"Be sure you do not fail me this time," warned the Lord. "Or it will be you joining your ancestors!"

***

Izlyr, the Doctor and Rose had retired to the Martian Lord's office. She noticed how much it resembled other offices she had seen. There was a desk, chair and computer station, as well as other, smaller office equipment, some familiar, some not.

"I wouldn't have thought that assassination was the sort of thing Martian honour found acceptable, even in the race for the highest of positions within society," the Doctor said.

"Normally I would agree," Izlyr replied. "But it could be claimed there are 'special circumstances' in my case."

The Doctor was intrigued. "Tell me more."

Izlyr sighed. "It all comes down to politics and Clan standing within the hierarchy of Martian culture. Lord Snarl comes from a very old Clan, one that has connections at the Martian High Court going right back to when we lived on the original homeworld, neighbouring Earth. They consider themselves to be of purer stock then the so called New Clans."

"And I assume you're from one of these New Clans," the Doctor said.

"That is right. The Great Exodus from Mars was a hazardous undertaking. Many died, including some entire Clans. When New Mars was finally established, the High Court was lacking in enough members to wield true power and for a time anarchy reigned. It was decided that new blood was needed at Court, so some of the surviving minor Clans that had not previously enjoyed Court status were promoted in the hierarchy. Others merged to create totally new Clans. Mine was one of the former."

"And the 'pure' members of the Court still look down upon the 'New Clans' as inferior."

"Exactly right, Doctor. They see us as polluting the way of our ancestors, as it was members of the New Clans that pushed through the major changes in our society. Turning us away from the destructive paths of conquest pursued by previous Courts and towards more peaceful ties with our neighbouring worlds and the Federation as a whole."

The Doctor stroked his chin. "I can see why the older Clans would despise them. And now a member of one of the New Clans is poised to possibly become Regent of New Mars."

"I am due to face Lord Snarl across a debating stage tomorrow. It will be the final chance for us both to put our cases for the position of Regent."

"Then we should be there with you," the Doctor decided.

Izlyr bowed. "You do me a great honour, Doctor. Now, the time is late and there is much to do tomorrow. We should all retire to our quarters."

"Good idea," Rose said, stifling a yawn as best she could.

"Seems we're boring this young lady," the Doctor said in an amused tone as the three of them left the office.

"I hope that is not the reaction of my audience tomorrow," Izlyr commented as he left them for the night.

***

Rose awoke to the sound of a distant bell chiming. She had not slept well, her thoughts and later her dreams turning over the emotions she had felt when she thought the Doctor was dead. At least now she was properly awake she could keep her troubled thoughts in check. Couldn't she?

A loud rapping came on the solid door of her quarters. "You awake, Rose?"

"Yes, Doctor," she called back around a yawn. "I'll be with you in ten minutes."

Dragging herself out of bed, she crossed the cold floor to the bathroom. Five minutes later she emerged, refreshed and almost ready to face the day. She dressed quickly and was out the door two minutes before her own deadline.

The Doctor was waiting for her, leaning casually against the stone wall with his arms folded. He looked like he had slept ten hours of dreamless sleep and Rose scowled, wondering how he managed this.

"Bad night?" he inquired mildly, setting off walking down the corridor and expecting her to fall into step with him.

"You could say that," she said, following him.

"Have you taken a tablet this morning?"

She nodded. "Of course. I don't want to choke to death."

They turned a corner and approached the large door at the end. The Doctor was surprised to find it slightly ajar.

"Stay here," he whispered to Rose, pushing the door open carefully and stepping through into the chamber beyond.

Ignoring his advice, Rose peered round the door and into the room. She was momentarily shocked by what she saw.

Lord Izlyr stood in the centre of the room, a large Martian warrior covering him with one of their sonic guns. As the Doctor entered the room, the warrior turned to the Time Lord.

Izlyr took advantage of the distraction and brought his clamp crashing down onto the arm holding the gun. It dropped from the warrior's hand.

