As Romana had finished her statement over the broadcast network, she joined Ace and Spandrell who completed the adjustments necessary to pull the TARDIS off of Earth. After making the final adjustments to allow for the time distortion around the planet, Romana herself checked the calculations. Taking a deep breath, she said, "Cross your fingers." She threw the switch.
Underneath the Panopticon, the boiling mass of energy that was the Eye of Harmony shivered and rippled as a command pulse summoned forth the energy to retrieve the Doctor's TARDIS. The captured heart of the black hole that powered the planet reacted, sending a burst outward through the Scoop's emitter array. The brilliant pure white beam raced through space and the dimensions of time to the earth year 1997. The beam punched through the temporal disturbances surrounding the planet and homed in on the TARDIS. Like a fist suddenly snatching away a prized possession, the Time Scoop latched onto the Doctor's ship engulfing it in a brilliant white light. Beacon flashing and engines roaring, the TARDIS dematerialized. Like a captive bird set free, the Doctor's ancient time machine soared through the heavens along the coarse of the Time Scoop beam.
"He's due to arrive at any moment!" Ace shouted over the din outside. Ambul's followers, or rather, the ones he had dispatched to find them, had managed to trace the location of the control chamber despite Spandrell's best efforts. They had not, however, managed to penetrate Spandrell's force field; yet. It seemed though that it was only matter of time. On the monitor, it showed the TARDIS' arrival was imminent. Just then, a loud explosion rocked the control room knocking all three to the ground. When the air had cleared of smoke, armed rebels had stormed into the room shouting and waving stasers about. As the trio got back up off the floor, they saw the fanatical, crazed stare on the faces of Ambul's supporters in the door. With pure hatred playing on the lead rebel's face, he screamed, "DIE!! YOU TRAITOROUS BITCH!!!"
"NOOO!!" Ace shouted and she instantly moved to position herself between Romana and the rebel assassin. Time seemed to slow to a crawl and Ace felt as if she were suddenly someone else and detached from events. Then, as if in slow motion, she ran and started to dive in front of Romana. As she moved to do so, a loud throbbing drone started to fill the room and the Time Scoop beam began to coalesce and suddenly flashed into being. Accompanying the beam was the trumpeting, wheezing groan of the TARDIS' engines. A spiral of blue light descended to the floor within the column of light sparkling with the light of a thousand diamonds and coalesced into solid form as the TARDIS materialized. At that moment, the lead rebel loosed a shot from his staser. The energy pulse crackled against the Time Scoop beam and seemed to dissipate before being thrown back against the lead rebel and his associates; its power amplified a thousand times. The rebels disintegrated and a large part of the surrounding structure went with them. The few unfortunate souls who had been left to witness the event fled in terror; the image of what they had just seen burned into their memories. The door to the ancient time craft opened and the Doctor emerged followed by his previous selves and the others. As he cast glances about him, he said, "Looks as though this place could use a spot of dusting." He then noticed Romana, Spandrell, and Ace and greeted each of them warmly in turn.
Spilling outward from the Capitol, civil war waged on unabated; threatening to consume all of Gallifrey. Using the now reinforced control room as a base of operations, the group watched as the civil unrest threatened to rip the planet apart.
"And all this because of what's happening on Earth." To Romana, the Doctor seemed to be burdened with the weight of centuries. There was a great sadness in his face. She spoke to his back as he turned away, "The only way to stop the Gate is to return to the Earth before the planet is lost."
"My only concern with that is that the Gate needs a direct link with the Eye of Harmony in order to become fully active. In order to do just that, it may try to "consume" the TARDIS and forge a link with the Eye through the Time Vector Generator," he added glumly.
"If you decide not to, I'll understand, but Earth will still be in danger."
"And," he said, "It just so happens that only a Type Forty TARDIS has any hope of reaching Earth and mine is the only one left in existence. It seems to me that my duty is clear."
"I'm glad that you agreed to help, Doctor."
