GHOST OF TIME
The long ‘flights’ in between destinations were a drag, too much free time and today Hannah was bored. Nothing interested her in the slightest so she began to wander the long twisting corridors at random. There was a time when she was scared to go out of her room for fear of being lost but now the TARDIS was as familiar to her as the streets of her youth on Earth.
Making her way deeper and deeper into the heart of the impossibly large craft she passed long disused rooms filled with even more bizarre contents than most of the other rooms. A room filled with mushrooms, a room where matter and energy were as one and a room that seemed to contain a golf course.
None of these were of interest to her though however a plain wooden door gave rise to some curiosity; it had her name written on in. Her curiosity got the better of her boredom and she turned the handle and entered it. The room was an expanse of inky darkness, a single spotlight shone down onto a chair in the centre of the room. Sitting down on the chair the darkness dissipated like smoke drawn away through a vent. A figure appeared in front of her, a harsh looking woman dressed in a business skirt suit.
The woman spoke in a cultured English accent. “Welcome Hannah, to your last day.”
Hannah gasped. “What do you mean?”
“It’s very simple” the woman chuckled, “you’re going to die in a few hours.”


The Doctor knocked on Hannah’s door. “It’s just me,” she said before walking in. “Are you in here?” The Doctor looked around the empty room Hannah wasn’t here, but Lucky was and he jumped up into the Doctor’s arms and nuzzled his face into the Doctor’s arm before going to sleep. “I wonder where your mummy is.” The Doctor said to Lucky before carrying his sleeping figure to the console room.


Steel restraints snapped quickly in place, securing Hannah’s wrists and ankles. “Let me go” she shouted but was ignored.
“What a sad person you really are. Several failed romances and you let your last fiancée die didn’t you?”
“No!” Hannah shouted. “I wanted to save her but there was no time, the Doctor dragged me back to the TARDIS.”
“But you can go back and save her though.”
“The Doctor says it’s impossible.”
“She won’t do it but you can, you know how to do it, you even looked up the exact co-ordinates didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
“But you don’t why?”
“Because I’m not prepared to change history for my own benefit. Look at the mess the Doctor made putting history back on track and she knows what she’s doing. I want Claire back more than anything else but not at the price of the Universe.”
“Do you know who I am?” The woman stared at Hannah.
“No, I’ve never seen you before in my life.”
“My name is Haana, I’m a Time Lady of Earth.”
“How did you get in here then?” Hannah demanded.
“Oh I never left, you see I’m a temporal projection you see. I’m the woman you are destined to become, I am you.”
Hannah reeled in shock. “But I’m human, how can I become an alien?”
“I’m not an alien though, I’m mostly human in fact. I’m a Time Lady of Earth remember.” Haana smiled coldly.
“You haven’t answered my question, how do I become you?”
“You were infected six months ago. The Doctor sought to implant some knowledge in your brain, using a technique taught to her long ago by Salyavin. However you had a minute cut in your scalp and the Doctor had recently cut her hand. Some of the Doctor’s DNA infected the wound then like a cancer it spread through your brain, replacing some of her DNA for yours. How else do you think you can control the TARDIS? Why do you think you’ve suddenly become more interested in helping others? Part of you is now her, she’s our mother girl.”
Hannah could barely believe what she was hearing. “Let me go. The Medicians of the Landralau Preceptory can cure me, they have the ability.”
“You see how you know so much of Gallifrey? Think girl, access to so much race memory, you can become a queen among the gods.”
“I’m quite happy as I am thanks. I think that the Doctor should know about this.” Hannah closed her eyes and concentrated. “Contact.”
The Doctor stopped singing to Lucky and closed her eyes. “Contact” she said unexpectedly.
Help me. Hannah pleaded with the Doctor, informing her of everything she had been told.


The Doctor opened her eyes and placed the sleeping bundle of fur called Lucky on top of the console. “I’m coming.” She headed slowly and methodically towards the centre of the ship.