The warrior reacted immediately, backhanding the Lord across the helmet. The smaller Martian spun away, crashing against a wall and sliding down it, stunned.

The Doctor stepped forward to check on his friend but the warrior intervened, grasping the Time Lord by the throat and lifting him off the ground. As the life was choked out of him, the Doctor's feet kicked uselessly in the air.

During this struggle, the warrior had half turned from the doorway, so Rose was able to slip into the room unnoticed. Not even thinking about what she was doing, she grabbed an ornate sword from its place on the wall and charged towards the warrior and the Doctor.

As the Doctor's vision began to blur at the edges, he was slightly surprised to see the point of a sword appear from the centre of the warrior's chest plate. Almost immediately the pressure on his throat relaxed and his fell to the floor in a gasping heap.

The next thing he saw was Rose, her face hovering over him. She was mouthing something but he couldn't hear what for the blood still pounding in his ears. Gesturing with his hand, he was relieved when she understood and helped him to his feet.

The Doctor rubbed at what he knew was a bruise already forming around his neck. He looked down at the warrior, lying on its side and bleeding lime green blood onto the carpeting.

"Did you do that?" he managed to ask.

Suddenly realising what she had done, Rose put her hand to her mouth. "Oh God. I've killed him!"

"Well, you no doubt saved my life," the Doctor told her. "And Izlyr's, not to mention your own. I don't think this chap would have wanted any witnesses."

"But I killed him," Rose repeated, seemingly stunned by what she had done.

The Doctor led her across to a large, hard chair and sat her down. He squat in front of her, so she had to look into his eyes.

"Now you listen to me, Rose Tyler. You just did something that comes naturally when someone you know is being attacked. It could have been a burglar threatening your Mum, a thug trying to beat up Mickey on the street. You did what you had to do to save a life. That's what you should focus on. Now, will you be alright for a moment?"

She nodded dumbly and he patted her reassuringly on the shoulder.

Standing carefully, the Doctor crossed the room to examine Izlyr.

Left alone, all Rose could see was the dead Martian warrior on the floor, the green blood now pooling under the body that had, until a few moments ago, been alive.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a hissing sound from across the room. She turned to see the Doctor helping Izlyr to stand. The Ice Lord seemed a paler shade of green than usual and his legs appeared unable, at first, to support his weight.

The Doctor led him to the bed and the Lord sat down heavily on its edge.

His eyes caught the body of the warrior and he looked up at the Doctor with respect. "You have done well, killing a trained warrior assassin is not an easy thing."

The Time Lord shook his head and winced slightly at the pain. "It wasn't me. You should be thanking Rose."

Behind the red eye shields of his helmet, Izlyr's eyes widened. But he quickly recovered and rose from the bed, crossing the room to loom over the young woman.

"You have the instincts of a warrior and the respect of a Lord," he said, bowing slightly.

Rose looked up at him, tears welling in her eyes again. "Please, don't thank me. I just killed someone!"

The Doctor approached them, concern written clearly across his thin face. "I think it might be a good idea to postpone this debate."

Izlyr frowned. "I cannot do that. It would be seen as a sign of weakness and exploited by my enemies."

The Time Lord pondered for a moment. "Can you be sure of the loyalty of your guards? If one could be turned against you, maybe others have been also."

"This was not one of my guards," Izlyr said. "I do not know how he was able to gain entry to the palace so easily, but the loyalty of my own guards is without question."

"Well, if you're sure," the Doctor conceded.

"I am sure," Izlyr told them. "The debate goes ahead as planned and we shall be there at the appointed hour."

***

While Izlyr made final preparations for his address, the Doctor took Rose by the hand and led her back to her room. Not that she remembered any of the journey afterwards.

Sitting her down on the fur covered bed, the Doctor settled next to her, waiting for his companion to speak. When she didn't he decided to start without her.

"The Martian society has a very strict code of honour. Izlyr'll probably want to give you a medal for what you've done today."