"How could I not? Earth is like a second home to me. I was exiled there by the Tribunal remember? But what of you, Spandrell and Ace?" Ace interrupted him, "We'll be fine, Professor," she responded using his old nick name that she always used to call him by when she traveled with him years before. It brought a smile to his face that quickly vanished as he continued, "What of Gallifrey itself? The Capitol is being ravaged by war between the Academies, the Chancellery Guard and the Shobogans." The Doctor strode back over to the scanner screen and did a panoramic sweep across the city. Fingers of flame tickled the buildings in various areas of the Capitol. Tearing his gaze away from the screen, he turned away in disgust as a single tear rolled down his cheek. The moment quickly passed and the Time Lord regained his composure. Gathering everyone around him he said, "OK Doctors, others, let's put our heads together. Earth and Gallifrey depend on us." The brainstorming began.
* * * * *
The TARDIS sat alone, her banks of ancient circuits whirring, clicking and ticking over to themselves. She had long since tired of computing the inverse of stellar densities here in the constellation of Kasterborous and tried to commune with the other TARDISes in the docking compound. The 'young upstarts' didn't care to have anything to do with a TARDIS model so old they all considered the Doctor's machine to be 'past it.' Little did they realize the wealth of information that she contained from the countless adventures she'd seen over the centuries. Oh well, it was no plasma off her outer shell. Tapping into her own cybernetic core, the TARDIS sought out a relative psychic frequency unique to Gallifrey and searched for the distinct pulse of the Doctor's mind. She sensed his thoughts like a psychic radar focusing in on a blip on a radar screen. Screening his mind, the ship became concerned over her operator's well-being; the Gate of Rassilon again. The TARDIS could just recall millennia ago when their evil taint had finally been removed from Gallifrey. That blasted Hexa Prime, the first and most powerful of all the Gates, was wreaking havoc on Earth. The ship held no delusion as to what caused the turmoil that she had undergone on the tortured planet and she also knew the Doctor would not allow the threat to his adopted home go unchecked. He would rise to the challenge, and when he did, the TARDIS, his oldest and most trusted friend, would be at his side. The TARDIS did a quick diagnostic over her power and drive systems. Her link to the Eye of Harmony was strong; artron energy pulse steady. When the time came the TARDIS would carry the Doctor where he was needed. Besides, the TARDIS herself had a few surprises for the Gate should it try anything.
* * * * *
That night in Gabrielle's dreams a voice spoke to her. It was feminine and resonant with a strange lilt to it that had a soothing effect on the bard. She saw the strange alien object that she had seen just a few days ago on the road to Amphipolis. The image introduced itself as the Gate of Rassilon and it had urgent news for Gabrielle to give to Xena. The bard addressed it, "I know you. I saw you in a vision just days ago. What in the gods name are you?" The Gate responded, I am known as the Gate of Rassilon. I was built millennia ago on the planet of Gallifrey, many, many countless miles away through the vast reaches of the heavens. I have come to you in this vision to warn you that Ares is setting a trap for you and the warrior.
"A trap? What kind of trap?"
He plans to usurp my power of temporal manipulation to free from imprisonment two women known as Callisto and Velasca. Do you know them?
Gabrielle whispered almost breathlessly in disbelief, "Callisto and Velasca? It can't be..." The Gate continued to reveal to Gabrielle all that it knew. Flashes and images of the future swirled around the bard's vision. Glimmerings of fire, destruction and death swirled drunkenly as the Gate spoke to her. The bard tossed and turned in her sleep as the images grew worse. Whole mountains heaved and buckled and collapsed in upon themselves. The seas boiled and rolled and as though someone had pulled a plug, large holes appeared in the surface of the world's oceans that logically, just shouldn't have happened. In other places, massive tidal waves washed over the land in a wave of ruin. She suddenly jerked herself awake from tossing and turning with the Gate's last words fading away as dying echoes in her mind. Turning to the warrior, she gently shook her awake and just looked at her for a moment. What she had just witnessed was too overwhelming, and she couldn't find the words she wanted. Xena had smiled up at her before propping herself up on both elbows. "Where's the fire," she asked a little sleepily. Gabrielle still wouldn't say anything, continuing only to stare back at the warrior. This nightmare was too real and the bard knew there was no getting around it. Her eyes misted over and hating herself for letting Xena see her start to cry, she got up and started to toy with the laces of her top. Xena asked her, "Gabrielle, what's the matter?" Gabrielle tried to play it off like it was nothing, but she couldn't keep it up, "Oh, I've just seen how the world is going to end, that's all."
