ladyofleithian | Chapter Thirteen: Rise Up

In which Rose and Ace meet up with the Rani, and they begin to start a revolution.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

It was later that Rose woke up in the tent. She couldn't say that she quite knew where she was, at least in terms of knowing what part of the camp she was in, and yet at the same time, the presence of the Rani...it gave Rose at least an inkling of where she was -- not that it necessarily helped.

"Hello, Ushas." It was odd, really, using the name of the Time Lady who had attended the Academy with her, but she supposed that it was only right. After all, they were on the same side. Rose could assume, at least, that she had ended up in the tent reserved for special criminals, assuming that people necessarily discriminated between the prisoners. Rose could assume that they didn't, at least relatively.

"Rose," the Rani said, with a trace of her usual wry humor. "Nice of you to drop in."

Rose winced even as she tried to sit up. She somehow felt sore -- more sore than she ever imagined. "What...what part of the camp are we in?"

"They don't really sort us into camps," the Rani said. "As far as I can gather, any illusion of order is strictly coincidental."

Ah. All right.

"But why are they doing this, Ushas?" Rose asked. She didn't know why she was using the true name of her former friend, but she supposed that considering the danger they were both in, she supposed that one last attempt at reclaiming the scientific genius' friendship wasn't too much to ask.

The Rani gave a harsh laugh. "Why do you think, Rose? They want to keep Gallifrey pure. Gallifrey for those who are purely Gallifreyan. I would not be surprised if you were next."

A chill ran up Rose's spine even as the Rani spoke. "I know," she said. Her father had been a Time Lord who had married a human woman. Considering Rassilon's detestation of the so-called "lesser species", if it wasn't for the fact she was instrumental to the war effort, she would most likely be one of the prisoners in the camps -- sent to inevitable execution. Rassilon had become no better than the Daleks he was fighting. It was one thing to know that Rassilon was mad, to see that he was mad, but to see that he had taken over Gallifrey...

The Rani continued, so calmly, as if she was discussing the latest cricket match. "That and those who are decreed traitors. Rassilon can't abide threats to his power. And thus, those who are not 'true Gallifreyans' are dragged out to this place."

"So that's why you're out there," Rose said.

"Exactly. Now you understand?"

"I do."

Silence reigned. Rose could hear the sound of screams before the sound of disintegration. She could feel Ace's hand squeezing hers, as if vainly trying to keep her from breaking. Rose squeezed back, smiled faintly at Ace. Ace's gesture was such a small thing, but at least here, it was enough.

She then turned back to the Rani. There wasn't any time for sorrows -- that could be used for later. Now...now it was time for action.

"We have to find a way to stop them," Rose said.

"I don't think they'd like that. You are, after all, indispensable to the war effort."

"I'm not that indispensable," Rose argued, but even now, she knew that it was a lie. At the very least, Rassilon wouldn't want to waste her. His favorite pawn -- they had even worked together in the past to stop Borusa, before he had gone mad. While she had been possessed by Zagreus, she had all but lost who she was -- if not for Charley, as well as the TARDIS and Romana, she would have never truly reclaimed her identity. And through Zagreus, she had seen the extent of Rassilon's corruption.

"Rani," she said, switching back to using her fellow renegade's chosen name, "I don't think that he cares about Gallifrey."

"Indeed?" The Rani said it in a way that suggested, And you've just figured this out?

"Quite a long while ago, I was...well, I encountered an entity named Zagreus. Through him, I learned that Rassilon had sought to eliminate the 'lesser' species. And Romana..." Rose sighed. "Rassilon only cares about power. If he cares about anything else, I doubt I've seen it."

The Rani raised an eyebrow. "And you've just realized it now?"

"Yes." It was then that Rose heard the sounds of guards marching outside, dragging another Time Lord, dressed in the green robes of his house, to the Judgment Block. Rose turned back to the Rani. "Rani...what do we do?"

The Rani gave an incredulous laugh. "What do we do? Rose -- you've outsmarted everyone from Davros to the Sontarans and more. And you ask what we're going to do?"

"She's right, Professor," Ace said, "You can do it."

Perhaps they were right. Worrying about the outcome wasn't going to solve anything. They had to act, and hope that things would turn out for the best.

"All right...Rani?"

"Yes?"

In spite of herself, Rose found herself smiling. "How do you feel about starting a revolution?"