Part 31 (2/2)

'Besides, I think I've had one too many bombs go off under my snout.

Maybe Aggedor is trying to tell me something, yeah.'

The Federation Representatives' room was a bustle of activity as they all prepared for the restatement vows ceremony. Alpha Centauri was an unusually calm shade of olive as he hurried around, checking that everyone looked dignified and neat for their pre-ceremony audience with Tarrol.

One thing I am going to do when I'm home is catch up on some old friends,' smiled Corry, remembering. especially an old fool with a holocamera.'

Keri nodded - she knew who Corry meant. 'Try starting your search on Azure.'

Corry stared open-mouthed and Keri laughed. 'Hey, we kept in touch, just in case one of you ever saw sense and realized life is too short to worry about one little disagreement.'

'Life certainly is too short, a fact that I realized down by the refinery. Keri, in another life I could marry you!'

'Now that would be a news story.'

Kort wandered over, munching on a ma.s.sive sandwich. 'Great food.'

'Hey, you're not supposed to eat until after the ceremony, yeah!'

'We did quite well, really, didn't we, Keri? A good team?' Kort offered her a bit of unmunched sandwich.

She took a bite out of it. 'When you grow up, kid, come and find us. A good slicer is worth a fortune in our business, yeah.' She took his hand, the smile fading from her face. And Kort? Jina would have been so proud of you. I know I am.'

The Doctor regarded the people in front of him.

Corry, Keri and Kort all smiles despite their injuries.

Savaar and Bernice talking animatedly about going off with Rhukk. Sskeet wasn't there - one of Ra.s.sbur's men had piloted the shuttle back to the Bruk to get him some medical attention. The prognosis, however, was good. Ra.s.sbur himself had already departed with the survivors of his troops. Four of his men had died in the battle. Four more lives directly attributable to the Diadem's rapacious quest for power.

Centauri bobbed over. 'Well, Doctor. It's been quite an adventure, hasn't it?

One day it would be nice if you could visit without Peladon being in trouble.'

The Doctor grinned. If a place isn't in trouble, there's no point in my going.'

Centauri digested this, blinked slowly and bobbed back to the others.

The Time Lord thought of those who weren't at the party. Torg, the giant.

Lianna - beautiful Lianna. Geban, loyal and brave until the end. And Atissa, apparently fled to the outer plains of the planet.

Suddenly the Doctor felt he was being watched. From behind. Then there was a faint sound, like a muted TARDIS materialization noise. He looked down at his feet. There was a brand new but old-fas.h.i.+oned travelling chess set lying there - where it hadn't been seconds before. 'Hmmm. Their ”thank you” gifts get more and more bizarre.'

Half an hour later they were escorted to the throne room. Resplendent in burgundy and gold, the drapes had been renewed. Long strands of paper chains ranged from corner to corner and someone had added a couple of balloons to one of Aggedor's tusks on a small statue in the far corner.

A guilty look from Kort told the Doctor who was responsible for that.

Seated on his throne, surrounded by two heavily armed guards, was King Tarrol. As the Doctor led the Federation party forward, he stood and the guards took a step back.

The Doctor stopped; Centauri and Savaar on either side of him, the others a few paces behind.

'May I have the pleasure of addressing the king?' the Doctor said.

'My friends,' began Tarrol. 'My friends, you have done so much over the years to protect the sovereignty of Peladon. More importantly, recent events have cost you far more dearly. High Lord Savaar, I request that you officially pa.s.s on my regrets to the Martian High Commission regarding the deaths of your four warriors.'

Savaar nodded regally.

'However,' Tarrol continued, 'much has happened here that I cannot offer mere words and apologies for. Our beloved Chancellor Geban is no longer with us. His life was sacrificed in a generous and important gesture and as king 1 can only honour him for that.'

Behind the Federation party, Neal Corry nodded. He understood too well what Geban's sacrifice had been and how he was only alive because of the chancellor's selfless actions.

As Tarrol, I no longer have Geban as a friend. We have also lost our high priestess. As king, I regret that. As Tarrol, I acknowledge that Atissa's calling was to a higher power than merely her liege.'

He took a step towards Alpha Centauri. 'For nearly one hundred years, you have been a lifelong friend of the planet Peladon. What I must say now hurts me far more than anyone in this room can imagine. But to you, Centauri, I feel I am doing the greatest hurt. I can only apologize - I pray that you accept my a.s.surances that it is not a personal attack.'

He cleared his throat, went back to his throne and sat.

'Today marks the end of the planet Peladon's involvement with the Galactic Federation. We royally request that within twenty-four hours all Federation representatives and equipment are no longer on the planet. Maybe Atissa was right but went about proving it for the wrong reasons. Peladon has learned from your Federation. For many years we benefited. But recently that has not been the case. Studying your histories, I am aware that empires rise and fall. Colonies come and go. Peladon must go forward to find her own future. I believe that our future is one of self-sufficiency, not as part of a marvellous but distant Federation.'

The Doctor glanced around at the sea of faces behind him. Centauri was blinking a lot. Savaar was stoic, Corry and Keri were puzzled.

But he wasn't.

Life, he decided, is circular - like delivering a baby and coming back to see it die as an old man - and so was his involvement in the affairs of the planet Peladon.

He'd been instrumental in bringing it into the Federation, now he was witness to its learning to stand on its own two feet.

It made sense.

Tarrol was finis.h.i.+ng his speech and there was a trace of a quaver in his voice. 'My friends, for that is what you all are, I thank you. I thank you for your efforts, for your understanding. I thank you for keeping this planet living. But the time has come for us to see if we can walk without a Federation crutch.'

For a moment there was silence and then the Doctor took a step forward.

'Your Majesty. As you may know, I have always had a special interest in this planet and its people.'

The king nodded and smiled sadly.

'However,' the Doctor continued, 'I applaud your decision. But I would suggest a slight proviso. Request that the Federation revisits you in fifty years. As a gesture. By then you will know whether or not you can confidently throw away that crutch for good. And if not, please Your Majesty, do not let pride make you reject another crutch. This universe is full of people needing each other but being too foolhardy to ask.'

King Tarrol of Peladon stood. 'Doctor, you counsel wisely, as always. If the Federation Representatives are agreed, then in fifty years our doors will be reopened and our guests welcomed.'

Savaar looked at Centauri. The hexapod bobbed forward. 'Your Majesty is a wise and intelligent king. I know that Peladon will flourish under your rule.

I will return in fifty years and look forward to it greatly.' Centauri cleared his throat. All hail King Tarrol of Peladon. Long may he reign.'

The others took up the call.

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