Chapter Text
Susan's predictions turned out to be correct: her uncle did not take the Council's decision regarding his access to the Temple at all well. From the room where she tried to fall asleep (in the quarters of the Queen, who had set up a separate section of her residence for her guests), Susan tried not to listen to the increasingly irate voices engaged in a heated argument. Not that it was the first time she had heard the Doctor and the Master arguing; hearing them now, however, was much more distressing. It made her feel small, powerless and without any real help, without a secure foothold to refer to. Only the three of them were left, how could grandfather and uncle not see that they needed each other? How could they not think it was better to all stay together, trying to forget the past?
It didn't help at all that, at one point, the two of them began to discuss what had really happened at home, why they had left. Susan tried desperately not to hear. She promised herself that she would not probe, that she would hold back her curiosity, that she would trust her grandfather without question. Eyes closed, fists clenched, Susan struggled to silence the questions that rose from her chest, the ghosts and doubts in her mind, the itch in her arms and legs that tempted her to get out of bed and ask for an explanation. Finally, she managed to fall asleep - and for the first time since she was eight years old, she dreamt of the Schism.
There it was again, imposing and terrible, the window open in space-time, full of colours and shapes impossible to distinguish, echoing the sound of a thousand voices lost in the immensity of the universe. Shining, in the very centre, stood the six Stones, in a circle, like the nucleus of an atom, the heart of the whole complex structure. A figure was inside the Gems, kneeling or sitting, head bowed. Susan reached out a hand in its direction, but her fingers touched nothing solid, and she stood there, dumbfounded, staring at the silent figure, trying to comprehend what she was seeing.
She woke up still having that question in her head. Someone was moving in the other room. Intrigued, and aware that she would not be able to fall back asleep, Susan got up and went into the other room. The Master was placing two full glasses on the table, while behind him something seemed to be sizzling in what was apparently the kitchen area of the flat.
"Good morning," he smiled when he saw her. "I hope you slept well."
"Yes, Uncle," Susan nodded, straining to smile. She had never told him about her dreams before, though she had been tempted to do so a few times. Uncle was, after all, an expert telepath and had studied psychology and the mysteries of the mind extensively, perhaps he could help her.
"Come, I have made breakfast. They are not difficult to understand, these devices," the Master continued, placing a plate and glass in front of her, which, from the smell, looked inviting. Susan took to eating, and had to admit that they were excellent.
"Grandfather?"
"Summoned by the Queen, apparently she needs to ask his advice," retorted the Master, in a tone that to Susan sounded all too similar to that of the previous evening.
"Is there a problem?" she asked. The Master stopped preparing breakfast and merely looked at her. Susan had the impression that he was watching her for the first time since they had left, as if he was only now realising she was there.
"What did he tell you, your grandfather, about why we are here? Why we left?" Taken aback, Susan did not answer. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out as she tried to think of an answer. The Master, however, seemed to think her silence was enough. "I thought so: nothing." Sighing, he pulled up a chair and came beside her, bowing his head so that their eyes met.
"Let me give you some advice, Kyt," he told her, calling her by the nickname he used on Gallifrey. "Don't trust your grandfather blindly. He loves you, but he is not the man he says he is, or wants to be. He can be selfish, far more than you can imagine, and no, he doesn't always really choose what is right."
"Why do you talk like that?"
"Because you need to know, Susan. Your grandfather and I are more alike than he wants to admit, the difference is that he thinks he isn't. Personally, I don't think he is able to really distinguish between protecting someone, and making them do what he wants them to do. At some point, Susan, you will have to learn to question him, to make your own choices."
"Did you read my mind, by any chance?"
"You're a teenager and a smart girl, I don't need to do that to know you have doubts," he replied, making her smile. "And I don't want to ruin the relationship you have with your grandfather, Rassilon knows how much that stubborn old man needs you and you need him. I just want to tell you ... if you feel that he is wrong, that you disagree with him, do not assume that you are the one at fault. Understand?"
"I need you too, you know?" was the reply. This time it was the Master who was taken aback. "I need the man who first made me aware of my powers, who had taught me how to become familiar with them, who told me how to listen to them so I could judge people. And then, there was only us left," she added, wistfully. "I don't want to lose what's left of my family."
