While Suspect dealt with the effect of Remonte and Kristoph’s arrest on the family, Prisoners of The Chancellery Guard looks at the two me dealing with their incarceration. Funnily enough, this is the key subject of the same film quoted already. A large part of the emotional impact of In The Name of The Father surrounds the relationship between a father and son both wrongly imprisoned. It is actually complete coincidence, though, that this story is mostly about Kristoph’s relationship with his far younger brother, Remonte. I was in no way seeking to emulate that film. The connection only really occurred to me as I was re-reading the story for this Confidential.

Remonte, of course, was born when Kristoph was missing, presumed dead. He was the replacement heir, who was a young man in his twenties when he found out his legendary brother was alive after all and he was no longer heir. This could actually make an emotional bond between the two men rather difficult. Kristoph’s shadowy past in the Celestial Intervention Agency also puts a strain on the two of them. But their shared experience of the Mind Probe and endless interrogation brings the two brothers together as they never were before.

The descriptions of what the Mind Probe does to the Time Lord brain are loosely based on the effects of Electro-Convulsive Therapy on a Human. They are unpleasant and dangerous if done in excess. Remonte has taken rather a lot of it because of his refusal to account for himself. This is where his affair with Rika really comes home to him. The only way he can clear himself of murder is by admitting his adultery. And, of course, he won’t do that.

But at least Time Lords have a way of proving themselves innocent. The Truth Taker can see into their minds. Kristoph and Remonte eventually do convince the authorities that they’re not guilty of Idell’s murder. They get to go home a lot faster than the Guildford Four!

But who DID kill Idell Malthis? Watch this space.