elder chuckled. ‘And for once I agree with you, let’s just hope we’re not both mistaken. Well, in you go. It will not do to keep the Candidate waiting.’
The time rotor slowed its oscillation and came to rest half way. The background hum of the TARDIS engines continued as if the time machine were still in flight. Ruby and the Doctor looked at each other, smiling in silent excitement. ‘This is it, pet.’ ‘Yes, time to get to the bottom of this mystery.’ The Doctor reached down and pressed the button that activated the scanner. Shutters silently slid open and an image appeared on the scanner. Nebulous clouds swirled, shades of orange and purple merging. In the centre of the nebula was a small shape, little more than a blip on the screen. ‘What’s that?’ Ruby asked. The Doctor checked the instrumentation on the console, rubbing his earlobe all the while. ‘An asteroid of some sort, though these readings are a bit off.’ ‘Off?’ ‘Yes. There are some remarkable qualities to that asteroid. The TARDIS reads it as solid, but it seems to be out of phase with everything around it.’ The Doctor walked around the console, flicking switches in what appeared to be a haphazard way. Finally he reached the panel opposite Ruby, and looked across at her through the glass rotor. ‘Something is shielding it from a complete scan.’ He looked down at the console, his brow furrowed, deep in thought. Ruby turned from the Doctor and looked up at the nebula, and her eyes widened in surprise. The blip was becoming clearer, bigger. ‘Erm, Doctor, I think we’re moving towards it.’ The Doctor spun round. ‘So we are.’ He indicated the book resting on the panel beside Ruby. ‘It is guiding us in.’ Together they watched as the asteroid became clearer. Something had been grafted into the lump of space rock, a circular shape. As the TARDIS drew nearer a pattern could be observed on the surface of the shape. Ruby was the first to notice. ‘Doctor, that’s that seal thingy. The one on top of your cane. The Seal of Russell, right?’ The Doctor glanced at Ruby, his lips twitching into a brief smile. ‘The Seal of Rassilon. Yes, it would seem to be so.’ He turned back to the scanner. ‘So a Gallifreyan artefact guides a Gallifreyan time machine to an asteroid that has the Gallifreyan seal built into it. Hmm.’ ‘What could it mean?’ ‘I do not know, Ruby, but I do have my suspicions.’ With that the Doctor rushed around the console and threw the materialisation switch. The time rotor resumed its movement and the scanner deactivated. ‘I think it is time we dropped in for some coffee.’
With its customary wheezing and groaning the TARDIS materialised in a long, ornately furnished corridor. Seconds passed before the door opened and the Doctor stepped out, followed by Ruby who was putting on her favourite hat – a rather large beige affair with a red rose at the front. The Doctor looked around the corridor, taking in the fine furnishings. ‘A corridor. What is it with you and corridors, Doctor?’ The Doctor shrugged. ‘I am not to blame, Ruby. I always leave the actual materialisation to the TARDIS, so if you want to blame anyone…’ His voice tailed off as he caught site of a small vase sitting on a wooden table. He picked the vase up and examined it. ‘Very nice,’ Ruby said as she came up behind the Doctor and peered over his shoulder. ‘Someone has taken a lot of pride in that.’ The Doctor nodded his head. ‘Yes, quite so. As for the painting itself…’ He ran his finger over the surface of the vase. ‘It is Gallifreyan in origin.’ ‘Didn’t you say that your people were wiped out some time ago?’ ‘I did.’ ‘Not as wiped out as you thought, then, pet.’ ‘Just as I thought, actually, Ruby.’ The Doctor smiled at the surprised look on Ruby’s face. ‘I have been aware for some time that some of my people escaped the destruction of Gallifrey. They set up a… well, a colony if you like. A place they have named Outpost Gallifrey. I have been trying to locate it for quite a while.’ ‘And you think this is it?’ ‘I am certain of it.’ The Doctor replaced the vase on the table and set off. ‘This way, I think.’ Ruby followed him. ‘Why this way?’ ‘No reason in particular.’
The materialisation of the TARDIS and consequent exchange between the Doctor and Ruby was displayed on a large hologram. A man, dressed in long golden robes, watched with interest and a touch of irritation. ‘Damn, this isn’t very good news,’ the deep voice said. He pointed at the hologram and clicked his chunky fingers. Nothing happened, but the man was nonetheless happy with his action. ‘That should do it.’ With a wave of his hand the hologram fizzled away. He turned his bulky form to face his assistant. ‘Rewunderer you say your name is?’ Rewunderer was beaming. ‘Yes,’ was all he could manage in response. ‘Are you aware of the one called Ooblitan?’ Rewunderer nodded. ‘Good. Find him, and inform him that I wish to see him the second after I’ve been invested with all authority.’ Rewunderer bowed and turned to leave. Before he reached the door he stopped and looked back at the Candidate. ‘That hologram,’ he began. The future leader nodded slowly. ‘Yes, what of it?’ ‘The TARDIS that materialised was…’ ‘Yes, it was!’ the Candidate snapped, interrupting Rewunderer’s observation. He waved his assistant away. ‘Go now, and I promise everything will become clear once I’ve taken my rightful place.’