"Susan ..." replied the Master, reaching out to embrace her. "You are a dear, good girl. I will do my best to stay with you and your grandfather. But even if I can't, know that I will never leave you, not for real. I love you, Kyt, I will always love you."
"I love you too, Uncle," Susan replied, holding him close. The Master held her tightly for a moment longer, then let her go.
"Come on, now finish eating. You need to come in strong, to your first Jedi training."
*
"You wanted to see me, Your ... Oh, Padme," the Doctor interjected, when he saw who the other person in the room was. "Forgive me, I thought I was meeting the Queen."
"Indeed," said the young woman, pointing to the chair in front of hers. "Have a seat, Doctor. I thought I would offer you breakfast."
"Very kind, I gladly accept," nodded the Doctor, taking a seat opposite her. On the other side of the table, Padme beckoned to a protocol droid, who hurried to bring a tray of food and drink. The Queen wore a ceremonial gown, but no make-up on her face: a choice which, the Doctor imagined, was a compromise between her public and private image.
"When your friend told me yesterday that he had guessed my trick, I thought you had as well."
"I assure you that, unlike him, I would have waited for his decision to let me in on his secret ... but yes, I did. And I thank you for your trust, Your Majesty."
"It is only due to you, in light of what I have to ask," Padme continued. "I assume you heard what happened in the Senate yesterday, and how the Master helped me and Senator Palpatine."
"I heard," huffed the Doctor, who was serving himself in the meantime. "He wouldn't shut up about it."
"It was not a move I was happy to make. Valorum is a good person, and as much as I desire the freedom of my people, I would never have traded it for the betrayal of a friend."
"Does your conscience bother you? Good, I'm glad of that," smiled the Doctor. "It means you still have morals, which is no small thing for someone involved in politics."
"I may not be the best of politicians, but I know it wouldn't do anyone any good if I made compromises unworthy of my ethics. Which brings me to my question." Padme leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table, her wonderfully dark brown eyes fixed on the Doctor's face. "The Master seems very interested in getting into politics. I know he particularly impressed Senator Palpatine, and I myself must admit I was struck by how natural his behaviour was yesterday. I also heard, however, of what the Jedi think of him, and I saw how much you despise him ..."
"I do not despise him," the Doctor interrupted her. "On the contrary, I have a high opinion of his intelligence and abilities. It is how he uses them that concerns me."
"So, Doctor, can I trust him? Or rather, how much can I trust him? I know you were friends once ... Susan told me. I'm not asking you to go into details, but ..."
"My dear girl ... if I may ..." Padme nodded. "The Master ... as he calls himself ... is one of the most intelligent and capable people I have ever met. Unfortunately, he is also completely devoid of any morals. Whatever goal he wants to achieve, he will have no qualms about getting there the fastest way possible, even when that includes committing crimes. He is not evil, at least not in the sense that he wishes evil on others, but rest assured that he is ready to commit evil if he thinks it serves him. Trust him? No, Your Highness, you must not trust him."
"Which, however, does not mean not listening to what he has to say, if I understand correctly."
"His opinion deserves to be heard, but never on its own. Find other people, seek other councillors, someone who shares your moral sense. Politics sometimes requires unpleasant compromises, but it cannot justify losing all moral sense."
"Are you proposing yourself as a councillor?" asked Padme, smiling.
"No, my lady. Unfortunately, I cannot stay. Susan and I are still fugitives, staying still in one time and place would make us targets. Besides, our knowledge of the future might lead us to say or do things that are inappropriate for us and for you."
"I see. Pity," Padme sighed, also beginning to eat her breakfast. "I trust at least that, as long as you are here, you will be willing to help me."
"I'll be happy to do what I can, Your Highness," smiled the Doctor, with a mischievous twinkle in his deep eyes.
*
"Welcome, Susan. Have a seat."
"Thank you," replied the girl, entering the room. It was a small chamber located in the eastern wing of the Temple, completely empty save for two grey seats with red cushions. The shutters at the windows were down, letting in only the light necessary to see. Susan could barely make out the tall figure of Dooku, a darker shadow amidst the blackness of the room.