Rose sniffed. "This isn't what I joined up for. I wanted to see the galaxy, have adventures and experience wondrous things. I didn't want to kill anyone. And I certainly don't want no stupid Martian medal!"

The Doctor put his arm around her shoulder. "I know. But for every adventure we have, there is a price to pay. You know enough by now to realise that not every new person we meet is going to survive until we leave. There are always casualties along the way."

"But I didn't expect to be inflicting them!"

Smiling slightly, the Doctor used the tip of one long finger to turn Rose's chin until she faced him directly.

"You saved my life. You saved Izlyr's life. Probably your own too. And now you feel guilty."

Rose rubbed the tears away from her rapidly reddening eyes. "I just didn't think. I grabbed the sword and that was it. Dead Martian." She looked down at her hands, which were resting in her lap. "You're saying I shouldn't feel guilt over what I did?"

"Course not!" the Doctor told her, squeezing her shoulder. "It's when you stop feeling guilty that you need to start worrying. But good did come from your actions. You did save three lives."

She met his gaze, her mouth twitching upwards slightly. "Thanks."

"For what?"

"Everything," she replied, hugging him briefly. After she let him go, she dried her eyes properly and excused herself to the bathroom.

Watching the door close behind her, the Doctor decided that Rose was probably going to be alright. This time.

***

This time the two conspirators didn't meet. Instead they talked over a video link. At least, the taller of the two talked. The Lord shouted.

"You promised that nothing would go wrong this time!" he stormed at his inferior.

The other seemed afraid despite the distance between them. "The assassin should have done his job. I did not expect the humans to intervene, and even then they should not have been able to overcome a trained warrior."

"Yet they did!" roared the Lord over the link. "So Izlyr has lived to make his final case in the debate today. What do you have to say about that?"

"I will think of something," replied the other meekly.

"Not good enough," growled the Lord. "You will kill him yourself, as soon as the debate is finished. I do not care how you do it, but be warned. If you fail me again, I shall have your head on the end of my duelling sword!"

The Martian nodded. "I shall do as you bid, my Lord."

"Be sure you do. Already opinion is swaying towards Izlyr. This will be your last chance before the final vote."

The Lord snapped off the connection, which relieved his conspirator greatly.

***

The Martian Court was an imposing building on the outside, seemingly carved from solid rock. It was large and dark, with high windows and ornate sculpture making it almost like a living thing.

Inside was just as impressive. A long central chamber was playing host to the debate, with benches along both sides lined with Martians large and small, both warriors and Lords mixing freely. A stage at the far end had two podiums, ready for the start of the debate.

Lord Snarl was already in position, looking calm and composed. He didn't appear surprised to see Izlyr, but then he could also have been very good at disguising his emotions.

Izlyr mounted the stage and stood behind his podium, as the Doctor, Rose and Sslen found places with the spectators. The time travellers got a few curious looks but nobody challenged their presence.

An older Lord strode to the front of the stage, between the two adversaries. He addressed the assembled throng.

"Members of the Court, honoured guests, we are here to listen to the cases put by the two claimants for the position of Regent of New Mars. The first of these you hear from will be Lord Snarl, and then Lord Izlyr will get his turn. After that, any member of the Court may ask questions of the two candidates. Let the debate commence."

"So who was that?" Rose whispered to the Doctor. She seemed to have recovered from her ordeal.

"The Grand Marshall, Lord Scran. A Grand Marshall used to hold the ultimate power on Mars, with a Regent being nothing more than a figurehead. When peace came to the Martian people, the roles were reversed."

Lord Snarl had cleared his throat and begun his presentation.

"I am here today not to ask for your support, but to demand it! We have been too long under the limits of peace, the yoke of democracy. The Martian culture is a long and honourable one, with a tradition of conflict and conquest. My Clan has always been a major player in these events, being represented at the Battle of Jensor Desert, the Darsel Conflict and the First Galactic War. I advocate a return to the ways of the warrior, to the nobility of battle and the honour of conflict.

