It had started with Time War and the destruction of the Daleks. Jenny sat in the grotto, listening to General Zat with rapt attention. This was the war that her father had fought in. She knew that without a doubt. The words and the stories felt as familiar to her as her own memories. The awed whispers of Time Lords only confirmed such.

They also confirmed her silence.

While the majority of the people of New Thal (such as the camp she currently sat in) were neutral in opinion to the acts of the Oncoming Storm, she found out that some groups had become furious. And thus, when the Time War ended and word of such slowly spread across the universe, war eventually broke out on New Thal. It had been a simple enough of a cause: a fight among those with Kaled descent and those who considered themselves pure and free of the Dalek taint.

They had been late in discovering the truth about the Time War, late in discovering the strong truths some still held dear. But that had made no difference in the long run. The paradise planet still fell apart. They had been fighting ever since.

Jenny squirmed uncomfortably as General Zat lamented the loss of many generations. Peace had attempted to be wrought many times over the decades. Each plan had resulted in failure. Hardcore factions from either side would assassinate ambassadors. Troops would be captured during infiltration plans. Nothing would ever go right.

She couldn’t help but remember Messaline as the elderly man talked. Although they had no progenation machines and actually had villages and livelihoods and real families to protect, the concept was the same. Not everyone on New Thal was a soldier but soldiers were in high demand. Everyone on Messaline had been born a soldier. So not the same, but still. The differences weren’t enough.

General Zat didn’t even have to ask for her help before Jenny volunteered to fight. If the Cline-like-boy was anything to go by, Jenny was a far better soldier than any of them. She could save lives, she could make a difference.

And maybe she could even show them that there were alternatives to fighting, just like her father had shown her. This, Jenny knew without hesitation, was a Time Lady’s purpose. Forget what that silly book said, she was going to rescue this planet and save these people.

No matter how long it took.

“I know I look young, but it’s what I was born to do,” she explained to the general as she eyed the Thal she had captured during his attempt to capture her. “Peace is too important not to fight for. My- someone I know taught me that. There’s always a choice when it comes to killing. And I think we can end this war in such a way.”

In such a way that would make her father proud, she thought silently. Jenny held her blue eyed gaze firm as she studied the wrinkled face in front of her. Unlike General Cobb, this man was weary of war. He was probably a farm boy once, not someone ever meant to fight and kill. And yet, now, he was the best that New Thal offered.

General Zat looked amused. “Is that so, young one?”

“Jenny,” she stressed. “It’s just Jenny right now, but yeah. It’s so so. Just watch. We’ll reunite New Thal and make this planet back into the paradise it once was. If it happened on the planet I was born on, it can happen anywhere.”

“Join Voule’s squad,” he answered, nodding to her soldier. Jenny could read the emotions in his face clearly: he had doubts, but he also had his hopes. And hope, she was learning, was a very powerful force. “Give the lad his blaster back, shape up his team into something respectable by the end of the week, and we’ll see.”

Jenny gave him a sharp nod and saluted. “Yes, sir.”

By day five, Voule’s squadron had become something Jenny believed that she could be proud of. It had taken much more work than she ever imagined any group of non-trainees would need but in the end, she decided it was worth it. No longer was Voule easily tackled; there were actual fights now when she tried to pin him to the ground. It made her happy and the way he smiled at her made her blush and long for someone planets away.

She supposed that she could really visit him if she really wanted to. After all, she only had to step through her shuttle door and more than often, Jenny appeared there. Then she could see Bart and maybe Donna and Edward and everyone else she loved there. Yet, something kept her on New Thal. Jenny suspected it had to do with finally being a part of an actual army, properly having her inheritance put to work.

Dad would be disappointed. And that was another reason to see this through – to prove to herself and to him that she could be as amazing as he claimed she would be when she was dying.

“You boys have become such soldiers,” she told Voule proudly on the fifth day after target practice. She eyed the various sheets, unable not to beam at the 90% kill rate. “This is great, Voule. We’ll present your accomplishments to General Zat and then we’ll go and deal with the Purebloodss and end this war for good.”

The dark haired teenager looked at Jenny with bright puppy eyes. He followed her around without hesitance, like a shadow she hadn’t asked for. “You really think so?”

“Yeah,” she answered, feeling a pang in her hearts at his smile. “I totally know so. Soldier, remember?”

Voule laughed, hesitantly reaching out for her hand. Jenny accepted it without thinking twice and swung their arms happily. It had felt good to have a friend here, even with his crush. “I don’t know what we would’ve done without you, Jenny. I think the General might even send us out on the mission to Skaronite.”

“You think so?”

“With your training?” Voule squeezed her hand as his smile brightened. It sort of reminded Jenny of her own smile, and the smile of someone she loved. “I totally know so.”

“Let’s go find General Zat and show off, then.” Jenny flashed Voule a challenging smile. “Last one there!”

She took off running. It was also strange, she noted, to know that this time she would win the race.