"The Jedi use this room for meditations," the Count explained, as he took a seat on one of the two seats. "They block out any suggestions from the outside to focus with their own connection to the Force. It seemed appropriate for what we are to do." Susan nodded, taking a seat on the other. "Before we begin, tell me how you feel. Nervous?"
"A little," Susan admitted.
"That's normal. Every Padawan is nervous at the start. Some Masters are nervous even despite their years and experience. Can you tell me what specifically you are nervous about?"
Susan thought about it for a moment. "I guess ... because I don't know what to expect. I've taken a few lessons in telepathy from my uncle, but the visions ... the dreams ... it's all new. I don't even know if your technique will work, no offence."
"None taken. So, you've had dreams?"
"Yes, I had ... a strange dream. It happens to me sometimes, it used to happen to me at home. Dreams that seem real, that feel like I can reach out and touch what I see."
"And what do you dream? People you know? Places familiar to you?"
"No, I never do that. It's always other people, other places. At most, I feel I will meet them at some point."
"I see," Dooku nodded. "What about the other day, in the library?"
"That had never before happened to me," Susan admitted. "I felt like a very strong twinge of pain, and I ... knew things about ... well ... you. Nothing specific," she hastened to add, "more of a general feeling. My grandfather, after all, always said I had an innate ability to judge people."
"I have no doubt of that," Dooku commented. "Well, Susan, here's my theory. You are sensitive to the Force, but fortunately for you, not so strongly that you are plagued by visions while awake. As long as you remained on your planet, this sensitivity only manifested itself in dreams, but the moment you found yourself here, on Coruscant, among us Jedi, that is, other people who have trained themselves to feel the Force, these abilities of yours became more powerful. Which is good, because it allows us to intervene. I don't seem to recall Gallifrey having a religion, but if you did, I would say that you are protected by your god, or gods."
Susan nodded, not knowing how to respond, indeed feeling slightly embarrassed. From the depths of her memory, the Schism came back to her mind, and the image of a dark-skinned girl who, smiling, pointed at a series of faces in the colours of the rift in space-time. A thought struck her: what if ...
"What I will teach you," the Count continued, drawing her attention, "are techniques to focus your mind. They will help you to calm your body's reactions to the visions, and also to see them better. You will be able to recall them and analyse them, so that you understand them better."
"I see," Susan nodded.
"First, however, you must learn to connect to your inner strength, to that source of Force within you. And to do that, you have to meditate. Put yourself in a position where you feel relaxed." Susan obeyed. She leaned her back against the back of the seat while keeping it straight, stretched her arms out so that she gripped the armrests with her hands and released her legs. "And now breathe ... slowly. Concentrate on the movement of your chest and pelvis, project yourself into that movement. Right now, you are just air going into your lungs and out of them." Susan tried to blow, but Dooku stopped her. "No, don't force yourself. Find the natural rhythm of your breathing and live it."
Susan forced herself to do as the Count told her. Emptying her mind, she concentrated on the movement of his shoulders and chest, trying to stop any other sensation. The darkness and silence of the room proved helpful in this regard. Dooku smiled. Susan seemed to be a quick learner.
"Keep breathing, young Susan," the Count instructed her. "And when you feel ready, choose an image from your mind, from your dream, and focus on it. Keep breathing while you think about it, keep it firmly fixed in front of your mind's eye."
*
"The Time Lord is here," said the security officers, standing at the entrance to Senator Palpatine's office.
"Let him in," replied the Senator. The guards stepped aside, and let the Master pass inside the office - a room not very large, but with scarlet red walls. Palpatine was sitting at an unadorned desk, behind a stack of holofiles.
"I got your message, Senator. I hope I'm not bothering you."
"If I invited you, I'd say you don't."
"Right. And congratulations, I hear you are among the candidates for the position of new Supreme Chancellor. I wish you well, if you need anything ..."
"I'll remember that," replied the Senator, cutting it short. There was a new nuance in his tone of voice, a lower note, almost a growl, barely perceptible behind the polite tone. "Look, I'm a busy man, so how about we get straight to the point?"
"Sounds good to me," agreed the Master.
"I want an explanation of your words yesterday ... the ones you whispered to me."
"Wow, a politician speaking directly?" asked the Master, sarcastically. "I am stunned."
