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“Goodbye, Doctor,” Romana whispered into the void before she turned and hurried after Biroc.
She heard the telltale whoosh of The Doctor’s TARDIS disappearing as she hurried across the room towards the mirror. As quickly as one can while carrying K9’s heavy metal body in their arms. Romana shifted K9 again so she wouldn’t drop him and stepped through the silvery glass before it was shattered by the explosion of the null space finally collapsing in on itself.
Once she was through, Romana stopped and looked over her shoulder. She would miss The Doctor, but after her travels with him, she knew she couldn’t return to Gallifrey. At least not any time soon.
“Mistress?” A metallic voice broke through Romana’s thoughts. “Can you put me down, Mistress?”
“Oh! K9, you’re back!” Romana exclaimed before she placed him on the floor.
“Affirmative, Mistress.”
Romana patted him on the head before she stood up. “It’s good to have you back, K9.”
“Mistress.”
“Come along, K9,” Romana said as she started following Biroc again.
“Where are we going, Mistress? Where is Master, Mistress?”
Romana stopped walking and shared a look with Biroc before she knelt down next to K9. “The Doctor gave you to me when I decided to stay behind and not return to Gallifrey. Your memories would still be gone if I hadn’t taken you through the mirror,” she gestured over her shoulder, “and The Doctor knew that, so he gave you to me.”
“Mistress.” The slight dip of the mechanical dog’s head broke Romana’s heart.
She reached out and laid her hand upon K9’s head. “Before you ask, I don’t think we will ever see The Doctor again.”
If her hand hadn’t been on his head, she would have missed the slight movement, but she felt K9’s head dip ever so slightly. “Mistress.”
“I’m sorry, K9,” Romana whispered.
“Thank you, Mistress,” he replied. He lifted his head and looked at Romana. “What are we going to do now, Mistress?”
Romana stood back up. She looked over a Biroc who stood off to the side, watching the exchange between the two silently. Romana smiled. “We are going to start by helping Biroc and his people, the Tharils, and then we will go from there.”
“What about Gallifrey?”
“I will not be returning to Gallifrey any time soon,” Romana replied. “Do you have a problem with that, K9?”
“Negative, Misstress,” K9 said. “I have no opinion one way or another.”
Romana chuckled under her breath. “Of course, K9. Now, let’s go see how we can help the Tharils.”