The man-like shape shimmered into being in the TARDIS console chamber. He stood waiting, until the tall, slim figure of Tardis walked through the wall. ‘Finally the Doctor has made it here,’ she said. ‘Getting him here was the easy part, but he needed to be ready, didn’t he? Now comes the hard bit.’ The man-form nodded, and faded from sight. As soon as he disappeared, Tardis let out a loud scream and doubled over in pain. She looked up, horrified as the walls of the chamber started to fluctuate. ‘No! Not again!’ Her eyes began to glow with a pale blue light. ‘I’ve got some tricks up my sleeve, too…’ The man-form flew into the console room, as if he had been thrown, with the fluctuating wall acting as a catapult. He got to his feet and noticed the pain-wracked form of Tardis. The horror and surprise in her eyes matched his own. ‘I’m trapped. I can’t leave here,’ he said. ‘What?’ The blue light drained from Tardis’ eyes. ‘The Doctor’s on his own.’
Unaware that they were being watched, the Doctor and Ruby reached the end of the corridor and came to a large dull looking door. Just as the Doctor reached out to push at the door, Ruby let out an almighty sneeze. The Doctor looked at her, and she smiled sheepishly. ‘Sorry, dear, I’ve no idea where that came from.’ She reached into her cardigan pocket and pulled out a rolled up tissue. The Doctor watched her with a smile, as she wiped at her nose. ‘Could be the air. I do not think a human has ever stepped foot in this place. Probably never intended to, either.’ ‘Well, too late, I’m here now.’ Ruby sniffed. ‘I’ll handle it.’ The Doctor turned and pushed at the door, while Ruby continued on. ‘Had a bout of hay fever when I was a girl. It was awful. The summer of ’51 was the worst. The war was long over, but I tell you, pet, that summer I wished it were still on. There I was, six years old, and I spent the whole summer in…’ Her ramblings ceased at the sight that greeted them when the door was finally open. Beyond was a vast hexagonal hall. Stone pillars reached up to a vaulted ceiling. In the centre of the ceiling was the Seal of Rassilon, two dots of light chasing each other through the swirling symbol. In the middle of the hall was a raised dais, upon which stood an ebony block. The hall was empty of people, which somehow emphasised the size to Ruby’s mind. ‘Bloody nora,’ she said, unable to believe what she was seeing. ‘You could fit St. Paul’s in here.’ ‘Yes, at the very least.’ The Doctor stepped through the doorway and proceeded into the hall. His eyes gazed across the walls and up to the ceiling, finally coming to rest on the dais. ‘They have recreated the Panoptican, and expanded on it.’ ‘Panoptican?’ ‘It is the hall where the Time Lords hold their most important meetings. On a busy day you could not move for all the Cardinals.’ The Doctor eyes narrowed. ‘One of the reasons I left Gallifrey.’ ‘If most of your people were killed, then why do the survivors needs such a big meeting hall? There’s got to be less of them, now.’ ‘Indeed, Ruby. But Time Lords are well known for their pomp and circumstance.’ Ruby sidled up to the Doctor and placed a hand on his arm. ‘Listen, pet, you can tell me to butt out if you like, since this is really none of my business. But you sound ambivalent whenever you mention your people. Sounds to me like you are well rid.’ The Doctor patted her hand. ‘In many ways I am. However, at the end of the day, they are my people and I need to find out how they survived.’ He grinned and laughed. ‘To be honest I am quite impressed that they did. Time Lords are not known for their creativity and inventiveness, so it is a wonder that they were able to survive such a universal change.’ ‘It is not an answer that you need to concern yourself with,’ said a voice behind them. The Doctor turned around slowly and eyed the young man standing in the doorway. Ruby turned, too, and took hold of the Doctor’s hand, grasping it tightly. The robed man did not smile. ‘You are not welcome on Outpost Gallifrey, impostor. And by order of the Candidate of Investiture you are to be placed in confinement for the duration of the ceremony.’ ‘By order of whom? Surely you mean the President Elect?’ ‘The old way of things has passed. Relics such as you are not wanted here.’ ‘Do you have any idea who I am?’ The man nodded. ‘Yes. But you ask as if I should be impressed.’ He raised an eyebrow. ‘I am not.’ Ruby let go of the Doctor’s hand and stepped forward. ‘Don’t they teach you manners on this asteroid?’ The young man looked at Ruby as if she was nothing. ‘Guards,’ he said. All around them men materialised, each dressed in pure black robes with high collars and holding guns. Ruby looked back at the Doctor. She opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out. One of the guards pressed the trigger on his gun and Ruby dropped to the floor like a dead weight. The Doctor was at her side in an instant. He checked her pulse and let out a sigh of relief. He looked up at the guard. ‘Was that really necessary?’ he hissed. The young man by the doors answered. ‘Very.’ He smiled at the Doctor then turned to leave. Once the man’s back was facing the Doctor the same guard pressed his trigger again. The Doctor hit the floor beside Ruby with an unceremonious bump.
