Fic: Solid Skies, Chapter 18/19
Title: Solid Skies
Author: Veldeia
Series: Sequel to Hollow World
Fandom: Doctor Who
Warnings: WIP
Characters/Pairings: 10th Doctor, Martha Jones, OCs. Gen.
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: If you've seen it on TV, it isn't mine.
Summary: After surviving one big cave, the Doctor, Martha and a caving team from the Sixties find themselves in even more trouble on a planet full of caves.
18. The Great Chamber of Justice
After a few cups of Khiandrian tea and a moment of rest in a huge, soft bed in a luxurious room provided by the Chairperson, the Doctor finally felt entirely back to normal. The Plague was nothing but an unpleasant memory - and a significant political problem waiting to be solved.
He and Martha went to the trial as a part of the Chairperson's entourage. She had assured them that she would only choose guards and attendants she could trust completely, but even amongst them, quite a few were murmuring to each other and glaring at the two aliens. Considering the news coverage they'd had, the Doctor was hardly surprised. He had no idea what the media were currently saying about Martha and him, but he could guess it wasn't anything too flattering.
The looks they got once they entered the Great Chamber of Justice were absolutely flabbergasted. All the other parties were already there. The Fifteen struggled to maintain their composure as they stared at the Chairperson and her unexpected companions, while behind them, the caving team grinned widely at their two friends. The guards surrounding the humans looked like they didn't know what to do. On the defendants' platform in the middle of the room, Jess was waving cheerfully at the Doctor and Martha. Next to her stalactite and stalagmite prison, Neir the spokesperson looked petrified, standing stock-still, all colour drained from her already pallid face.
Ignoring the gaping crowd, the Chairperson led her party to the tier just behind the Fifteen's, across from where the human prisoners sat. The Doctor and Martha took places a few rows higher up, and a little to the left of her, so that they could see her face. Of course, a few of the Chairperson's guards followed them, but they were there to keep the two of them safe, not to protect the others from them.
The Doctor leaned back and put his feet up on the bench in front of him. "This should be a speech to remember," he told Martha.
"I've got my fingers crossed," she replied, sounding so nervous that it was as if she were the one about to address the entire population of the planet.
Once everyone had found a seat, the Chairperson stood up and spread her arms, the wide sleeves of her silver-and-green ceremonial robe flared out like wings. "Honoured Ones, friends from afar, and my fellow Khiandrians, all of you, be you Dark, Dusk or Bright," she began, letting her gaze wander, as if taking in all of her audience, not only the ones in the room, but those watching the news feed as well.
"Until this day, I have not taken part in this trial, as I trusted the Fifteen to conduct it as fairly as only they can. However, as you all know, it is my right as Chairperson to intervene if absolutely necessary, and now, things have come to my attention that leave me no choice but to do so. These matters concern not only the people touched by this trial, but every single person on the planet. Nevertheless, I would first address you, Jess, daughter of Jem, who chose to stand alone, answering for all that you and your friends have done."
"Yes, Most Honoured One," Jess said, making a long, reverential salute, bowing her head and covering her eyes with both hands.
"Jess of Chute Town - or should I say Earth," the Chairperson went on, the look on her face nothing but kind, her voice benevolent. "Would you please tell us what you truly wish to achieve in this trial?"
For the first time during the proceedings, Jess actually looked taken aback. "Your Honour, I -"
"Don't worry, it's quite all right," the Chairperson said.
Jess still looked hesitant, and the Doctor did his best to catch her attention, nodding eagerly to assure her that it really was okay. When she did notice him, she frowned, and looked at Martha, who nodded too.
Finally, Jess stood up straight, head held high. "Very well, Most Honoured One. To put it simply: I took the blame hoping that the Fifteen would condemn me to exile."
A murmur went through the crowd, but the Chairperson waved her hands to shush it. "And why is that?"
"Because Brian is my mate, I love him, and I would rather never see my home again than to be separated from him, let alone allow him to come to any harm," Jess declared, her eyes on her beloved.