“Almost time now, you will hardly feel a thing. Death is not the end for us anymore, we shall live on regeneration after regeneration.” She leaned over and kissed Hannah’s forehead.
“Who wants to live forever?” Hannah shouted.
“You are ready then?” Haana asked.
“Does it matter?” Hannah asked. “You’re going to do whatever you’re going to do anyway.”
Haana laughed. “I guess not, we may as well get this over with.”
“I don’t think so.” The Doctor stood in the doorway.
“Doctor, am I glad to see you?” Hannah sighed with relief.
“Too late Doctor, you cannot stop what you set in motion.”
Haana sat down into Hannah’s body.
The Doctor shouted no and ran at Hannah, knocking her body to the floor.
Haana’s essence hung in the air for several seconds before fading away, screaming in pain.
The Doctor looked over at Hannah for a second, her face started to glow an orange colour. The Doctor couldn’t see Hannah’s chest rise and fall, she wasn’t breathing. Quickly she started to breathe for her companion and after a few seconds Hannah was breathing again for herself. The orange glow faded, Hannah was still Hannah.
She opened her eyes slowly. “Doctor, I didn’t know you fancied me.” She accepted the Doctor’s hand and got to her feet. “Wow that was weird, at least it’s all over now right?”
“It’s not.” The Doctor said, “after I stopped your other self trying to merge with you, you stopped breathing. You started to regenerate but I got your breathing going again.” She took Hannah’s wrist and felt it. “A double pulse, you have two hearts Hannah. You…you’re a Time Lady, like me!”

GUARDIAN ANGEL
Hannah paced around the TARDIS console room, there was only one thing in her mind...she now had two hearts.
The Doctor kept a careful eye on Hannah; she did not react well to extreme stress. When her gay lover Claire died she had bottled up her emotions and attempted suicide. Of course that might not be so easy now if what the Doctor suspected was true.
Hannah paused and picked up Lucky, she held the silly creature in her arms and hugged him before tickling his belly.


Castellan Andred ordered his troops to attention. “The Doctor’s TARDIS is due here any second. I want a full honour guard and I expect it to be the best parade of your lives.” He waited until the TT capsule started to materialise. “Attention.” He ordered in a loud voice. “Bear arms.” They managed it, somehow much to his relief. The doors opened and the Doctor emerged followed by her human companion.
“Andred.” The Doctor grinned at seeing he had survived the recent hostilities with The Ancient Ones. “So good to see you again. Are they ready for her?”
“She has a name.” Hannah snapped. “She’s not an it.”
The Doctor put her arm around Hannah’s thin shoulders. “I’m sorry, official talk can be so impersonal. Why don’t you go on ahead and I’ll have a chinwag with Andred. I’m dying to hear how his son’s getting on.”
“Sure Doctor.” Hannah headed off towards the medical facilities of the Landralau Preceptory, accompanied by the Chancellery Guards.


“How is she?” Andred asked the Doctor. “Your telepathic message was vague.”
“It had to be, she could have sensed my thoughts otherwise. She’s becoming more and more like us, like me every day. At first I thought I was being silly or that she was just pretending to imitate me, she can pilot the TARDIS as good as any of us and she can draw upon our race memories. She has two hearts and she almost regenerated when a future aspect tried to merge with her. I tell you I had no idea this would happen.”
“Yes, well the President assures me that if she is one of us then she must be trained like one of us. She’s already had a request from the Prydonian Academy.”
“She’ll be free to chose what she wants to do for herself, I don’t think it’ll come to that though, you see she has my DNA inside of her.”
“So?” Andred asked. “How are you any different to the rest of us?”
The Doctor sighed. She had to tell them sometime. “I’m half human, my mother was from Earth.”
“What?” Andred gasped. “Your Time Lord heritage is a lie, you’re a hybrid.”
“Not quite, after my first regeneration my Gallifreyan heritage became more pronounced but still on a genetic level I’m a hybrid. Hannah will never be more than fifty percent Gallifreyan, most likely she will be about thirty percent. I didn’t want to discuss this with her until we can be sure. It may just be a simple infection.”
“I think we should go and see for ourselves Doctor.” Andred led the way to where Hannah was waiting to be tested.