"What do you mean you've seen how the world is going to end?"
"The object, Xena! I saw it again! I didn't tell you this, but when we started towards Amphipolis a couple of days ago, I had a vision of the object that's behind all of this madness. It just spoke to me in my dreams. Ares had gained control of it and he's planning to free Callisto and Velasca both. The Gate's powers will give him the ability to do it. It told me to warn you; that you needed to know." Xena's face went from concerned to stone in the blink of an eye. "It's a good thing you listened," was the only reply she could manage. Gabrielle was sobbing quietly by this time as she went on, "It was horrible. I saw such images of death and destruction like the world has never seen before. How can we fight Ares, Callisto, Velasca, and a strange object that controls time? Xena, We can't win this war, not this time. How can we fight them?" How indeed?, wondered the warrior. Moving up behind her, Xena reached her arms around Gabrielle and hugged her close. With soft shushing noises and reassurances, she gently rocked her and kissed the younger woman tenderly on the cheek. After she had calmed Gabrielle down, she muttered to herself, "You want me Ares? You've got me!" Within minutes the two women were packed up and racing at breakneck speed towards Amphipolis.
* * * * *
The Gate was pleased. For long and countless millennia, it had lain dormant and disused in the musty, null dimensions of the time vaults underneath the Capitol. Thanks to the help of another renegade Time Lady, the Gate had broken the temporal chains that had bound it and sought at first to escape its creators/jailers. It felt refreshed and renewed. It had been ages since it had felt anything akin to human emotion. It hated to admit it, but for the time being, it needed the primitive savages and their petty immortals who paraded around as "gods". If only it could gain access to the Eye of Harmony! Then its power would be absolute and the universe would bow before it. When it had leached the energy from Ares, the Gate's personality matrix, which functioned similar to the symbiotic nuclei of a Time Lord, had absorbed the rudiments of the War God's personality. With a matrix that bordered on amorality, it was now possessed of Ares' hate, bloodlust and desire for conquest and an almost indomitable will. Now, instead of a sentient alien time portal, it was a deadly killing machine. Soon, it thought, Ares and Xena will be locked in battle with each other and I can get on with dominating this world and others. All will be powerless before me as I grow to rule the universe. Planets and whole galaxies will prostrate themselves before me and the Time Lords will come to deeply regret ever having tried to destroy me!
* * * * *
Xena spurred Argo on harder pushing the mare as fast as she could go. The warrior's blood pounded a rhythm in ears that matched the drum like beating of her heart. Gabrielle held on to her feeling the warmth of her body and she snuggled in closer to her resting her head on Xena's back to protect herself against the wind.
* * * * *
Joxer had tumbled through the valley like a pebble tumbling down a hill of gravel. He could barely keep his balance as in terror he ran towards the village that was Xena's home. The caverns were coming into view and just beyond that lie Amphipolis, appearing to him as a ghost town. Another time quake hit and Joxer's balance went helter-skelter. When he stopped tumbling, his latest spill had landed him at the cavern in which the Gate was hidden away. Thinking to wait out the quakes in the shelter of the caves, Joxer dashed inside and immediately wished he hadn't. Ares and Strife were inside arguing with an odd-shaped device that Joxer could hear responding in a feminine voice. It was clear that Ares was highly upset. "I had planned to break the news to Xena! The premature action on your part forces our hand! You haven't even reached full power yet, unless you're hiding something from us and I can't guarantee to save you from whoever it may be that the people who created you will send after you!"
Look at it this way, trilled the Gate, Xena and the girl are now heading straight into your trap. I can also guarantee that they will have added incentive to hurry here.
"What do you mean?"