"A vote for Lord Izlyr is a vote for weakness. Keeping our proud warriors tied to the Federation and not letting them express themselves in war and conflict, like they should. That is why you should make me Regent, so I can shake the chains from our limbs

"As Regent I shall restore the old order and Mars shall once again take its rightful place as a galactic power. I shall withdraw us from the weak Federation and lead our people to new victories in the name of our glorious ancestors and Clans."

Snarl took a step back and glanced across at Izlyr, who moved to his podium and began his address.

"New Mars is already a Galactic power. We have a clear voice upon the Federation Security Council, mainly due to the efforts of myself and my ancestors. Lord Snarl talks of honourable conflict, but what is more honourable than defending the weak against the aggressive tendencies of more powerful races? That is what the Federation does and I for one am proud to be a member.

"I wasn't always a diplomat. I fought alongside Federation forces under the command of General Marston during the First Cyber War. So I know a thing or two about combat. And one thing I know is that conquest is not the answer. If we withdraw from the Federation, we shall be isolated from the greater galactic community. The Federation is far from being weak, as Lord Snarl would have you believe. Their combined fleet is enough to leave New Mars a smoking cinder in space.

"Lord Snarl would lead you down the path of death and destruction. Ours. Do not let him. I shall strengthen our ties with the Federation if you appoint me Regent, confirming our security and letting those who wish to fight join the Federation Peacekeeping Forces. That should be enough to sate even Lord Snarl's bloodlust."

Izlyr stepped back from the podium. Grand Marshall Scran stepped forward again.

"You've now heard from the two candidates. Does anybody have any questions for them?"

The Doctor looked around them as arms were raised with questions for Snarl and Izlyr. He noticed someone was missing.

"Where's Sslen?"

Now Rose looked around also. "I don't know. He was here a minute ago. Anyway, what did you think?"

"Well, they're both powerful speakers." He considered for a moment. "I think Izlyr made his position very clear. Hopefully that'll be enough."

***

The Doctor, Rose and Izlyr had returned to the Lord's palace straight after the debate. Sslen had met them at the gate, saying he had come back to prepare the Lord's celebration dinner for after he won the vote.

Having left the aide in charge of preparations, the three of them were heading for Izlyr's office to gauge the early results of the vote.

As they walked, Rose turned recent events over in her mind. She had saved the Doctor's life, though it had meant she had become a killer. The Doctor had convinced her that she had had no choice, though she still felt some guilt over it. However, she was beginning to see that her actions had been necessary.

The three of them turned a corner, stopping short at the edge of a narrow cavern stretched across the tunnel floor.

"What is it?" Rose asked, peering over the edge of a twenty-foot drop into a fast flowing stream.

"It is an inspection hatch for the palace culvert," Izlyr replied. "Someone must have opened it and not replaced the cover."

Rose was still looking down into the depths. Izlyr stood close by, while the Doctor was over to one side, looking at a wall hanging. None of them were expecting what happened next.

With a blood-chilling cry, a large green figure hurtled out of the shadows, straight towards Izlyr. He managed to side step the charge, but the figure caught Rose squarely in the side.

For a dizzying moment, the young woman was in free fall as she spun and tumbled into the culvert. At the last second she made a grab for the edge with one hand, managing to grasp onto the cold stone.

Her world came back into sharp focus. She was clinging by one aching hand to the slippery edges of a stone cavern, with little hope of survival.

Then a black arm slid over the edge and a long face framed by large ears was peering down at her. The Doctor to the rescue.

"Grab my arm!" he urged and she managed to get her protesting limb to obey. Now her right hand was holding onto cold stone while her left was gripping warm leather.

With a mighty effort, the Doctor started to drag her out of the cavern, just as her right hand finally slipped from the stone. His other hand grabbed it and moments later she was out and lying, gasping on the stone floor of the tunnel beside the Time Lord.