The hubbub that rose after those words was even louder, and the Chairperson allowed it to go on for some time before gesturing for silence again. "Thank you, Jess, daughter of Jem, of Earth and Chute Town. We shall return to your case later. I brought it up because it is a fine example that there can be love and understanding between those who are alien to one another, and co-operation between contrasting parties," she said, giving Neir a shrewd look. "On a planet torn in three, it is an important reminder that it is possible to put aside our differences, no matter how great they are. We can all work together for a common purpose, but as with all things, that purpose may not always be beneficial to everyone. Today, in this very chamber, we have two more examples of such collaboration, which I will now point out."
At this point, Neir was looking like she wanted to run away, but a pair of the Chairperson's guards had moved in to stand by her sides, and several more were guarding the doors. In the ranks of the guards surrounding the caving team, a few were looking around or at Neir with uncertainty and anxiety on their faces. One had even put her hand to the gun holster at her hip, but some of the others had noticed that, and were keeping a suspicious eye on her.
"Darks and Brights," the Chairperson went on, paying no attention to what was going on in the room. "The two extremes, with views so different that one would think they could never find a common ground, their extremist groups so fiercely at odds that we're approaching civil war. Who would have guessed that they would combine forces some day? Yet some among their ranks have done so. For many months, probably even years, a group whose members come from both parties has been working to bring down my government and to send us back to the Hive Age, with a Queen on the Throne again. This secret coalition goes by the very suitable name of Contrast.
"Six months ago, they released a deadly Plague among the petromites of Nest Town, and blamed it on aliens. It must be said that they never wished to harm the people, only the little ones. Still, even when the disease mutated and attacked us, they showed little regret. They kept a tight hold on the research facility, hindering the effort to cure the Plague, as it still served their purpose, that of creating chaos, discord, paranoia and hatred. How many of you would have remained moderate in your opinions if not for this allegedly alien Plague?"
She fell silent, letting her words sink in. The chamber was dead silent now, and more than that, it felt as if the entire planet was holding its breath around them.
"Many of you may doubt my words, but there is proof of all these things, and it will be made public. To balance this disturbing piece of news, I will tell you another true story, one of an entirely opposite nature. As I have learned the truth behind the Plague, I have also discovered that there is a cure. That all these news ever reached me is all thanks to the collaboration of several very different people, all of whom took great personal risks to bring out the truth. Amongst these people are Khif, daughter of Khal, of the City of Lights, a Dark, Meg, daughter of P'oan, of Khar's Pit, a Dusk, K'iem, son of Deir, of Maze City South, a Bright, as well as these two aliens, Martha Jones and the Doctor." The Chairperson held out her hand to point them out.
The Doctor and Martha glanced at each other, grinned, and looked around, waving, knowing that for a few seconds, the entire planet was staring at them.
"All these people have been falsely accused of several crimes. The truth is, they have committed no major offences, and the minor ones they admittedly did commit, including resisting arrest and trespassing, were unavoidable due to the difficult circumstances they were faced with at the time. With the right that is mine as the Chairperson of the Planet-State of Khiandria, I grant full pardon to them all, wherever they are. The same goes for the humans Brian, Joseph and Grant, who, contrary to the claims orchestrated by Contrast, have never had anything to do with any violent extremist organisations."
Joseph and Grant were now looking extremely relieved, but Brian clearly didn't share their feelings. The Doctor could see him gripping the edge of the seat in front of him tightly, his mouth a thin line, his eyes fixed on Jess.
"Returning to Jess, daughter of Jem, of Chute Town and Earth, who stands within the Jaws of Justice today: there is no denying that she has broken the Quarantine and Travel Laws," the Chairperson said. "However, had she not done so, consequently meeting these aliens and bringing them here, we might never have learned the truth about the Plague and the people behind it. She also chose to return to Khiandria even though she knew full well that she would be facing charges. She has made mistakes, but her open-mindedness, courage and sense of responsibility are exemplary. Because of this, I pardon her as well."
On the central platform, Jess was leaning on the stone bars of her prison, gaping at the Chairperson as if she could not believe what she had just heard.
