A Seemingly Peaceful Day

[The Tenth Doctor]

(I don't know where Scarlett is -- she hasn't posted for Kyra in any of the threads recently. We might want to put this thread on hold until Scarlett comes back or something. However, this would give us time to start your idea of the negotiations with the Daleks )

[The Eighth Doctor]

(Well, we can still work the branch-out the Meddler so cleverly provided for us:) Good work!)

The Doctor stared into space while turning the burst transmitter over and over in his hand, seemingly not even noticing the others leaving. His mind was already on the problem of entering the Matrix. Well, not so much as -entering- it but getting -to- it, as it wasn't exactly on display at the Library to be checked out by any Gallifreyan. It was a valuable commodity to the council, far more than any other, and was always guarded.

However strong the guard was it could still be cracked, as he well knew himself. He had been in that confusing almost impossible world more than once and each time hoped it would be the last. The strain it took on his mind and very person was immense and hard to recover from. One day it would refuse to release him and he would be swallowed up in that incomprehensible memory bank leaving his body in the real world, an empty shell.

"Yes, yes, you'd like that, wouldn't you?" he muttered to his unseen and unknown foe. "What a tidy way to get rid of the Doctor, once and for all. And make it look like my own doing. 'Look, he was trying to invade the Matrix again! He deserved it, didn't he?' Nice and tidy defense. And Gallifrey would continue to spiral downwards."

He mulled it over for a few more moments then took a deep breath, shoved the transmitter in one of his coat pockets and grinned a wolfish grin. "Nothing like the present! I accept the challenge!"

He strode back into the streets and towards the Citadel as if he was on nothing more than a pleasent afternoon stroll.