Lomeinie (lomeinie) wrote in time_stories, @ 2009-12-03 20:43:00 |
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Entry tags: | 10th doctor, classic series, drama, gen, new series, rated: everyone, romana iii, romana iv, rose tyler |
Fic: The Offer 3/5 (Rated PG)
Title: The Offer
Author: Amy1oM
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Er, Doomsday(?) and probably a few from what I've read about but never listened to Big Finish's Gallifrey stories
Characters: Rose Tyler, Romana III (or IV you decide), cameo by another former companion of the Doctor's
Summary: In a scene taking place several hours after “Romanadvoratrelundar Meet” Rose will suddenly be offered everything she could have ever dreamed when it comes to the Doctor but will she accept it?
Disclaimer: Don't own it and have made no money at all from this!
A/N: Make what you will of the following. . . this chapter is unbetaed!
0o0
“I shall explain but first, Rose, I must ask you if the Doctor has ever told you about how we Time Lords cheat death?”
“Yes, by regenerating,” Rose answered. “This Doctor is not my first Doctor.” She then told Romana briefly about the Doctor she had known before this one.
“So you know about regeneration then. Were you also told by the Doctor how many regenerations a Time Lord has in their lifetime?” Rose shook her head as a no. “We can regenerate normally only twelve times, which means we have thirteen lives total when you count our original bodies along with each subsequent incarnation. I, myself, am on my third regeneration and my fourth body.”
“Do you know which regeneration the Doctor is on?”
“I believe his current incarnation is his tenth.”
“That would be his eleventh body then, right?”
“Yes, he is and you are wondering what this has to do with what I wanted to talk to you about.” Rose confirmed her statement with a nod. “The Doctor has told you that most of our population was hidden away before the end of the war?” Rose again answered her with a nod. “Hiding was seen as the only way to ensure the survival of the Time Lords. We wanted the Daleks to believe they had eradicated us to lure them to the ruins of Gallifrey and seal their annihilation by the destruction our own planet.”
“Is that why the Doctor spent so much time believing he was alone in the universe?”
“Yes, it is because in addition to ending the life of his 8th incarnation, the Doctor was given the false memory that said we had all perished in the last battle. To make this falsity as completely real to him as it was to our enemies we also placed a block on his ability to sense our presence.”
“But why?”
“I cannot tell you specifics reasons but it was thought to be important that the Doctor believed us to be dead along with our enemy,” Romana responded, touching Rose's hand when a frown crossed the younger woman's face. “I promise you, Rose, the Doctor consented to the block and it was not done out of cruel desire to make him suffer.”
Rose wanted to push the matter but something about Romana's tone and words that reminded her of times when the Doctor would button up about certain things. When that had had happened she had known she wouldn't get him to talk about it and she sensed the same was true of Romana. So she decided to turn back to Romana's original point.
“What does this have to do with me or with the Doctor?”
“After we had been freed from our holding place, and before we opened the portal into the universe where you were, the High Council of the Time Lords made an offer to the Doctor to renew his regeneration cycle.”
“You mean you offered to give him thirteen more lives after he finished his original lives?” Rose asked. “You can do that?”
“Yes, it stands to reason that if we can take away a single or all regenerations in a cycle then we can grant a new cycle to an individual,” Romana replied. “However, it is something that is not often done.”
Thirteen more lifetimes he'd live without her. “Did he accept your offer?” Though it was only perhaps two seconds that passed before an answer was given it felt more like an eternity her.
“No, he did not.” Romana waited for a second to pass before continuing, “However that was not the end of things there. You see the Doctor made a suggestion of his own regarding how we could reward him, and before I tell you what request he made of us it is important that you know we have already said yes.”