"As for those who have worked for Contrast, they will be brought to justice," the Chairperson declared. It was a simple statement of something that was inevitable, and as such, even more intimidating than an open threat would've been. "To those agents of Contrast who are listening to me now: if you surrender yourselves out of your own free will, your punishment will be much milder. I know you're not evil or bad people. You were able to overcome your prejudices and to work together with your worst enemies to do what you thought best for the planet. Look deep into your spirit, and think hard. I trust you to do the right thing. The guards will treat you fairly."
Neir's expression was of pure hatred, but the Chairperson ignored it completely. She hadn't as much as glanced as the spokesperson as she'd said those words, and she still didn't do so. Instead, she gazed beyond the tiers of the chamber, at her invisible audience everywhere on the planet.
"To everyone else, I will say this. I know that you are outraged by what these people have done. So am I. Nevertheless, I ask of you not to go on witch-hunts. Rest assured, we will find each and every member of Contrast. I will not see any more violence arise from this. Do not serve Contrast's cause by rioting and fighting each other. Even if you know someone who has worked for them, do not persecute them. Give them room to think. Let them decide for themselves. Trust each other. These are difficult and trying times for us all, but I know we can follow the example set by the people in this room. We may have different ideologies, but in the end, we all want similar things - peace, prosperity and happiness. We can never achieve these if we don't work together."
The Chairperson sat down, nonchalant, a small smile on her lips.
The perfect silence lasted for almost a minute. Then, all of the Fifteen stood up, and began whistling and whooping. It seemed a little rowdy for such a solemn lot, but apparently, clapping wasn't a Khiandrian custom. Besides, it really had been quite a speech. Of course, the Doctor had given the Chairperson so many pointers that one could say he'd practically written it. Still, it had been even better than he had expected, and he was sure he could never have pulled it off like that.
As the guards around them started cheering as well, the Doctor and Martha stood up and joined in, shouting and applauding - even managing to pass on that alien tradition to some of the locals - until their voices grew hoarse and their hands sore.
Epilogue: First Nest
Author: Veldeia
Series: Sequel to Hollow World
Fandom: Doctor Who
Warnings: WIP
Characters/Pairings: 10th Doctor, Martha Jones, OCs. Gen.
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: If you've seen it on TV, it isn't mine.
Summary: After surviving one big cave, the Doctor, Martha and a caving team from the Sixties find themselves in even more trouble on a planet full of caves.
18. The Great Chamber of Justice
After a few cups of Khiandrian tea and a moment of rest in a huge, soft bed in a luxurious room provided by the Chairperson, the Doctor finally felt entirely back to normal. The Plague was nothing but an unpleasant memory - and a significant political problem waiting to be solved.
He and Martha went to the trial as a part of the Chairperson's entourage. She had assured them that she would only choose guards and attendants she could trust completely, but even amongst them, quite a few were murmuring to each other and glaring at the two aliens. Considering the news coverage they'd had, the Doctor was hardly surprised. He had no idea what the media were currently saying about Martha and him, but he could guess it wasn't anything too flattering.
The looks they got once they entered the Great Chamber of Justice were absolutely flabbergasted. All the other parties were already there. The Fifteen struggled to maintain their composure as they stared at the Chairperson and her unexpected companions, while behind them, the caving team grinned widely at their two friends. The guards surrounding the humans looked like they didn't know what to do. On the defendants' platform in the middle of the room, Jess was waving cheerfully at the Doctor and Martha. Next to her stalactite and stalagmite prison, Neir the spokesperson looked petrified, standing stock-still, all colour drained from her already pallid face.
Ignoring the gaping crowd, the Chairperson led her party to the tier just behind the Fifteen's, across from where the human prisoners sat. The Doctor and Martha took places a few rows higher up, and a little to the left of her, so that they could see her face. Of course, a few of the Chairperson's guards followed them, but they were there to keep the two of them safe, not to protect the others from them.
The Doctor leaned back and put his feet up on the bench in front of him. "This should be a speech to remember," he told Martha.