Watch. The vortex of energy formed and swirled at the Gate's heart. Gradually, it took the shape of a man. As it did so, familiar blue fingers of electro-temporal energy crackled and writhed like living snakes over the figure and with a loud thunderclap Joxer was suddenly standing at the heart of the Gate. He was still standing in the crouched position he'd been in when he entered the cave. Ares' scowl changed to a wide grin. "Hexa Prime, I love the way you think!" Thank you, the Gate droned, but I am still limited in what I can do. My energy that I leached from you when you touched me is still strong, but is gradually beginning to fade. I need to merge with the Eye of Harmony. "Ah yes," Ares, "Any further ideas as to how you'll accomplish that?" One or two, came the reply. "Well Xena and Gabrielle are on their way and with the clown prince here," Ares said as he roughly manhandled Joxer who gave a squeal of protest, "I'd say everything was falling nicely into place. Come, let's go meet the two 'heroines'." Energy crackled over Hexa Prime, Ares, Strife, and Joxer and then they were gone.
* * * * *
"Doctor, you will be careful, won't you?"
"Of course, Madame President," the Doctor smiled as he said this, "Don't worry, I will stop the Gate." Romana grasped his hand firmly and reached up and kissed him on the cheek. Turning, the Doctor headed into the ship. Crossing to the console, he set the coordinates for Earth on the alphanumeric keypad and then paused. Patting the wooden console lovingly he said, "Ready, old girl? Here goes." Reaching out to the navigation panel, he threw the master dematerialization switch. Outside, Romana watched as the TARDIS trumpeted her departure from Gallifrey.
* * * * *
Xena reigned Argo to a halt and she and Gabrielle dismounted. Standing in the Amphipolis village square were Ares and Strife holding Joxer captive. Behind the two gods Xena could see the device that must have been the alien object based on the description that Gabrielle had given to her. The warrior drew her sword on instinct and purposefully, if a little cautiously, and strode towards her nemesis. Gabrielle followed closely behind with her staff gripped closely to her. Her facial expression was a total blank.
Ares spoke in his usual mocking tone, "Xena! Long time, no see. Perfect day for a reunion."
"Save it, Ares. Whatever it is that you've got planned, you can forget it. I'll see myself in Hades before I see Callisto loose on the Earth again."
"Oh, Xena, I'm hurt," he continued in his same mocking tone, "I was hoping we could enjoy a friendly social call."
"Ares, with you, nothing is ever as simple as a purely social call. Do you have any concept of the carnage those two will reek if you release them? Why do it, for Hades' sake? What are you really up to? Did the circus come to town?" she said indicating Joxer and the Gate.
"Simple, I want you back and this time I can honestly say that I'm prepared to go to any lengths to get you back. To help you make the right decision, I have something that may give you a little incentive." Ares purred the last few words of the last statement.
"I saw that you managed to capture Joxer. That in itself is no great task. But knowing you, one puny," Joxer shouted indignantly at that remark, "mortal isn't enough. What else are you up to?"
"Oh Xena you'll see. You'll see. Prime, now!" When Ares finished talking, he moved out of the way and Xena and Gabrielle got a full glimpse of the Gate of Rassilon. The vortex at its heart seemed deep and endless like a corridor and they could see that it obviously went no deeper than the surface of the artifact. The energy pulsed and writhed and while it did this, an image formed in the heart of the vortex that caused Xena's blood to turn to ice in her veins. The image formed into a bubble that came to rest on the dais that made up the Gate's base. The bubble was man sized and in it Xena could see the screaming, terrified faces of the villagers. It was like looking through a window into another world. She could see her own mother, Cyrene, trapped in the alien landscape. Ares sidled up to her and putting his hands on her shoulders, he purred in her ear, "What is it gonna be Xena?" His voice was soft, but there was a definite edge to it. She wrestled with her thoughts. She'd be damned if she'd let a village full of people suffer needlessly. Spinning to face him, here eyes narrowed to murderous slits. "Let them go, Ares," she growled.
"Of course," he purred. Something inside the warrior cringed at the thought of him giving up so easily. Hazarding a glance over her shoulder, she called out, "Gabrielle?"
"I'm here," came the reply.
"Good. Stay behind me." Xena moved closer to the Gate.