‘Hey, watch where you’re going!’ Zelante shouted, but the young man who barged passed him showed no sign of hearing. ‘Keehaan is such a slug-toad.’ Zelante had to agree with Shinjiru. ‘Likes to think he owns the Outpost. Never understood it. There are a lot better Gallifreya here than him.’ He held the door open for his friend. ‘I never understood why the Elders allowed him to be Head Guard.’ Zelante entered the corridor behind her. ‘Nor have I. Still, let’s hope things will change when the new Candidate takes over.’ Speaking about the Candidate again filled him with hope. When Gallifrey had been destroyed and the Gallifreya had fled to the Outpost, the Elders had promised so much. Since that time nothing much had changed. The Elders soon became as pompous as the old High Council, and all that altered were the names of things. Although some names were no longer allowed to be spoken. He was tugged out of his thoughts by Shinjiru, who was speaking his name, pulling at this sleeve excitedly. ‘What?’ he asked, impatient with her as usual. ‘Look!’ Zelante let out a sigh and followed her pointing finger. His eyes widened in surprise. Standing halfway down the corridor was a blue box. It was something he never thought he would see other than on his holographic images. ‘The Doctor’s TARDIS!’ Shinjiru looked at him, her eyes conveying the elation he felt. ‘The Doctor’s on Outpost Gallifrey.’
Ruby rubbed her sore head and opened her eyes slowly. She was lying on a comfortable bed, in a very spartan room. The walls, door and ceiling were made of the same dull metal as the big door she had seen earlier. She looked around for the Doctor, and found him leaning over something that sat on a bland looking table. ‘Oh, Doctor, what happened?’ Her friend looked over from the work he was doing. ‘We were stunned by stasers, Ruby. Alas the human body is not used to it, so you may have a slight headache for a while.’ Ruby sat up, and came to the realisation that the Doctor was right again. She looked around the room. ‘I thought we were being put in confinement. Funny looking cell.’ ‘Yes, well, no cells on Outpost Gallifrey I expect. Which is a little odd, since this place was once a prison.’ ‘It was?’ ‘Yes.’ The Doctor indicated the monitor. ‘Been doing a little bit of reading. Once the Time Lords, or Gallifreya as they now like to call themselves, retreated to this place they set about some major changes. They let all the prisoners go, since the universe was about to change the Gallifreya reasoned that the prisoners could cause little trouble. Then they remodelled the interior of Shada into a replica of the best of Gallifrey, and renamed it Outpost Gallifrey. Just as well.’ She walked over to join him at the table. ‘It is?’ ‘Yes. If we were in a cell I would not be able to do this. We should be able to watch the investiture ceremony through this thing.’ A spark shot out of the board on the side on the monitor and the Doctor let out a satisfied cry. ‘Super! Now then…’ He flicked a switch and stood back. An image appeared on the monitor. Ruby noticed the massive hall as the new Panoptican. This time it was full of people. She smiled. Saying it was full was an understatement, since she had a feeling that the people in the hall represented most of the population of Outpost Gallifrey. There was not many of them; a couple of hundred, no more. They made the Panoptican look bigger than ever; so many people yet so much empty space left. Two people stood on the central dais, both in the same black robes. One of them, an older looking woman was speaking. The young man beside her was beaming, his body barely able to contain his excitement. The woman ceased talking and the people in the hall began to clap. As they did so a rather large, bulky figure stepped onto the dais. Ruby could not believe her eyes. She glanced at the Doctor. The same incredulous look was on his face, too. She looked back at the monitor. The large man in the golden robes spread his arms wide and opened his bearded mouth to speak. ‘It’s you, Doctor,’ Ruby said in shock.
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