Chapter Ten

Taking Jack's hand, Astera stood and the three of them headed back towards the main control room of the TARDIS. It was weird but being in Jack's company just felt right. Stop acting like a crazy woman, the sensible part of her brain though. Yes he saved your life but you hardly know him. He could be a complete rogue for all you know.

But that was what Astera found so exciting. Yes maybe he was a completely troublesome rogue but Astera wasn't exactly a normal person. Again, maybe it was the restless part of her kicking in again. She never was one to stay in one place for too long, especially not at home with her strained family life. Maybe now that Abna had turned out to be the utter creep that she knew he was, it would make things better.

They gathered around the console. "This had better work, Time Lord, otherwise we're all screwed," Astera said. She took a deep breath and pressed the button that would start up communications with the Sontarans. Eventually one of them appeared on-screen. It was obviously one of the higher up officers, perhaps their leader. When the Sontaran realised it was Astera and not Abna, he spluttered.

"What's the meaning of this?" The alien demanded. Astera grinned to herself when the Doctor discreetly indicated that the plan was working and the virus was beginning to take hold and bringing their systems down.

"Good evening. As you are probably aware, I am Princess Astera of Nubia. I know all about your plan to bring down my planet's security systems so that you could invade. Unfortunately, for you at least, King Abna has been found out and arrested. As we speak, your own virus is now attacking your systems and, if I'm honest with you, I don't fancy your chances much."

On board the Sontaran ships, above Astera's planet, the Sontarans were running around in a frenzy as their ships' alarms were going off and their computer systems were beginning to shut down on them. The Sontaran leader turned away from the communications screen to quickly scan around his own ship. The princess was right. She had somehow managed to make the plan backfire on them so that it would destroy their ships rather than her planetary security systems.

Back in the TARDIS, there was much celebration. Astera just felt relieved. As they went back into the hanger, people were running around, trying to find a good place to watch the explosions in the skies as the Sontaran ships imploded in on themselves and put on a rather attractive fireworks display.

For days afterwards, there were mass celebrations across both planets. Thanks to the actions of Astera and her friends, it wasn't just Nubia that had been saved, Olympoid was safe now too. Queen Evadne seemed to be warmer towards her daughter. The Doctor, Jack and Rose were treated as national heroes. Malcolm, her talking feline companion, had finally put in an appearance after making himself rather scarce for a while. Not that Astera minded as she knew he liked to go off for a while and have a bit of time on his own. He saw through her façade right away and knew she felt restless again.

"I know you and I know you want to go running off with this Time Lord of yours and Mister Pretty Boy."

Astera frowned and looked up from her book. She was sat crossed legged on the floor on of her bedroom. "Jack does have a name you know. What's with the Mister Pretty Boy nonsense?"

Malcolm snorted and jumped up onto the end of her bed. "I've seen the way you look at him. I'm not blind, you know."

Astera didn't like where the conversation was going, so she chose to ignore Malcolm and go back to her book. She was glad the Doctor had agreed to let her borrow some of the books, it was helping to distract her. She was already feeling confused over her feelings for Jack and didn't need Malcolm making her feel more confused about it. Realising that Astera didn't wish to talk about the subject anymore, Malcolm decided to curl up and go to sleep.

Back in the TARDIS, the three travellers were getting ready to make their leave. They felt sad about leaving but the Doctor felt it was time to move along. Their work there was done so there was no real reason to stay on much longer. They had one last visit from Astera before they left. She was carrying the books that the Doctor had lent her.

"I thought I'd better return these before they left. Thank you for allowing me to read them."

The Doctor gently pushed the books back towards her as she went to hand them back. "No, please, keep them. I want you to."

Astera's face brightened. "Really? Oh, wow, thank you." She turned to the handmaiden that was with her and gave her the books and asked her to return them to her room.

"Well, I guess this is goodbye then," Rose said, rather sadly.

"I have a feeling we'll all meet again one of these days," Astera said. "It's a Time Traveller thing, we always seem to run into the same people again at some point in our journeys."

Astera hugged all of them, saying goodbyes, feeling extremely sad as she did so. She had grown really attached to all of them and wished she could be leaving with them. But her place was on Nubia and Astera wanted to try and change the way things were, politically, on her planet. People like Abna needed to be prevented from getting into positions of power but Astera had no idea how she would bring about this change. She chose not to tell the Doctor, Jack and Rose that Abna was to be executed. They didn't need to know that bit.

Stepping out of the TARDIS, Astera stood alone in the palace hanger as the TARDIS slowly vanished into thin air. Stay safe, she thought to herself, and we'll meet again sometime.