The Doctor scrambled to his feet, holding out a hand to help her up which she gratefully accepted. He grinned broadly.

"Welcome back," he said simply, then turned his attention to Izlyr.

Trying to get her thoughts into some sort of order, she concentrated her attention on what else was happening in the corridor. Izlyr had one of his clamps around the throat of another Martian, a warrior, pinning his opponent against a wall. She was only mildly surprised to see it was Sslen.

Recent events suddenly slotted into place in her mind. No wonder it had been so easy to poison the food and sneak an assassin into Izlyr's private palace. Nothing could be simpler when you had an inside man like the Lord's aide.

Now Izlyr was slowly squeezing the life out of that aide, while the Doctor was trying to talk him out of it. Rose stepped closer to hear what they were saying.

"Who are you working for?" Izlyr demanded, his voice low but all the more menacing for it.

"I...can...not...tell...you," gasped Sslen, fighting for breath. "He...will...kill...me!"

"Look, he can't tell you anything if he can't breath," the Doctor said reasonably.

Izlyr turned to regard the Time Lord. "He is not telling me anything now. Why should I worry about restricting his breathing?"

"Let...me...live...and...I...will...talk," croaked the aide.

The Martian Lord considered this for a moment, then casually turned and flung Sslen across the corridor. He crashed into the far wall painfully, but remained conscious.

"Very well," Izlyr said, towering over his crumpled foe. "Tell me who you're working for, and I shall let you live."

So Sslen told them.

***

There were a number of small offices on an upper floor of the Martian Court building, used by Lords and their aides, as well as visiting Martian nobles. It was into one of these that Izlyr strode a short time later, followed by the Doctor and Rose.

Grand Marshall Scran and Lord Snarl looked up in surprise at the interruption. Neither seemed pleased to see who had arrived to visit them.

"I did not expect you to have company," Izlyr began. "But not matter. In fact, it is good that we shall have a witness, because I have an accusation to make. Of treachery."

"What are you talking about?" demanded Snarl, rising from his seated position and reaching for his sonic gun.

Scran stepped forward, holding up a clamp to calm the younger Martian. "Treachery is a serious charge Izlyr, as well you know. I hope you have evidence for these wild claims of yours."

Izlyr nodded. "I have evidence, Grand Marshall. I have a witness."

The Doctor and Rose stood aside to allow Sslen, his eyes downcast, to enter the room.

"My aide, Sslen, has been turned against me, plotting my assassination with another. He was working for a highly placed member of the Court to try and kill me."

Scran and Snarl looked at each other. The Grand Marshall took up the conversation.

"And you would take the word of a discredited servant, one who would stoop so low as to try and poison his master, against the word of a noble of the Court?"

The Doctor and Izlyr exchanged significant glances.

"Nobody mentioned poison, Grand Marshall Scran," the Doctor pointed out. "Though that was the first method used against Izlyr." He folded his arms across his chest. "How could you possibly have known that?"

The silence in the office was deafening. Scran stood facing them, his clamps twitching at his sides.

"All I wanted was a return to the old ways," he said slowly. "The nobility and honour of the Mars my ancestors knew. And I could have achieved that goal through Snarl. All I had to do was remove you from the contest, for him to become Regent, and all my plans for the future could have been realised."

Snarl seemed surprised by this turn of events. "So you were using me all along? I thought you were my friend, a loyal and trusted supporter."

Scran turned his head sharply to Snarl. "You were nothing but my puppet! I just had to whistle a tune and you would dance to it. You were a means to an end, nothing more. I could have picked any of the radical Lords, it was just that you seemed easiest to manipulate."

"It is just a shame you have discredited yourself and your protégé," Izlyr said. "Your days of empire building are over, Scran."

A dangerous look flashed behind the red eye shields of Scran's helmet. "Not if I can stop you from talking!"

He launched himself across the office, arms outstretched and clamps grasping for Izlyr's throat. But before he got halfway there, a sonic burst rang out and the Grand Marshall's body collapsed to the ground, smoking slightly.

