Spirit (audio story)

Spirit was the second story of the second series of Big Finish's Gallifrey audio series. It was written by Stephen Cole.

Publisher's summary
"They can bewitch at a glance, these ones. Fan fires you did not know burned inside you."

Leela is tired. Tired of the backbiting politics and intrigues in the sterile society of Time Lords. With the fate of her husband now known, she feels lonely and out of place on Gallifrey.

Romana is tired. Tired of justifying herself and her policies to a hostile council. With the line between allies and enemies beginning to blur, she persuades Leela to go with her to the presidential retreat of Davidia, a protected paradise.

Then an anomalous time ship arrives, carrying a single passenger. His hands are crushed, his tongue torn out, his mind destroyed. Is this broken man a victim of some terrible crime or part of a trap now primed and ready to spring? After this strange encounter, Romana and Leela may never be the same again.

Plot
Romana has had her guards escort Leela to meet with her after she failed to respond to all of the messages that she has sent; Leela has been seeking out Andred in the lower levels of the Capitol without any success, as has Wynter despite having far more resources. Romana believes that whoever helped him escape his cell has helped him avoid detection and that he will not be found until it suits him, but Leela refuses to give up on finding him. Romana asks if she wishes to leave Gallifrey and Leela says that she does.

Braxiatel, Narvin and Darkel discuss the aftermath of the Pandora incident and the fact that Romana can no longer safely interface with the Panatropic Net. Darkel says that there is no legal recourse to remove her as President, but Braxiatel has no desire to have her removed and says that they must instead work on removing Pandora from the Matrix. K9 Mark I and K9 Mark II are currently working on locating her and, in the meantime and on Braxiatel's suggestion, Romana will be resting off-world.

Romana and Leela arrive on the presidential retreat of Davidia with Commander Hallan where they can relax, protected by a flotilla of security ships in orbit. Romana says that she has come to think of Leela as an asset and somebody that she can trust and that this is an opportunity to talk, but Leela is offended by her choice of words and says that trust means nothing to Time Lords. Hallan takes their things to Melyin, who took a shine to him during his last visit ten years ago and gives Leela directions to her room. Confused by the directions, she is instead escorted by Hallan.

Romana apologises to Leela, who apologises for her own shortness of temper. When Leela complains that the window will not open, Romana smashes it with a chair, sounding an alarm which summons Hallan. Romana says that a bird flew into the window and took the chair and that they do no wish the breakage to be repaired. She and Leela laugh and they agree to alternate which of them decides the activities of the day.

Leela takes Romana into the wildlands, going on a walk along the cliffs by the sea. Hallan is unhappy that he is not accompanying them and waits for them with Melyin, talking about his opposition to Leela and Andred's marriage and begrudgingly accepting that Gallifrey's isolationism was never going to last forever.

Romana and Leela talk about their beliefs, Leela believing in a female spirit which guides creation whilst Romana insists that it is natural selection and says that it is a shame that somebody as wise as Leela should hold such beliefs. Later, Romana catches up with Leela, who has lit a fire and is cooking a pig-like animal, and apologises to her. Leela decides to stay in the wilderness for the night and Romana, not knowing the way back to the complex, agrees to stay with her and tries to convince her to stay on Gallifrey.

At Piazza Alpha, Melyin asks Hallan for a kiss despite knowing that it would lower her impeccable security rating. Hallan is curious, but they hear the sound of a materialising TARDIS which could only get through the planet's security with Romana's access codes. Hallan calls for a security squad and a man exits the ship, making Melyin scream. He is a crying, damaged individual and Hallan has Captain Fosh take him to the infirmary under guard. He also has Fosh patch him through to the ranger station.

Leela is conflicted about Andred, unsure if she wants to hurt him or find a way to be at peace with him, and says that she will not know her intentions until she finally finds him. She is also unsure if she has been right to trust Romana, now being incapable of looking at her without seeing her first incarnation, a woman who was so unlike her, and worries that Romana could become a new person any day who she would no longer recognise. Romana reminds her that the Eighth Doctor is still the same man as the Fourth Doctor and that the same would be the case for her. Leela is not convinced, likening her Andred to a healing potion and his new self to a poison.

to be added

Cast

 * President Romana - Lalla Ward
 * Leela - Louise Jameson
 * Inquisitor Prime Darkel - Lynda Bellingham
 * Cardinal Braxiatel - Miles Richardson
 * Coordinator Narvin - Seán Carlsen
 * Commander Hallan - Michael Cuckson
 * Melyin - Heather Tracy

Continuity

 * Leela and Romana refer to their recent reunion with the Eighth Doctor. (AUDIO: Zagreus)
 * Romana tells Leela that a regeneration can be forced using the proper chemicals. (TV: The War Games)
 * When Leela and Romana are walking by the sea on Davidia, she is glad that neither of their K9 units are there to get damaged, unlike when Romana was in Brighton with the Fourth Doctor. (TV: The Leisure Hive)