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rather self-conscious, the Doctor strode along behind him, doing his best to look mature and dignified.
Lord Borusa mounted the speaker's podium. The Time Lord currently using it for an impassioned speech
stared at him for one incredulous moment, then hastily bowed and stepped aside. Borusa simply stood there,
waiting as the angry voices died down and whispers spread through the Panopticon hall.
'It is Borusa!'
'Borusa has returned to us!'
The Doctor realised that most Time Lords had no idea of the tragic circumstances in which Borusa had left
them. As far as they knew, he had merely vanished in mysterious circumstances. Now, equally mysteriously,
he had returned.
The imposing figure waited until the silence was complete and then said, 'I am Borusa. Will you hear me?'
There was a respectful murmur of assent.
'I left you, for a time, to go into seclusion. Now I have returned - for a time - to serve you once more, if you will
have me.'
Once again the murmur of agreement.
'I ask for your trust and for your obedience - until the affairs of Gallifrey can be so arranged that you may rule
yourselves once more. Will you give me that trust?'
There was a long pause and the Doctor held his breath. Then someone shouted, 'Yes! Lead us Lord Borusa!'
and there was a general roar of assent, with cries of, 'Lead us, Borusa! Lead us!' from all over the Panopticon
hall.
Borusa held up his hand and there was silence once more.
'I must warn you, there are difficult times ahead. As you now know, the High Council, in collusion with the
Celestial Intervention Agency, has committed the most heinous of crimes - a crime which has led to armed
revolt and to high treason.
That High Council must be deposed, and its leaders impeached.'
There was an angry roar of agreement.
'Time Lords, do you so vote?' asked Borusa.
A massive shout of 'Aye!' shook the hall.
'By order of the Full Council, it is so ordained,' said Borusa formally. 'When justice has been done, and when
the Agency has been curbed and disciplined, we shall have a new election and a new and honourable High
Council. But before there can be a new High Council, we, the Time Lords of Gallifrey, must undo the evil
already caused. With your consent, I shall form a temporary Council of Administration to carry out that task.
In doing so I can help you to regain the honour of Gallifrey, and I too can regain my own!'
This time the roar of applause almost lifted the dome of the great Panopticon Hall.
***
The Doctor was saying his farewells. Everyone was frantically busy now, mopping-up after the crisis, and it
was difficult to find a moment to say goodbye.
Borusa had patted his shoulder, told him to stay out of trouble and plunged back into a meeting in Temporal
Control.
General Vared had given him a painful handshake and a salute. He was now presiding over a Committee of
Inquiry into Agency involvement in the recent disorders, and heads were rolling.
The Doctor found Lady Flavia, now a leading member of the Council of Administration, deep in preparation for
the coming negotiations with the Shobogans. She passed on a warm invitation to victory celebrations in the
Golden Grockle which the Doctor reluctantly declined.
'I'm too old for that sort of night out now. Besides, it's time I was on my way,' he said. 'I shouldn't really be
here at all!'
Take a look at this before you go, Doctor.'
She showed him a video transcript of the end of the Sixth Doctor's trial.
They watched a now obsequious Inquisitor telling the Sixth Doctor, who seemed to have survived the hazards
of the Matrix and be in excellent form, that all charges were dismissed and that they owed him an immense
debt of gratitude. His freedom restored, the Sixth Doctor went cheerfully on his way. The Doctor sensed that
his other self was happy to know that Peri was alive and well, and looking forward to travelling with new
companion Mel - if she'd only stop feeding him carrot juice.
'All those taking part in that travesty of a trial will soon be on trial
themselves,' said Flavia grimly. 'We must determine which were rogues and which were fools.'
The Master and Sabalom Glitz were trapped in the Matrix, where they would remain for the time being.
'We can deal with them at our leisure,'
said Flavia. 'We have more important things to worry about than two petty criminals!'
The Doctor smiled, thinking how hurt the Master would feel at that description, not to mention being classified
with Sabalom Glitz.
'And the Valeyard?' he asked.
Flavia gave him a worried look. 'I ordered his arrest but he is nowhere to be found.'
'Don't worry about it,' said the Doctor.
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