'The Revolution is proceeding apace, Comrade Lenin.'

 'Excellent.' Lenin could see the members of the Military Revolutionary Committee watching over the cannon in the streets. They had even commandeered a few of the new armormed cars. Most of the soldiers and workers wore heavy overcoats and fur hats to keep out the cold air blowing from the sea.

 'The commissars of the Committee are making their final plans to capture the Winter Palace. Antonov-Ovseenko is setting up a field headquarters in the Fortress as we speak. Our troops are being readied to storm the Palace. The Fortress, as well as the *Aurora* in the Neva River, are ready to fire upon the Palace if they offer resistance.'

 'We will give the Provisional Government the opportunity to surrender peacefully. If they do not, we will begin shelling the Palace. We must take the Palace and arrest the Provisional Government by noon, before the Congress of Soviets meets. Are the communication lines and railways all under our control?'

 'Affirmative. We took them last night.'

 'Good. I think it is time the Military Revolutionary Committee issued a statement about the current state of affairs. Let us return to Smolny. The citizens must be informed of the new state of affairs in Mother Russia.'

 'Prime Minister! We are ready to leave. We are going to have to escape by automobile; the Bolsheviks are controlling the railroads. We borrowed this automobile from the American embassy -- they were obligated to lend assistance to us if they wished our continued support in the war against the Germans. Things are not looking well. Most of the garrison has defected to the side of the Bolsheviks, and the revolutionaries have captured most of the government buildings.'

 Jadi turned to Wil and frowned. Things didn't sound good for Kerensky and his government. But even in the midst of the impending chaos and battle, Wil had to stifle a laugh at the sight of the big bounty hunter in a dress.

 Kerensky, whom Wil thought looked rather pale and weary, slumped visibly. 'Where are we going, Kuzmin? Are there any soldiers still loyal to the government?'

 'Not here, it would seem,' Kuzmin replied, seeming to notice Jadi and Wil for the first time. 'We're planning to make for the war front and meet up with our loyal troops there. Perhaps we can round up enough support to launch a counter-attack. -- Excuse me, Prime Minister, but who are your companions?'

 Kerensky looked to Jadi and Wil as if they were his only friends in the world. 'A very important friend of theirs was arrested by the Bolsheviks. We will need all of the help we can in the battle to come. Can we drop them off near Smolny?'

 'I'm afraid not, Prime Minister. There will barely be room in the automobiles for the cabinet heads, let alone two ... peasants.' Wil flinched at the word. It had been a long time since someone had reminded him of his one-time feudal status. He was beginning to think twice about leaving the Doctor. Although things weren't always pleasant with the Doctor, at least the Time Lord had never treated him like a second-rate citizen. In fact, he had always treated Wil with respect, as a fellow adult, even though it sometimes meant forcing Wil to behave more maturely and responsibly. And besides, what if Heresford's bounty hunters were still hunting for him back on Paracastria? He'd be just as much on the run as he usually was with the Doctor, but he wouldn't have the Doctor around any longer to protect him. And he wouldn't have Jadi or Angela around either. Although they would never have been his first choice of friends, like the Doctor they had always stood by him when the chips were down, as Jadi was now. And even though Jadi could be an obnoxious, thick-brained scumbag when he wanted to be, they had somehow become closer through this adventure, and Wil didn't think that Jadi would treat him as badly in the future ... if they ever found the Doctor and got back to the TARDIS alive.

 Gunshots rang out behind the Palace walls, and something exploded high in the air above them. Kerensky made his way toward the Renault. 'There's no time to argue. Bring them with us!'

 Guzman barred his way. 'The Renault is too obvious a target. We'll ride in the back of the Arrow. Your friends can travel in the Renault. Once we're clear of the city, we'll rendezvous at a safe house, and then we'll have someone drive your friends to Smolny.' Kerensky nodded, and climbed into the back seat of the Arrow. Jadi and Wil climbed into the Renault, and sat on the backseat next to some other fleeing government officials who frowned at them nervously.

 'Hey, howzit going?' Jadi asked. They ignored him. Jadi shrugged to Wil, and they sat still as the driver climbed in and revved the engine. Wil turned around and looked back. Kerensky was slouched down in the backseat of the other car, surrounded by Guzman and two staff officers. He turned back to Jadi. He hoped this insane plan to escape was going to work.

 'Hang on! Here we go!' called the driver. He gunned the motor, and they started off through the courtyard, toward the arch of the General Staff building.

 As they roared through the arch, Wil could see the surprised soldiers who were beginning to set up blockades and pickets in the road turn toward them and raise their rifles to fire. Wil and Jadi slouched down in their seat as bullets began to fly at their escaping vehicle. Jadi smiled nervously at the Paracastrian, trying to stifle a laugh at the young man's babushka.

 Once out of enemy fire, the fugitives sat up and smiled in relief. One of the men sitting with them looked out the window and pointed at another, smaller palace as they passed. 'This might be the last time I ever see the Mariinsky Palace,' he said wistfully. 'I doubt the Preparliament will be meeting today.'

 The cars roared south, out of Petrograd.

 'Long live the Revolution,' muttered the Doctor as they approached. The Cossacks smiled at the Doctor, as if he were a wounded war hero, and they passed. The Doctor slumped into Angela's arms.

 'I can carry you, if you like,' Angela suggested.

