Primative Damn Planet

Zealot has beaten Kira for helping the Keiserin. I've been so busy, to my shame I hadn't noticed.

I'm sworn not to interfere while we are here, nor to voice my opinion in any public forum. My mantra must be "each to their own".

Poor child. I gave her some ointment for her back, just something so it won't scar and should heal up quicker.

This isn't the first time I've seen this sort of thing either. In truth it is not Zealot himself is to blame. Beneath the veneer of Caledon civility is a dark and seedy den of what, to my somewhat modern eye, could be see as nothing short of cruelty. Ironic, when this is heralded as the beacon of civility on this primative flat world. Here an unsung percentage are kept in collars and chains, beaten and tortured, and yet simply see this as part of life and inevitable part of their 'Victorian' existence.

Kira showed no malice to Zealot in this, simply shrugging it off in the belief that she knew the risks and accepts her punishment accordingly. I can not comment. What kind of creature can honestly sanction the punishment of a child in this way, and for kindness at that? To these people this is the norm! Incredible.

He is not to blame, he is a product of his environment. Zealot is driven by far greater things that I fear mortal man was not meant to what-the-what of. It is this uncivilised rock that is at fault. I'm sure that one good solar flare is all it would take.

How I miss Gallifrey on days like these.

Head Down

I've had my head under the console most of the day, busy.

There's a lot of corrosion under here, but with the parts Virrginia has secured for me and rare grid metals Angus managed to find (how does he do it) I may just have a working camelion circuit within the week. While not essential, this goes a long way towards the peak status required. Terry has been busy on a personal project and I've seen her less than I'd like. I confess I miss her terribly when she's not around and it was good to have work to keep me occupied.

Young Kiralette is now in our employ, in a dusting capacity. I'm not sure if this will lighten the load, she brought some kind of potted plant with her, but she's keen. Her sister is also keen. Keen that is that if Kira is to hang around the ETC then she is to useful while she is doing so and she seems to feel her sister is some form of potential liability.

I confess I don't care much for Kirawill, wife to Lord Bardhaven, but we are both civil enough to each other in the same way Zealot and I are. She is the sort of feline who knows she is gifted with first class breeding and has long lost any magic for a world that her sister still finds beautiful.

I began a few sketches of my new genetic matrix this evening. I have high hopes, if all goes well.

A Late Visitor

I had a visitor last night.

Often of late I have found myself in conversation with Miss Kelley. She is a most charming creature, very pleasant, that reminds me much of the New Earth felines of 5,000,000,000. She is, I am told, not entirely indicative of her species, having at least the veneer of Victorian sensibility. She is quick of eye, strong in spirit, has an adventurous streak a mile wide, yet wraps herself in pretty crinolines with seemingly little comfort but the greatest of pride.

She visited me in the ETC to bring me news and share my supper. She had never visited us properly and as I showed around our home, Terry currently being away visiting the Dracoforms and having missed the excitement of the last few days, she gazed wide-eyed at the workings of the ETC. I took her over to New Babbage, and we walked and talked a while in relative safety.

When one spends time with her, one soon begins to realise how frightened she is of reprisal by her Master Zealot. In my opinion, a cat should not have a master...

...I will say no more, but suffice to say, she's a very brave young lady.

Caledon and Neualtenburgh owe her more than they may ever know.