The simple robe was not very comfortable, it itched against her skin and it almost came right up to the top of her legs. On top of that she hadn’t seen any cute looking nurses. She was just stuck inside this room with no one to talk to and a computerised voice giving her a series of instructions.
“Lie on the bed.”
At least this was comfortable, just lying here when a bright light shone in her eyes and everything went pink and orange.


Andred looked at the block of plastic. “Her Biodata is compiled. Look at this Doctor, protein structures like we’ve never seen, there’s her two hearts, triple and binary strands of DNA, her temporal lobes are very pronounced. There’s no doubt about it, she’s even got the Rassilon Imprimatur. She’s a Time Lady, as near as damn it. She’s no longer entirely human.”
The Doctor looked at Hannah, she was more than concerned for Hannah’s safety. She had to ensure that Hannah got to decide her own fate. “I have to see Thalia before she does anything hasty.”
“You think she should travel with you, always on the move, no roots, nothing to call her own.”
“I think that it’s up to her to choose what she does, no one else. If she wants to come with me and explore the Universe I’d be delighted. If she wants to stay here and go to one of the Academies I’d miss her deeply but I’d never stop her from leaving. If she wanted to go back to her home on Earth then I’d be sorry then as well, but it is her choice to make.”


Hannah was given robes to wear. They were orange and brown silks and satins of splendid quality and elegance. She needed to look her best for when she saw Thalia. She found the Doctor inside the Presidents office and they exchanged smiles.
“Child, I cannot imagine how you are feeling right now but I am told by the Doctor that you are trying to be calm and rational. I think that you suspect the truth already; you have indeed been infected with DNA from the Doctor’s body. Much of your own body’s cellular structure is changed irrevocably. Any interference on our part would only serve to increase this process further. I believe the precise figure is forty seven percent of your DNA has been mutated and within the hour the last few cells will have stabilised and it will be over. You are a hybrid creature, but we welcome you as our daughter. We hope to instruct you in our noble and ancient ways but the Doctor insists it must be a free choice of your own free will. What say you Hannah? Will you learn the traditions of our people and earn the nobility of rank you have already been given? Will you go with the Doctor and perhaps pick up some other knowledge as you explore the universe as an outcast?”
Hannah thought about things for a while. “I need time to think Madam President, this is too big a decision to make without due deliberation. May I have a few days to think about it?”
Thalia smiled. “Of course child, take as much time as you need. You have a long life ahead of you no matter what you decide. If you need advice look to Rassilon for wisdom. If you need comfort then seek Rassilon’s compassion. If you want anything call room service, I believe that is the expression you refer to it as.”


Rodan walked over to her door. “I’m coming.” She cried out. She opened it to see Hannah. “Hello, I’m sorry to hear about recent events. We are all sorry to hear of your loss, Claire was a very special person.”
Hannah was invited in and she took a seat. “That’s not why I’m here, I came to ask your opinion.”
Rodan shook her head. “I cannot help you. The Doctor was very firm on that subject.”
“I don’t care whether the Doctor’s trying to manipulate me into staying or going, I need to ask your honest and considered opinion. You have a mind of your own and you’re good at rationalising things. I need your objectivity.”
Rodan stood up. “You are my friend, I would like you to stay here. I cannot be objective.”
Hannah smiled. “Perhaps not, but you can be honest. Thank you for that.”
Rodan closed the door once Hannah had gone. The Doctor stepped out of the bedroom where she had been hiding. “Thank you Rodan, thank you.”

