Chapter Text
Standing in front of the TARDIS doors before they opened, before any hint of what might lie beyond, was often the best part. Anything could be outside. It might be beautiful. It might be deadly. It might be both. There was only one way to find out. Butterflies swarmed in Yaz's stomach in anticipation. She glanced over at the Doctor, who was sporting a wide grin. That only heightened the anticipation.
“Where are we this time Doc,” Graham asked. “Or when?”
“Take a look,” was all the Doctor would say.
Yaz needed no further encouragement. She rushed through the doors with Ryan and Graham close behind. Outside was a rocky landscape under a thick black sky lit up with stars and multi-colored moons. Yaz counted seven moons, her favorite being the small pale pink one. But the most eye-catching sight was a tall tower made of obsidian and granite that rose from the ceiling of a huge auditorium. “What is it?”
“That,” the Doctor said with untempered delight. “Is the meeting place of the Intergalactic Senate. We're ninety eight years into the future, and one of the most important summits to ever convene is about to begin.”
“Why's it so important,” Ryan asked. “Is there a war or something about to break out?”
“No,” the Doctor said, her smile growing ever brighter. “It's nothing so dreadful. Today is the day the Senate will decide whether to admit humanity into their ranks.”
Yaz watched a blue fellow in a Tweed suit rush for a door guarded by what looked like two giant rhinos. The man paid the rhinos no mind, but showed a piece of paper to an orangeish woman in a gray suit. She waved him on with a bored expression. “I suppose you already know what the answer will be.”
“I might,” the Doctor confessed. “And I might not. But regardless it would hardly be any fun for me to tell you, would it?”
“Let's go then,” Ryan said. “Find out what the rest of the universe thinks of us.”
“I'm not entirely sure I want to know,” Graham said, but he followed his grandson, so his curiosity must have been stronger than his apprehension.
Yaz and the Doctor shared another smile before the Doctor offered her an arm, which Yaz was more than happy to take. The three of them stopped at the door while the Doctor fished for her psychic paper.
The bored orange woman sighed. “More security? Has anyone ever accused you humans of paranoia,” she asked.
“It's only paranoia when they aren't out to get you,” Graham joked. “Do you know how many times we've almost been invaded?”
The woman rolled her eyes before turning to one of the rhinos. “Can you escort them to the stage?”
The rhino barked some harsh syllables before turning and walking down a long hallway. “We're meant to follow,” the Doctor said as she did so. “Come on! So thrilling.”
“What are they,” Ryan whispered.
“Jadoon,” the Doctor said. “Don't mind them.”
“Wow,” Graham said. “Now that's something.”
As the hallway widened and they neared their destination the interior of the auditorium became visible. Thousands of beings sat in the rows facing the large stage. Some looked alien. Some looked human. Some were difficult to tell. In the front row sat who appeared to be several glass bubbles stuck into a fleshy mass similar in appearance to chewed upon bubble gum. In each glass bubble floated an eye. Two chunks of pink flesh parted to reveal sharp silver teeth and let loose a roar of laughter. “You are too humorous my friend, far, far too enjoyable!”
“Now that's a proper alien,” Ryan said.
Yaz pointed at the stage, which was being ascended by a black woman of advanced years, who used a cane but did not seem to be altogether reliant on it. Her white hair sprung from her head like a happy winter garden. She wore flowing rich red robes that called to mind roses, strawberries and other delightful vegetation. “Who's that?”
“If I had to guess I would say that's the ambassador for Earth,” the Doctor said.
“So she's going to plead our case,” Ryan asked. “Say why we're not so bad.”
“C'mon,” the Doctor said. “Let's get closer.”
The Doctor and her companions approached the stage. A tall man put out a hand to stop them. “Halt. None may pass.”
The Doctor held up her psychic paper. “No worries mate. Extra security. Here to help protect the ambassador. Glad to be part of the team. How are things looking?”
He lowered his hand. “You may pass.”
“Thanks,” the Doctor said.
The Doctor led them through a door that brought them under the stage. Sound equipment took up most of the space, but there were also at least a dozen people flitting about, looking busy. A staircase took them up to the stage, separated from the ambassador by only a curtain. If they stood at just the right angle they had a perfect view of the proceedings. The ambassador and her audience were all in view. “Traveling with you is like having a VIP pass for life,” Ryan said.
“Sh,” Yaz said. “She's about to start talking.”
The Ambassador stood tall, one hand on her cane, but not resting her weight upon it. The other hand was on a single piece of paper she had placed on the podium. “Friends, colleagues, citizens of the Universe,”
“Romans, countrymen, lend me-” Ryan whispered before Yaz silenced him with a glare. “Sorry, just messing about.”