Snarl looked down at his mentor, his gun still in his hand. After a long moment, he looked up at Izlyr and his party.

"I really did think I could trust him," he said bleakly. "I thought of him as a friend."

Izlyr managed to smile at his opponent. "I believe, despite what he said, that he acted out of what he thought of as your interests. He would have made you Regent, any way he could."

Snarl dropped the gun to the floor beside the corpse. "I shall withdraw from the contest. It is the only honourable thing left to do."

Lord Izlyr bowed slightly. "As you will. I shall find you a place within my circle of advisors, if you wish it."

"I think not," Snarl replied, shaking his head. "I shall be retiring from politics." He glanced at Izlyr. "However, if you need a new Grand Marshall to lead those Peacekeeping Forces you mentioned in your speech..."

"I will be in touch as soon as I can set things up," Izlyr promised. "I am sure the Federation will have great need of your skills in the years to come."

The two Lords bowed to each other and Izlyr, followed by the Doctor, Rose and Sslen, left the office.

Snarl looked down sadly at the body of his former friend and advisor. He bent and carefully removed the Grand Marshall insignia from Scran's tunic. Then he placed it in a drawer of the desk, until it would be needed again.

***

Lord Izlyr demoted Sslen to the rank of general labourer, with all his privileges removed. All the passwords the former aide had access to were changed immediately and a new aide, Axlan, promoted to fill the position.

Snarl did indeed step down from the contest, giving Izlyr a walkover to become the new Regent. Rose found this rather odd.

"Why would he stand aside, after all those things he said in the debate about returning Mars to glory and conquest?"

"It's all a question of honour," the Doctor explained as they went to meet Izlyr in the Great Hall. "Despite having radically different views, Snarl is still a fair and honourable warrior. What Scran was trying to do disgusted him."

Axlan, the new aide, met them at the doors of the Hall. "Lord Izlyr will see you now."

The Doctor bowed slightly and Rose followed his lead. They were shown into the Great Hall.

Izlyr was standing in the centre of the chamber, wearing a fur and gold trimmed robe. Two Martians were fussing round, taking measurements and making alterations.

The Lord stepped away from the tailors, to a number of protests which he silenced with a wave of his clamp.

"Doctor, Rose, it is good to see you. I am being prepared for my investiture as Regent, as you can see."

The Doctor smiled broadly. "It suits you." He then peered more closely at the right shoulder of the robe. "I think you need a tuck in here though."

The two tailors started arguing with each other, until Izlyr gave them a withering glare.

"I asked you here because your box has been brought up from the lower levels," Izlyr told the Time Lord. "It has been placed in your quarters, Doctor."

"Fantastic!" the Doctor exclaimed. "I wasn't looking forward to finding my way back through those passageways."

"Neither was I," Rose chipped in. "He's got no sense of direction."

The Doctor glared at her, Rose raising her eyebrows in return.

Turning to Izlyr, the Doctor extended his hand. "It's time we were going. It's been good seeing you again old friend. I know that the future of New Mars is in safe hands."

Izlyr frowned. "Must you go, Doctor? I was hoping you would stay for the ceremony and the feasting afterwards."

"We'd love to," the Doctor replied. "But there are beings to see, worlds to save, and the universe won't wait for a lone Time Lord and his companion."

"He gets itchy feet if he stays in one place too long," Rose added.

Izlyr looked confused by the human expression, first glancing down at the Doctor's shoes before looking up at his guests again. "I shall miss your wise council, Doctor. And your bravery, Rose."

Time Lord and companion shook hands with the Ice Lord, soon to be Regent of New Mars. Both bowed, and Izlyr returned their bows.

"Rule well, my Lord," the Doctor said.

"Watch your back," Rose told Izlyr.

"Travel safely, my friends," Izlyr replied, as the two time travellers left the Great Hall, bound for new adventures.