“Aim for the eye.” Leela commanded. “That is a weak part.” Then there was a knock at the door. “I am busy, come back later.” The knocking continued despite her answer. Getting up she opened the door. “I am very busy Hannah, is it important?”
“Yes, can I come in?”
“My son is learning the bow, it would be safer for you out here I think.” Leela closed the door. “What is it you want?”
“I need advice, has Andred told you want happened to me?”
Leela nodded. “You are like my son, you do not know which tribe to belong to. I teach my son so that when he is old enough he can decide what he wants to do.”
Hannah frowned “I don’t know what to do Leela. Part of me wants to stay with the Doctor and part of me wants to stay here and a third part of me wants to hide under the bed and pretend none of this is happening at all.”
Leela put her hand on Hannah’s shoulder. “With wisdom comes understanding, I may not be as wise as others but I understand this, your heart will find it’s own truth.”
“I have two hearts now.” Hannah turned to leave. “Is that why I’m so confused? Can it be possible to feel two different things at the same time?” Leaving Leela to care for her child Hannah started to wander the corridors of the Capitol. For hours she travelled to the various different parts, building up a rough map of the vast complex in her head. She found a Transmat terminal; it was open ended and power boosted. There was a destination already programmed into it, the tomb of Rassilon himself. Deciding that there was nothing else to loose she stepped onto the T-mat pad and vanished.


Hannah found herself inside a large crypt like building. The place was old and it smelled funny too. Hannah found an old five-sided monolith. The writing on it was ancient but she got the gist of it. Immortality? Who in their right mind wanted to live forever? She walked over to the inert body of Rassilon; he looked like he was sleeping, not dead. Lights shimmered overhead and his face was projected on a field of excited sub-atomic particles.
“This is the game of...oh it’s you. To what do I owe the honour of this visit Lady Haana? Speak child, tell me what is on your mind.”
Hannah explained everything; somehow it felt therapeutic. “I don’t know what to do. Thalia said I should seek your advice and your compassion.”
“President Thalia is a good woman, she is loyal to her oath of office. She is however misleading you a little, or rather avoiding the whole truth.” Rassilon’s voice echoed through the crypt. “Seek the advice of she who was deposed from office, she will advise you better and more finally than I can. I am an echo of what was. You need an echo of what is now. Then you can be what you need to be, an echo of what is to come.”
Hannah tried to take it all in. “I don’t understand.”
“As it should be Lady Haana, as it must be.” Rassilon’s image proclaimed, before vanishing.


Hannah left the crypt behind and followed the precise route into the old chambers below the Capitol towards a certain door. It was difficult to shift the door and she was hardly a strongwoman. However it did shift, slowly and steadily until finally there was enough room to squeeze through. The light fell upon a huddled mass of soiled rags; carefully Hannah spoke to the person hiding under them. “You are free, I was sent by Rassilon to free you.”
The prisoner lifted her head and shook it in disbelief. “Lies.”
Hannah brushed the matted greasy hair out of the woman’s eyes. “I have no reason to lie to you do I?”
“Everyone lies.”
“I don’t and neither does the Doctor.”
The Prisoner looked at her tormentor. “More lies, the Doctor is my friend. Do not speak his name to me like that.”
Hannah carried the woman outside her cell; she was very light, almost totally skin and bone. “The Doctor is my friend to and he’s a she now.” She helped the woman to stand up.
“How long have I been imprisoned in here?”
“I don’t have a clue.” Hannah replied, as honest as possible.
“Who are you?”
“My name is Hannah Sinclair but everyone seems to call me Lady Haana for some obscure reason.”
The Prisoner gasped. “It is an honour to meet you, I am or rather was President Romanadvoratrelundar until they deposed me and locked me in here and tried to forget about me. You have to take me to the Doctor, you are very important to us Haana. To all of us.”

HAANA REVEALED
The Prisoner gasped. “It is an honour to meet you, I am or rather was President Romanadvoratrelundar until they deposed me and locked me in here and tried to forget about me. You have to take me to the Doctor, you are very important to us Haana. To all of us.”
“Why did they lock you up in there?” Haana asked Romana, as the former President preferred to be known.  It was still weird getting used to the new inflection of her name but it sounded good and just that little bit alien.
“It’s an old story, you see this really isn’t Gallifrey. The original was destroyed years ago in a conflict. We rebuilt our colony and our civilisation exactly from the master plans. This world is now to all intents and purposes Gallifrey. I was at the President at that time; an unstable regeneration had left me with a few crazy ideas, which ultimately led to our downfall. I resigned after a while and went off to explore the universe, but well nothing lasts forever and I came home to find myself arrested for war crimes and sentenced to permanent incarceration.” Romana broke down and cried as Haana held her in her arms.