“I see the esteemed Senator Agportangii from Prijporkalam is with us today.” The alien with the floating eyes roared with approval at what Yaz guessed was his name. “The Senator holds the record for longest advocation at three days, seventeen hours and thirty two minutes.” The ambassador paused. “I will not attempt to break that record.” Graham sighed in relief and was echoed by a large portion of the audience. “I would never be able to capture the elegance and intellect the senator displayed with such skill. Indeed I fear I have only a small number of words to share with you all today, but they are precious to me and I beg you to receive them.” The ambassador paused again. Yaz was amazed by her calm and graceful demeanor.
“They seem to like her,” Graham said.
Yaz looked at the audience. She agreed with Graham. They were all silent as they waited for the ambassador to continue. “Many of you know me. Many, if I do not delude myself know of me. But that is not important. I am not here on my own behalf, but on behalf of the people of Earth. I know better than to believe fondness for myself can be exchanged for tolerance of my people.”
“Is she speaking for or against humans being allowed in the club,” Ryan asked.
“Hush,” Yaz said. “Let her finish.”
“I am well aware of what is said of us, behind our backs and to our faces. ‘Humans! Loud belligerent troublesome creatures. Ours is a Senate of wisdom and culture. Humans will not fit in with us.’ I will not deny the transgressions of my ancestors, nor will I make excuses for them. What you have seen and been told of humanity is more true than it is untrue. Some rumors are mere fanciful stories, but for the most part…” The ambassador paused again, and silence reigned as her audience waited for her to continue. “Yes, we warred. Yes, we oppressed. We neglected. We abused. We enslaved. We were cruel to one another. And I will not say that we have evolved and all those days are behind us. Because there are humans who continue to engage in such practices. And if you admit us to the Senate you will be embracing those humans just as much as you will be embracing the healers, the artists and the builders. That my friends is the reason why you should admit us.”
“Huh,” Graham said. “I'm lost.”
“The Senate is a wonderful institution. Here such miracles occur. In this place treaties are signed. Bridges are built. Love is shared. We come to this place with full hearts and good intentions, and such magic takes place. But how is this possible? What makes the Senate so effective? Here every stage of evolutionary development is represented. All can benefit from the experiences of the collective whole. The mistakes and misfortunes of the past become the wisdom and wealth of the future. My friends, who has made more mistakes than humanity? Who has more folly to share than us?”
The ambassador paused again, and Yaz took the opportunity to sneak a peek at the Doctor and gauge her reaction. The Doctor was captivated, her face aglow. Yaz turned her attention back to the ambassador.
“The Senate is not an ivory tower where out of touch elites convene. It is a place where all are welcome who are ready and willing to engage in good faith. It is a place of growth and a place of healing. It is a place where all the citizens of the universe can make their voices heard. Denying a species admittance will not make them any less a part of the universe, it will only serve to silence all the voices contained within. We are your neighbors. We want to share ourselves with you, to love you, and perhaps in turn be loved by you. I ask that you give us the opportunity to share all that we are with you, not because you must, not because you should, but because we have so much to give, and our hearts are aching to give it. I thank you all for your time. You have been so good to hear me. In the words of my mother, there is magic all around us love, though it goes by many names. Be it technology or prayer or a simple act of kindness. I have felt magic in this room today. Thank you for the experience.”
It was only as the ambassador took her hand off her speech that Yaz realized she hadn't looked down once. A moment later the auditorium burst into applause. Yaz looked at the Doctor and they beamed at one another.
“I'd say that applause speaks for itself, wouldn't you,” Graham asked.
“Oh don't be so sure.” The curtain parted and the ambassador joined them backstage. “It is customary to applaud after an advocation. To do otherwise would be seen as an act of impropriety. They may applaud with all their strength and then turn around and vote against us.” The ambassador stepped closer to the Doctor and then before any of them could react enveloped her in a hug. “Thank you for coming.” The ambassador stepped back and examined the Doctor. “And look at you, so very early.” She grinned in delight.
“Early for what,” Yaz asked.
The ambassador smiled at Yaz. “I might have known. That cheeky grin. The way the Doctor guaranteed her presence.” The ambassador faced the Doctor again. “You had already been here when I asked you to come.”
“What,” Graham asked.
“Anybody else hungry,” the ambassador asked. “Lunch is being laid out in my suite.”
The Doctor's companions stared at her, hoping she would make sense of what was happening. But the Doctor only mirrored the ambassador's smile. “I love a good lunch.”
“Excellent! We can all catch up. It's been decades since the five of us were together.”
The Doctor followed the ambassador, and the rest of the party were left with no choice but to do likewise. “Doctor,” Yaz whispered as the ambassador explained to her flustered security detail she had some special guests that would be joining her for lunch. “Do you know the ambassador? Why didn't you say?”
“Never met her before in my life,” the Doctor said in a chipper tone. “One of the side effects of being a time traveler, some stories end up out of order. You meet old friends who have never seen you before, and strangers who are your closest confidants.”
“Oh…” Yaz said. “All right…”
“C'mon then Yaz. Lunch!” The Doctor bounded after the ambassador with great delight, and Yaz followed as well, wondering how she herself knew Earth's ambassador.