"I've got my fingers crossed," she replied, sounding so nervous that it was as if she were the one about to address the entire population of the planet.
Once everyone had found a seat, the Chairperson stood up and spread her arms, the wide sleeves of her silver-and-green ceremonial robe flared out like wings. "Honoured Ones, friends from afar, and my fellow Khiandrians, all of you, be you Dark, Dusk or Bright," she began, letting her gaze wander, as if taking in all of her audience, not only the ones in the room, but those watching the news feed as well.
"Until this day, I have not taken part in this trial, as I trusted the Fifteen to conduct it as fairly as only they can. However, as you all know, it is my right as Chairperson to intervene if absolutely necessary, and now, things have come to my attention that leave me no choice but to do so. These matters concern not only the people touched by this trial, but every single person on the planet. Nevertheless, I would first address you, Jess, daughter of Jem, who chose to stand alone, answering for all that you and your friends have done."
"Yes, Most Honoured One," Jess said, making a long, reverential salute, bowing her head and covering her eyes with both hands.
"Jess of Chute Town - or should I say Earth," the Chairperson went on, the look on her face nothing but kind, her voice benevolent. "Would you please tell us what you truly wish to achieve in this trial?"
For the first time during the proceedings, Jess actually looked taken aback. "Your Honour, I -"
"Don't worry, it's quite all right," the Chairperson said.
Jess still looked hesitant, and the Doctor did his best to catch her attention, nodding eagerly to assure her that it really was okay. When she did notice him, she frowned, and looked at Martha, who nodded too.
Finally, Jess stood up straight, head held high. "Very well, Most Honoured One. To put it simply: I took the blame hoping that the Fifteen would condemn me to exile."
A murmur went through the crowd, but the Chairperson waved her hands to shush it. "And why is that?"
"Because Brian is my mate, I love him, and I would rather never see my home again than to be separated from him, let alone allow him to come to any harm," Jess declared, her eyes on her beloved.
The hubbub that rose after those words was even louder, and the Chairperson allowed it to go on for some time before gesturing for silence again. "Thank you, Jess, daughter of Jem, of Earth and Chute Town. We shall return to your case later. I brought it up because it is a fine example that there can be love and understanding between those who are alien to one another, and co-operation between contrasting parties," she said, giving Neir a shrewd look. "On a planet torn in three, it is an important reminder that it is possible to put aside our differences, no matter how great they are. We can all work together for a common purpose, but as with all things, that purpose may not always be beneficial to everyone. Today, in this very chamber, we have two more examples of such collaboration, which I will now point out."
At this point, Neir was looking like she wanted to run away, but a pair of the Chairperson's guards had moved in to stand by her sides, and several more were guarding the doors. In the ranks of the guards surrounding the caving team, a few were looking around or at Neir with uncertainty and anxiety on their faces. One had even put her hand to the gun holster at her hip, but some of the others had noticed that, and were keeping a suspicious eye on her.
"Darks and Brights," the Chairperson went on, paying no attention to what was going on in the room. "The two extremes, with views so different that one would think they could never find a common ground, their extremist groups so fiercely at odds that we're approaching civil war. Who would have guessed that they would combine forces some day? Yet some among their ranks have done so. For many months, probably even years, a group whose members come from both parties has been working to bring down my government and to send us back to the Hive Age, with a Queen on the Throne again. This secret coalition goes by the very suitable name of Contrast.
"Six months ago, they released a deadly Plague among the petromites of Nest Town, and blamed it on aliens. It must be said that they never wished to harm the people, only the little ones. Still, even when the disease mutated and attacked us, they showed little regret. They kept a tight hold on the research facility, hindering the effort to cure the Plague, as it still served their purpose, that of creating chaos, discord, paranoia and hatred. How many of you would have remained moderate in your opinions if not for this allegedly alien Plague?"
She fell silent, letting her words sink in. The chamber was dead silent now, and more than that, it felt as if the entire planet was holding its breath around them.