The Doctor sat on the edge of Andred’s desk and casually rifled through his recent reports. Most were the usual Capitol toing's and froing's but there were a couple of incidents of missing Time Lords who were found days later. Hearing footsteps outside she quickly put the files back in order and picked up the holographic image of Leela that rested on Andred’s desk just before Andred entered his office.
“Ah there you are Doctor, what can I do for you?” Andred took the holograph from the Doctor and replaced it back in its usual position.
“About Hannah, I was thinking that if she wanted to stay here I’d like someone to keep an eye on her, at least until she got settled into the regular swing of things.” The Doctor searched through her pockets, handing various items to Andred. “No that’s not it at all. No I don’t need that either. Regular flow? I’d better use that soon, the old one’s almost finished.” Finally she found what she was looking for. “My room key.” She announced. “I really hope they never tried to spring the lock, it would have the most terrible consequences.


Now inside of her room, Haana waited as Romana took four nutrient capsules. She took one as well; somehow she just didn’t have her usual appetite, despite not having eaten for nearly two days.
“Delicious.” Romana lied. “I could have done with a cup of tea to wash them down with though.” Now accustomed to the bright light she looked at the Doctor’s friend and saw a frightened young woman. “It will be ok, you are frightened but it will pass. If I can spend an eternity in there then you can come to terms with this.”
Haana smiled, despite feeling down. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. I’m just glad I got you out of that place. You’re very beautiful you know.”
Romana blushed. “I feel terrible and I smell like a cess pit. I need to get a shower and burn these clothes. They should be put out of their misery.” Without another word Romana stripped off and headed for the shower.
Haana picked up the rags and put them in the bin. She opened a wardrobe and picked out some cute and sexy outfits for Romana to wear. “What’s your favourite colour?” She called out to the bathing Time Lady.
“Something white I think.” Romana called back. “I remember I used to be quite fond of white gowns in my first incarnation.”
Romana selected a simple and very elegant white silk gown and matching frillies. She didn’t really get a good look at Romana’s slight bust but playing it safe she selected something loose fitting in an A cup.


The Doctor had left Andred’s office and was walking towards her own suite when a hand came out of the darkness and covered her mouth. Another hand seized her waist and she was dragged backwards into a wall before she could react. Something hit her on the head and she saw stars.


Romana admired herself in the mirror. “Oh yes, this is wonderful. It fits perfectly. You have a great eye for detail Haana.”
Haana waved the compliments aside. “Well the outfit just came together really. Are the boots the right size?”
Romana showed a leg. “They’re marvellous. I’d have never suspected that black PVC was my style at all. We’d had better go now and find the Doctor, I’m feeling much better now thanks to your kindness.”


The Doctor opened one eye slowly. “That was sloppy, and more than a little obvious. You can show yourselves, I know who you are. I know who you all are? Would you like me to go through the tedious process of naming you all?” Opening her other eye the room lights came on and the Doctor could see the faces of her kidnappers.
“When did you suspect us Doctor?” Thalia asked. “Can it be that you knew all along? I don’t think so, but it is worth investigating. I believe you know this person. Or to give her correct name, The Doctor. You see you may have killed the one you called Valeyard but he put certain plans into operation. You think you infected your pet Hannah with your DNA? It is folly. She was infected long ago. Her cells needed a lot of persuading and the process was very slow. Much of the initial remanipulation failed in fact. Only the direct stimulation of her mind by you reactivated the few remaining dormant cells and they have been growing ever since. Oh the Rani found out of course, she even tried to stop it but Haana escaped from her before she could save her.”
The Doctor gasped. “The Valeyard isn’t dead?”
The Valeyard took a step forward. “My essence survived but as we had to use your DNA my aspect shifted as well. Haana would become my new body and I was to be reborn in her image.”
“You failed though didn’t you. Haana became more powerful than you realised. She called out to me and I stopped you. You ruined her life just to save your own. You have no idea how ticked off that makes me.”
“No matter.” The Valeyard smiled. “I have a better host now. I think I’ll enjoy being a blonde even more than a brunette. Do not resist dear, you cannot stop me now.”


