Strijill: “Well, if it isn’t my old friend Kargaz come to visit me. Long time no see, Kargaz. To what do I owe the pleasure of your presence here?” K: “I need your help, actually.” S: “Yes. I thought as much. You used to call on me quite often in the past for a chat, a cup of tea or a game of robochess - but you’ve not been round for a while, have you? So, you’re here. Not on a friendly visit for a discussion, or to give me a bit of company - Oh no … I think you’ve forgotten how lonely it can be with no-one visiting you. You need my help. I am of use to you. So you are here. Was there no-one else you could turn to, then?” K: “Now don’t be like that - I’ve been very busy lately, you know, and -“ S: “Lately . Like for the last half-dozen years or so? Busy. Yes. Making a mess of your world and expecting everyone else to run round in circles tidying up after you! I don’t know; what IS the point of it all Kargie? Sit down, then. Spit it out. Tell me all about your latest misadventures.” K: “I’m sorry I’ve not been round more often; life gets complicated sometimes.” S: “Especially your life.” K: “It concerns the Three Sisters and the Lady President -“ S: “of the Time Council. Yes. I thought as much. I don’t just sit and grow older here, Kargie. I think. I listen. The birds bring me news. The mice, the squirrels, even the wolves bring me news. The forest dwellers keep their distance - silly things believe I want to eat them, but since when have any of them been eaten by a dragon, I ask you? The Lady President is lost. Oh dear me. Your silly little amulet can’t locate her, Kargie; so now you’re stuck. And you come to me.” K: Well, you are older and wiser than - “ S: “than you and all the rest of your Wizbangs. Yes. Much older. Much, much wiser. Just let me rearrange myself so I can get a better look at you. Yes. A bit older; a wee bit fatter; but just as gaudy. And hardly a databit wiser than when you last visited me. When, I seem to recall, you weren’t here for a sit down and relax with an old pal, but because, as now, you were after something.” OK, as you tend to say. Your President Auritu is sitting on a bed in a room full of useless junk that exists inside a bubble in time and space. The Time Bomb created a whole mess of anomalies - which, I hope, the Time Lords are attempting to remove. The Archwizard is cursing your name even as I speak. Neither you nor your colleagues can reach that bubble, Kargaz. But I can.” K: “Can you take me there?” S: “And rescue her. Oh, I think I can manage that, Kargaz, my old friend. Not entirely decrepit yet, eh?” K: “Excellent! I owe you, Strijjil.” S: “Yes you certainly do. I think we can come to some arrangement, Kargie. Let’s see; just what can you, a petty little, rather inefficient, wizard with worryingly unpredictable magic powers, do for me, the most majestic and powerful being in this shoddy little universe of yours? Um. Yes. Let me begin by proposing that you accustom yourself to the idea of visiting me more often in the future. Good. How often depends on you. I would suggest a friendly visit, such as we used to enjoy, once a month, perhaps, at least. A friendly visit, Kargie; not a ‘please help me I’ve made a balls of things again’ type of visit. Accept?” K: :”Yes.” S: “Very well. Drop that useless cloak and climb up, Kargie. Settle yourself on my back, if you can find a comfortable spot. And hold on; we are off into the wild unknown to rescue a fair damsel in distress! Yes. I like that idea.”