"Many of you may doubt my words, but there is proof of all these things, and it will be made public. To balance this disturbing piece of news, I will tell you another true story, one of an entirely opposite nature. As I have learned the truth behind the Plague, I have also discovered that there is a cure. That all these news ever reached me is all thanks to the collaboration of several very different people, all of whom took great personal risks to bring out the truth. Amongst these people are Khif, daughter of Khal, of the City of Lights, a Dark, Meg, daughter of P'oan, of Khar's Pit, a Dusk, K'iem, son of Deir, of Maze City South, a Bright, as well as these two aliens, Martha Jones and the Doctor." The Chairperson held out her hand to point them out.
The Doctor and Martha glanced at each other, grinned, and looked around, waving, knowing that for a few seconds, the entire planet was staring at them.
"All these people have been falsely accused of several crimes. The truth is, they have committed no major offences, and the minor ones they admittedly did commit, including resisting arrest and trespassing, were unavoidable due to the difficult circumstances they were faced with at the time. With the right that is mine as the Chairperson of the Planet-State of Khiandria, I grant full pardon to them all, wherever they are. The same goes for the humans Brian, Joseph and Grant, who, contrary to the claims orchestrated by Contrast, have never had anything to do with any violent extremist organisations."
Joseph and Grant were now looking extremely relieved, but Brian clearly didn't share their feelings. The Doctor could see him gripping the edge of the seat in front of him tightly, his mouth a thin line, his eyes fixed on Jess.
"Returning to Jess, daughter of Jem, of Chute Town and Earth, who stands within the Jaws of Justice today: there is no denying that she has broken the Quarantine and Travel Laws," the Chairperson said. "However, had she not done so, consequently meeting these aliens and bringing them here, we might never have learned the truth about the Plague and the people behind it. She also chose to return to Khiandria even though she knew full well that she would be facing charges. She has made mistakes, but her open-mindedness, courage and sense of responsibility are exemplary. Because of this, I pardon her as well."
On the central platform, Jess was leaning on the stone bars of her prison, gaping at the Chairperson as if she could not believe what she had just heard.
"As for those who have worked for Contrast, they will be brought to justice," the Chairperson declared. It was a simple statement of something that was inevitable, and as such, even more intimidating than an open threat would've been. "To those agents of Contrast who are listening to me now: if you surrender yourselves out of your own free will, your punishment will be much milder. I know you're not evil or bad people. You were able to overcome your prejudices and to work together with your worst enemies to do what you thought best for the planet. Look deep into your spirit, and think hard. I trust you to do the right thing. The guards will treat you fairly."
Neir's expression was of pure hatred, but the Chairperson ignored it completely. She hadn't as much as glanced as the spokesperson as she'd said those words, and she still didn't do so. Instead, she gazed beyond the tiers of the chamber, at her invisible audience everywhere on the planet.
"To everyone else, I will say this. I know that you are outraged by what these people have done. So am I. Nevertheless, I ask of you not to go on witch-hunts. Rest assured, we will find each and every member of Contrast. I will not see any more violence arise from this. Do not serve Contrast's cause by rioting and fighting each other. Even if you know someone who has worked for them, do not persecute them. Give them room to think. Let them decide for themselves. Trust each other. These are difficult and trying times for us all, but I know we can follow the example set by the people in this room. We may have different ideologies, but in the end, we all want similar things - peace, prosperity and happiness. We can never achieve these if we don't work together."
The Chairperson sat down, nonchalant, a small smile on her lips.
The perfect silence lasted for almost a minute. Then, all of the Fifteen stood up, and began whistling and whooping. It seemed a little rowdy for such a solemn lot, but apparently, clapping wasn't a Khiandrian custom. Besides, it really had been quite a speech. Of course, the Doctor had given the Chairperson so many pointers that one could say he'd practically written it. Still, it had been even better than he had expected, and he was sure he could never have pulled it off like that.
As the guards around them started cheering as well, the Doctor and Martha stood up and joined in, shouting and applauding - even managing to pass on that alien tradition to some of the locals - until their voices grew hoarse and their hands sore.
Epilogue: First Nest