"Contain your astonishment and please respond in an equally direct manner," insisted Palpatine.
"I would like to, but I'm afraid I can't," admitted the Master. "You see, if I were as direct as you wish, I might end up saying things that could alter this timeline, which would unfortunately draw unwanted attention not only to me, but to the Doctor and Susan as well."
"Your people?" replied Palpatine. The Master did not reply. Palpatine seemed to consider the answer for a moment. "I understand," he said at last. "Tell me then what you deem appropriate to explain yourself."
"I know who you really are," the Master said then, approaching the desk so that he towered over the Senator with all his shoulders and chest. "I know a thing or two about your ambitions and plans. I'm not going to say anything about it to anyone, not only for the reason I said before, but also because there's no point in making a powerful enemy when he could be an ally instead. Don't you agree, Senator?"
"Yes, it is a wise choice," Palpatine admitted, holding his hands crossed in front of him. "And tell me, what would your contribution be in this alliance?"
"As you saw today, I'm good with words. I did some politics on my home planet, and I know how it works. I know the future, and I know how to avoid certain traps. Besides, I don't ask much in return ... just a place of prestige, a sanctuary, for me and my companions."
"Which will agree with you, I imagine."
"Susan can be convinced. The Doctor ... is a stubborn old fool, but he has his weaknesses."
"I see," nodded Palpatine, as he relaxed his own face again, returning to his usual affable, confident, fatherly expression. "But please, sit down. Let's get to know each other, shall we?"
*
It took her at least five tries, but eventually Susan managed to focus her attention on the image she had chosen: the central one from her dream last night. The open Schism in front of her, the Gems gathered in a circle, and in the centre the figure sitting cross-legged.
"Can you see the image?"
"Y-yes," nodded Susan.
"Good," said Dooku. "Now let it fill your vision, without forcing it. Observe it as you rhythm with your breathing."
Susan tried to do as he told her. She relaxed her shoulders, let the sound of her breathing fill her ears, and allowed her eyes to wander over the figure before her. Slowly, she began to notice many details. She saw that from behind its knees sprouted the tops of a thicket of black hair, that the skin on its arms and legs was very pale. She observed the perfect, almost drawn musculature of the chest, which assured her she was looking at a male being. She could almost see, behind her knees, the perfectly round shape of two dark, deep-set eyes that ...
Were watching her?
At first she thought she had imagined it, and diverted her attention to look elsewhere ... at the Gems in the circle, at the colours of the Schism, at the hands ...
But the hands had been removed.
The head was raised above the knees.
The boy - the man - his age was undeterminable - was staring at her.
His full lips twitched slightly.
Was he smiling at her?
"Susan!"
Dooku's voice awakened her. The vision vanished, and Susan found herself in the darkness of the Jedi Temple room. The Count held her tightly by the shoulders as the girl caught her breath, taking long, deep breaths. He told her that she had begun at some point to tremble, to shake - a sign he interpreted as a hint that she was sinking into the vision.
"It is not good to dive too deep into the vision, not now."
"I ... I saw ..."
"Sssh," Dooku soothed her. "I don't want to know anything, not now. Rest, we'll pick up later. I think your grandfather is in the library."
*
Obi-Wan did not particularly like the Archives, but he could not deny that the place had a calming effect on him. The long rows of holophiles all meticulously sorted, catalogued and lovingly classified gave the place an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity. It was like entering a cooling bubble, a cosy refuge that allowed one to forget one's troubles for a while.
It was something the Padawan really needed at that moment.
The way Qui-Gon had put him forward for the trials the day before still stung. Technically, sure, his Master had praised him, but no amount of praise could drive from Obi-Wan's mind the feeling that Qui-Gon was actually throwing him over for Anakin. This thought had continued to haunt him throughout the morning, no matter how much Obi-Wan had tried to stifle it by going to sword practice, or trying to meditate. In the end, he had decided to try the extreme solution: the Archives. Perhaps, looking at some holofile would calm him down.
He was so absorbed in his thoughts that he almost noticed the Doctor and Padme leaning over one of the library's databases. As soon as his brain had registered them, however, he jerked back.
"What are you doing?" he asked them, trying to keep his voice low.