 'No; I can make it,' the Doctor objected feebly. 'Besides, your "unnatural" strength might raise some suspicions. I just need to rest for a moment.' He slumped down along a wall.

 A Bolshevik came up to them and posted a notice on a nearby wall. Angela turned to read it.

 To the Citizens of Russia!

 The Provisional Government has been overthrown. State power has passed into the hands of the organ of the Petrograd Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies, the Military Revolutionary Committee, which stands at the head of the Petrograd proletariat and garrison.

 The cause for which the people have struggled -- the immediate proposal of a democratic peace, the elimination of landlord estates, workers' control over production, the creation of a soviet government -- the triumph of this cause has been assured.

 Long live the workers', soldiers', and peasants' revoultion!

 The Military Revolutionary Committee

 of the Petrograd Soviet

 of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies

 'Why are these bloody Bolsheviks doing this?' Angela hissed in frustration. 'Couldn't they have found a more peaceful solution to their problems?'

 The Doctor smiled. Angela had changed greatly since their first meeting. She was beginning to learn a respect for life. 'Under the Tsar, the Russian underclass was being oppressed and sent off to die in a war against Germany, a war that most of the people didn't want to become involved in. When the Tsar was overthrown, the Provisional Government was formed to put an end to the Tsar's domestic system and to end Russia's involvement in World War I. But instead, the Provisional Government continued to make the war their first priority, neglecting the domestic situation back home. The Bolsheviks, playing upon the people's anger and impatience, are taking advantage of the mistakes of Kerensky's government in order to take power. Lenin has promised to institute a socialist government ruled over by a union of workers' soviets. In theory, it will make all of Russia's oppressed people equals, and strengthen the nation. In reality, it will lead to five years of civil war between the Reds and the Whites, and eventually give way to the rule of Stalin, who will become the biggest butcher of the twentieth century.' Angela caught a brief glimpse of hatred on the Doctor's pained face as he mentioned the name Stalin, the man who had shot him in cold blood. She hoped that the Doctor's wound wouldn't cause him to go into a psychopathic crusade in which he decided that Stalin should be killed. She didn't know how she could deal with a raving mad Doctor.

 The Doctor coughed up blood. 'I could really use another ten-year nap right now,' he finished, closing his eyes.

 Angela knelt next to him, and gently shook him. 'Doctor. Doctor! Don't die. We need you. *I* need you. To get us back to our time. Don't leave us stranded here!'

 'I knew a wounded man couldn't get far.' At the sound of the unfamiliar voice and accent, Angela turned around to see a man holding a gun on the Doctor.

 'You're the bastard that shot him!' Angela accused.

 'The Doctor is an escaped enemy of the Revolution,' Stalin explained calmly. Angela rose to her full height, some several inches taller than the Georgian. Stalin swung the gun round to cover her. 'And you are guilty by association.' He pulled the trigger.

 Angela, using a burst of super-human speed, dodged the bullet and kicked the pistol from Stalin's hand. Stalin grasped his wrist in pain. Angela was about to seriously wound the man when several Bolshevik soldiers turned a nearby corner and spotted the fray. Angela hesitated -- she knew that if she attacked Stalin further the soldiers would shoot her on the spot, and the Doctor would die, alone in the freezing rain. On the other hand, if she surrendered, they were likely to shoot both her *and* the Doctor. She didn't have many options.

 'Arrest this woman and man,' Stalin shouted, furious, pointing to the two foreigners. The soldiers began to raise their rifles, but before they could aim, shots rang out across the street, and two of the soldiers fell. Angela turned, and saw a group of Kerensky supporters firing at them. She dived for the ground, sheltering the Doctor with her body.

 'O divine Goddess, get us out of this mess and I swear I'll mend my ways,' Angela whispered in silent prayer as the battle heated up and chunks of masonry and brick crashed down around them.

 A lower functionary interrupted the meeting. 'Comrades, the representatives from the Petrograd Soviet are beginning to arrive. What shall we tell them?'

 Lenin turned to Trotsky. 'Prepare to adress them. Tell them that the Provisional Government no longer exists, and that we control the country. I will be down as soon as I finish straightening out this idiotic assault on the Palace.'

 As Trotsky rose, Lenin added, 'And inform the rest of the Revolutionary Committee that our deadline for storming the Palace has been delayed until 3:00 p.m.'

 Angela looked up to see one of the Loyalist soldiers standing over her, offering her a hand. She gratefully took it. 'Hurry; it won't be long before Bolshevik reinforcements arrive.'

 'Thank you,' Angela replied. She turned to the Doctor, whose face was turning blue. 'My friend is severely injured. He needs urgent medical assistance.'

 The man knelt down and felt the Doctor's wrist and neck. 'He's dead, ma'am. There's nothing more we can do for him. Let's go.'

 'What? Wait!' Angela couldn't believe that the Doctor was dead. What about those nanobots that he had used to save Wil's life back in the Otherverse? She broke free and felt for the Doctor's pulse and breath. Both were absent, and the flesh was cold.

 'No,' Angela sobbed.

 Shots rang out across the street yet again. The man grabbed Angela and tugged on her coat. 'Come on. There's nothing more you can do for him.' And as Angela was dragged away, she turned back to see the mortally wounded Time Lord sprawled on the icy sidewalk, alone, dead in an obscure backwater of the galaxy in a barbaric time to which none of them should ever have come.

 TO BE CONTINUED...