Haana picked the Doctor’s lock and entered her suite. “Hey Doctor, there’s someone here to see you.” Hanna led Romana in by the hand. “Are you there Doctor?”
“I don’t think she’s in here.” Romana shrugged. “It doesn’t even look like the place has been lived in.”
Haana felt pain inside her head. “Contact” she said.
Romana knelt beside Hannah. “Contact” she added.


The Doctor smiled. “Second mistake Valeyard, want to try for a third?”
“What?” The Valeyard demanded. “What are you talking about?”
The door was kicked open and Andred walked in, followed by Hannah, Romana and Kellner. “President Thalia you’re removed from office and all Presidential activities will now come under the direct authority of the Chancellery and the office of the Castellan.”
“No, you cannot do this.” Thalia’s face turned bright scarlet.
“It’s called a coup.” Hannah smiled. “It’s something they have from time to time on my world. One of my worlds now it seems.”
“Looks like you’ve lost Thalia. Betraying your people is never a wise move for a President, just ask Borusa, if he ever escaped his immortality.” The Doctor hugged Hannah and Romana.
“It is good to see you Doctor.” Romana smiled. “Thalia had me locked away for all eternity, but your good friend Hannah helped me escape.”
“I will have existence!” Haana leapt at Hannah but she moved and her essence merged instead with Thalia’s. “I have existence again!” The Valeyard threw her hands up into the air.”
“You don’t have your freedom though.” Andred cuffed the Valeyard’s hands behind her back. “It’s a pity but at least it avoids a messy trial.”
Kellner approached the three remaining Time Ladies. “I don’t suppose any of you are interested in the position of President?” The Doctor, Hannah and Romana all shook their heads. “I suppose we should have another tedious election, oh its another thing to arrange.”
“Kellner, you’re a good chap and my former Vice-President.” The Doctor put her arm around Kellner’s waist. “Why don’t you appoint yourself acting President for the time being? We really need someone there to cover things until this crisis of office has passed and an election has been arranged.”
“Oh very well.” Kellner agreed. “Now what about you Lady Haana? Can I persuade you to stay on and accept formal training at one of our Academies?”
Haana nodded. “Yes, I guess I’ll need to know a few things and I need to rediscover who I am. For now though I guess I’m a Prydonian girl.”
“I’ll have your things taken to your rooms.” Acting President Kellner snapped his fingers and pointed at two guards. “You and you see to it.”


The Doctor handed Lucky over to Haana. “I’ll miss the two of you.” She rubbed the corner of her eye. “I’ve gone all weepy now. I hope I can visit again in the near future and you have lots of friends here already. Romana, Rodan, Leela, Andred and all your new classmates.”
“I hope you visit often Doctor. There’s still a lot I have to learn.” Haana dabbed at her own makeup. “What will you do now?”
“Wander I suppose, I’ve been thinking about revisiting a few old friends. There are still a few I haven’t seen in several life times.”
“Take care Doctor.” Hannah hugged the Doctor as tightly as possible.
“You too Haana, you too.” The Doctor turned and left, closing the TARDIS doors behind her.
Haana waved as the TARDIS, which had been her home for several years, faded and vanished. She walked slowly towards her room when a girl about her own age barged into her without looking.
“I am sorry.” Anniarano apologised. “Hey you’re the new girl Haana aren’t you? I’m one of your classmates. Call me Anni, everyone does.”
Haana helped Anni to her feet. “Are all the women here are beautiful as you?” Taking hold of Anni’s hand she walked with her to their first lecture on Temporal Mechanics.