"Oh hello, young man," the Doctor greeted him. "We're checking your information on Skaro."
"But ... but only Jedi can ..."
"We have special permission from Master Nu," the Doctor interrupted him again, with an irritated wave of his hand. "Or rather, I have it, but I thought this young lady might be interested in my research."
Obi-Wan shook his head, exasperated. Great, another break of the rules. He was beginning to suspect that he was being punished for something by the Force: it had been since he had left Naboo with his Master a few days ago that he had had to see all the procedures and rules of the Jedi systematically broken, or manipulated. After twelve years with Qui-Gon, he thought he had gotten used to it, but apparently his Master had not been able to broaden his mind enough.
"You may join us, if you wish," Padme then proposed, in a more conciliatory tone. "You have faced those creatures as well, and I know the Queen intends to ask for
your and Master Qui-Gon's assistance again."
Sighing, Obi-Wan took a seat at the Doctor's right hand. After all, he had already planned to seek out information on the matter on his own, he might as well do it in the company of someone, like the Doctor, who seemed to actually know more about their new enemies. "What did you find out?"
"Skaro has long been home to an advanced society, divided into two social classes: the Thals, the warrior aristocracy, and the Kaleds, scientists and philosophers," Padme updated him. "But they destroyed each other in a civil conflict more than a millennium ago. Until now, everyone was convinced the planet was uninhabited, unlivable."
"Kaled ... Dalek ..." muttered Obi-Wan to himself. "Strange similarity in names ..."
"Good point, boy," nodded the Doctor. "Yes, I've noticed that, too. It may be that the present Daleks are survivors of the conflict, or a new life form born from it. Unfortunately, your Archives are very incomplete on this aspect."
"So what are you looking at now?"
"The story of Skaro. It may be that somewhere we find a clue that explains what happened, how the Daleks came into being."
"Doctor, look ..." Padme drew his attention back to a paragraph on the computer in front of them. "It talks here about a scientist named Davros, whose contribution was essential to the Kaleds' victory in the war. However, it also says that the Kaleds disappeared shortly afterwards, and it is rumoured that he had ... plans for Skaro's future."
"Interesting ..." commented the Doctor, drumming his finger against his own chin. "Yes, interesting."
"We must tell the Council all this," Obi-Wan proposed. "The Senate is stalled on procedures for the election of a new Chancellor, but perhaps some of us can be sent to take a look."
"Excellent idea, my boy. Perhaps you could propose the idea to your Master as soon as you ... Ah, Susan, my dear!" exclaimed the Doctor, seeing the girl approaching. "Finished your lessons already?"
"The Count decided to take a break," explained Susan. "He said I had better not tire myself out."
"Good, then you come at the right time," smiled Padme, getting up. "I was just going to suggest that we take a break ... I'm hungry. You can join us if you like."
"Us?" asked Obi-Wan, surprised.
"Well, I assumed, Master Kenobi, that you would keep us company. Or do you want to leave two poor helpless girls wandering around the city?" replied Padme, turning and winking at Susan, who blushed. Obi-Wan remained silent, but the Doctor patted him on the back and invited him to join the two girls, while he went in search of Qui-Gon to tell him what they had discovered. Caught between two fires, Obi-Wan accepted the offer - on the condition that he pick the place where they would eat (and he already had a pretty good idea about that).
Who knows, maybe that was, in fact, what he needed to calm down.
*
"We can't trust him. I remember him from the Academy days. He has always been ambitious and scheming. If we involve him, he will exploit our project for his own purposes."
"And the other two?"
"The Doctor will never agree. Between us, he was the voice of reason, the moral one. It is a problem we must solve. If he finds out about us ..."
"Count, the girl?"
"I have just begun lessons with her. She is strong, in the Force, but untrained. It will take time for me to get her to control her gifts - more than we have now, I'm afraid. The Senate will not delay the election of a new Chancellor for long, and I doubt it will be difficult for Queen Amidala to find allies with the videos she showed in the Senate."
"Preparations are almost complete. We are even ahead of schedule. I am ready to begin the final phase of the operation without any problem."
"Very well then, let us proceed. Maul?"
"Yes, my Master."
"Listen to me carefully, here is what you will have to do ..."